Too many Australian women are still being murdered by men. Where has the public outrage gone, the demands to hold men accountable and work with them to bring about change?

This is hard work, and it is distressing to see news story after news story report on the deaths of our friends, sisters, partners, daughters, mothers and coworkers. These people are women. She is someone.

If we do not put the onus on men who choose to use violence against women, we effectively make him invisible in our minds and across social service and justice systems.

We cannot wait until it is too late. We cannot lose another woman’s life due to men’s use of violence. As a community, we must work with men who use violence against women, and men who hold violence-supporting attitudes toward women. If we do not work with men to support them to stop using violence against women, we will not stop violence against women.

We are Australia’s largest peak body representing individuals and organisations working to end men’s use of family violence. We operate nationally, and more specifically, we represent 160+ Victorian members’ views to government. While Victoria has seen a recent funding injection across men’s intake referral services and community-based Men’s Behaviour Change Programs, we need to see long term, federal investment in all mainstream and diverse perpetrator interventions, early-intervention, and primary prevention campaigns.

When appropriate and safe, we can all do something to intervene and create a safe environment for women. For example, if you see a man’s use of violence against a woman publicly, or if you hear something happening untoward next door, you can do something. If you hear or see violence-supporting attitudes displayed by coworkers, you can do something.

We must ensure that men who use violence are visible in our minds, and across social service and justice systems.

Talk to us further, communications@ntv.org.au

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger please call 000.

If you have experienced family and/or sexual violence and require support please call 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).

If you are concerned about your own behaviour, or would like further support or information about how to intervene safely, please call the Men’s Referral Service 1300 766 491 or head to ntv.org.au to chat online.

If you are interested in holding Bystander Intervention Training for your workplace, football club, or school please click here to find out more information.