Resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders

As parents and influencers of our young people, we want the best for them, and for our community.

We want our young people to be healthy and proud of who they are. We want them to understand right and wrong. We want them to respect others and respect themselves.

Young people pick up their behaviours from us, their parents and elders. Sometimes, without meaning to, we might say things that excuse disrespectful behaviour towards women, and this sends an unhealthy message to our young people.

When we say things like “boys will be boys”, or “he was having a bad day”, our young people start to believe there are reasons and situations that make disrespectful behaviour acceptable.

Violence against women starts with disrespect. The excuses we make let it grow.

We can all help stop it at the start.