Council joins the campaign against gender-based violence

Thursday, 24 November 2022

Penrith City Council invites residents to take part in 16 Days of Action Against Gender-Based Violence from today, Friday 25 November to Saturday 10 December. 

Over the 16 Days of this international campaign, Council will share simple and effective actions on its social media channels. The actions provide conversation and thought starters as well as resources to support people who need help. It challenges us all to be informed, be accountable and be part of the action.

Residents are encouraged to join DV-alert's free community workshop, ‘DV Aware’, to learn what domestic and family violence is and how to recognise the signs. The workshop will be held at 1pm on Tuesday 29 November at the Penrith City Library and is delivered by Lifeline and funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services. 

Penrith City Council will also light up the Civic Centre in the colour orange from Friday 25 November to Saturday 10 December as a bright reminder that everyone deserves to be safe in their homes and our community.  

To spark conversations around domestic and family violence, women from local knitting and crochet groups will yarn bomb Penrith, placing installations on trees and street furniture throughout the City from Friday 25 November to Saturday 10 December. 

The yarn bomb installations will also be available to see at ROAM Penrith from Saturday 26 to Sunday 27 November. To contribute a piece to the yarn bombs, join our free yarn bombing workshops at ROAM Penrith on Sunday 27 November. At the end of the campaign, the installations will be professionally laundered and made into blankets for donation to local domestic and family violence support services. 

Penrith Mayor Tricia Hitchen said the 16 Days of Action campaign is an important opportunity to raise awareness and call for changes at a local level to end violence against women and girls. 

“We hope that the 16 Days of Action campaign encourages bystanders to speak up when they see violence or disrespect towards women. We’re calling on the Penrith community to join us to champion and promote the human rights of women and girls,” Cr Hitchen said. 

As an accredited White Ribbon Australia workplace, Council champions a culture of respect and gender equality, and encourages its employees to “Call it, Challenge it and Change it” when faced with disrespect of women. 

“We have a dedicated Gender Equity Committee who are dedicated to fostering gender equality and inclusive leadership at all levels of our organisation,” Cr Hitchen said.  

Follow Council’s Facebook, Instagram or Twitter accounts from Friday 25 November to Saturday 10 December to be part of the 16 Days of Action Against Gender-Based Violence.

To find out more go to penrith.city/16days.

Information contained within this news release was correct as at Thursday, 24 November 2022.