Men stepping up

More than 50 men gathered in Morwell last week to learn more about the impact gendered violence is having across the region.
"Men Stepping Up for a Safer Gippsland" marked the first official event in the 16 Days of Action in Gippsland with guest speaker detective senior sergeant Rod Findlay a 26-year veteran of Victoria Police and head of the eastern division five family violence investigation unit
Attendees also heard from three local male champions for change: TAFE Gippsland chief executive officer Justin Fallu, community leader Michael Taplin and, Latrobe City Council community strengthening co-ordinator Liam Bantock who spoke candidly about men's responsibility to challenge harmful behaviours and create safer communities.
Gippsland continues to record some of Victoria's highest rates of family and gendered violence. In the year to July 2025, almost 10,000 family violence incidents and 2100 sexual offences were reported across the region.
Speakers urged men to step up.
"Understanding the situation many women face in Gippsland is the first thing men should be doing. It's important for me to help other men understand it's on us to speak up about a culture that has been too easily accepted - we all have mothers, daughters, sisters, grandmothers, and friends who could be affected by domestic violence. This is our social responsibility," Mr Taplin said.
Mr Fallu said through education and training, TAFE Gippsland had a critical role to play in the prevention of gendered violence in our community.
"We are champions for the growth of women in male-dominated professions and with this comes the responsibility of ensuring that men in our organisation and our male students are provided with the right tools to be allies for change," he said.
Facilitator and primary prevention practitioner Mike McEvoy said it was really exciting to see the initiative from men in Gippsland who were stepping up to talk to other men and work together to stop men's violence against women and children.
"It gives me hope that we're on the way to creating a safer and fairer community where everyone can thrive.
"The tipping point will happen when more men come on board, start to admit the ways society treats men and women differently, commit to learning and listening, and step up to make practical improvements to our households, clubs, schools and workplaces."
Gippsland Women's Health chief executive officer and co-convenor Kate Graham said the change required everyone to work together and could not be done without the contribution of men as allies and change agents within the community.
"Women have held the responsibility for this change for too long and we need our men in Gippsland to collaborate with us to change this for our community now and our future generations."
Co-convenor Chris Buckingham said one way or another, every Gippslander was affected adversely by gendered violence. "It is up to us as men to step up, play our part and help make our region a safer place for everyone."
Men Stepping up for a Safer Gippsland was co-hosted by Latrobe City Council, Gippsland Women's Health and The Fair Co.
For support contact:
1800 Respect (1800 737 732) - 24 hour national counselling for family violence and sexual assault;
Mens Line Australia (1300 78 99 78) - for men and boys experiencing relationship difficulties;
Men's Referral Service (1300 766 491) - assistance, info and counselling for men who use violence, or people who want to support a man they know.