I was born in Africa and one of my earliest memories is my recognition of
earliest memories is my recognition of
earliest memories is my recognition of injustice I was maybe six years old and
injustice I was maybe six years old and
injustice I was maybe six years old and my family and I were on holidays I can
my family and I were on holidays I can
my family and I were on holidays I can remember the chocolate brown booth that
remember the chocolate brown booth that
remember the chocolate brown booth that my brother and I slid into I can
my brother and I slid into I can
my brother and I slid into I can remember the huge pile of buffet food
remember the huge pile of buffet food
remember the huge pile of buffet food hot breakfasts they were my favorite
hot breakfasts they were my favorite
hot breakfasts they were my favorite crispy bacon Sunnyside eggs couldn’t
crispy bacon Sunnyside eggs couldn’t
crispy bacon Sunnyside eggs couldn’t wait to get stuck in while my mom and
wait to get stuck in while my mom and
wait to get stuck in while my mom and dad were sliding into the booth beside
dad were sliding into the booth beside
dad were sliding into the booth beside us my attention landed on a tall African
us my attention landed on a tall African
us my attention landed on a tall African man who was standing not too far from
man who was standing not too far from
man who was standing not too far from where we were
where we were
where we were what happened next has stayed with me my
what happened next has stayed with me my
what happened next has stayed with me my whole life just along from us there were
whole life just along from us there were
whole life just along from us there were some diners and they were laughing and
some diners and they were laughing and
some diners and they were laughing and making fun about the tall African man
making fun about the tall African man
making fun about the tall African man who lined up for his breakfast at six
who lined up for his breakfast at six
who lined up for his breakfast at six years old I didn’t really understand too
years old I didn’t really understand too
years old I didn’t really understand too much about race nor the complexities and
much about race nor the complexities and
much about race nor the complexities and challenges that are faced by so many but
challenges that are faced by so many but
challenges that are faced by so many but what I did recognize was this feeling in
what I did recognize was this feeling in
what I did recognize was this feeling in my tummy that burnt like a fire raging
my tummy that burnt like a fire raging
my tummy that burnt like a fire raging inside me I was mad
inside me I was mad
inside me I was mad why were they being so mean I just
why were they being so mean I just
why were they being so mean I just didn’t understand it what I have since
didn’t understand it what I have since
didn’t understand it what I have since recognized is my intolerance for
recognized is my intolerance for
recognized is my intolerance for injustice the fire that burnt and
injustice the fire that burnt and
injustice the fire that burnt and continues to burn to this day I’ve seen
continues to burn to this day I’ve seen
continues to burn to this day I’ve seen a pattern develop for me a pattern of
a pattern develop for me a pattern of
a pattern develop for me a pattern of speaking out and standing up against
speaking out and standing up against
speaking out and standing up against injustice but it was one story in
injustice but it was one story in
injustice but it was one story in particular that has stayed with me and
particular that has stayed with me and
particular that has stayed with me and has seen me change the course of my life
has seen me change the course of my life
has seen me change the course of my life to the point where I stand here in front
to the point where I stand here in front
to the point where I stand here in front of you as founder of rise of Australia
of you as founder of rise of Australia
of you as founder of rise of Australia I heard news about a lady who had made
I heard news about a lady who had made
I heard news about a lady who had made quite a journey she had gathered up her
quite a journey she had gathered up her
quite a journey she had gathered up her 8 month-old baby and her three older
8 month-old baby and her three older
8 month-old baby and her three older children
children
children she had jumped on a train in Perth in
she had jumped on a train in Perth in
she had jumped on a train in Perth in Western Australia she had crossed our
Western Australia she had crossed our
Western Australia she had crossed our beautiful nation all the way to the Gold
beautiful nation all the way to the Gold
beautiful nation all the way to the Gold Coast now this lady she was going to get
Coast now this lady she was going to get
Coast now this lady she was going to get to safety she couldn’t take too much
to safety she couldn’t take too much
to safety she couldn’t take too much with her on this day she had her handbag
with her on this day she had her handbag
with her on this day she had her handbag she had a small backpack her baby and
she had a small backpack her baby and
she had a small backpack her baby and her three other children she didn’t take
her three other children she didn’t take
her three other children she didn’t take too much that day because to do so would
too much that day because to do so would
too much that day because to do so would have attracted the attention of the one
have attracted the attention of the one
have attracted the attention of the one person that was committing the most
person that was committing the most
person that was committing the most horrific violence against her and her
horrific violence against her and her
horrific violence against her and her children
children
children this wasn’t a stranger this was a person
this wasn’t a stranger this was a person
this wasn’t a stranger this was a person who should be protecting them respecting
who should be protecting them respecting
who should be protecting them respecting them loving them the person who was
them loving them the person who was
them loving them the person who was committing the unthinkable violence this
committing the unthinkable violence this
committing the unthinkable violence this was the father of her children and her
was the father of her children and her
was the father of her children and her husband when I first heard this you know
husband when I first heard this you know
husband when I first heard this you know that flame that fire in my belly from
that flame that fire in my belly from
that flame that fire in my belly from when I was six lui it was growing it was
when I was six lui it was growing it was
when I was six lui it was growing it was there this was a massive injustice all I
there this was a massive injustice all I
there this was a massive injustice all I could think of was how could this be
could think of was how could this be
could think of was how could this be happening in our beautiful country how
happening in our beautiful country how
happening in our beautiful country how could this lady feel so unsafe and that
could this lady feel so unsafe and that
could this lady feel so unsafe and that she felt that her only option was to
she felt that her only option was to
she felt that her only option was to jump on a train across the country to
jump on a train across the country to
jump on a train across the country to get to safety so with the help of my
get to safety so with the help of my
get to safety so with the help of my amazing friends and family we gathered
amazing friends and family we gathered
amazing friends and family we gathered together as much as we could to help
together as much as we could to help
together as much as we could to help this young family settle into their new
this young family settle into their new
this young family settle into their new environment from beds to clothing to
environment from beds to clothing to
environment from beds to clothing to groceries pantry item everything you can
groceries pantry item everything you can
groceries pantry item everything you can think of we got it sorted and when we
think of we got it sorted and when we
think of we got it sorted and when we could do that within a couple of days
could do that within a couple of days
could do that within a couple of days and that was my light bulb moment the
and that was my light bulb moment the
and that was my light bulb moment the moment where I knew that as a community
moment where I knew that as a community
moment where I knew that as a community we could do so much more to help these
we could do so much more to help these
we could do so much more to help these families when we surround ourselves with
families when we surround ourselves with
families when we surround ourselves with our people these are the people that
our people these are the people that
our people these are the people that share your passion
share your passion
share your passion your integrity your moral compass
your integrity your moral compass
your integrity your moral compass together you can make enormous change
together you can make enormous change
together you can make enormous change together we are so much stronger we can
together we are so much stronger we can
together we are so much stronger we can have conversations we can change the
have conversations we can change the
have conversations we can change the rhetoric and more importantly than
rhetoric and more importantly than
rhetoric and more importantly than anything we can create a movement of
anything we can create a movement of
anything we can create a movement of change when we look to community and we
change when we look to community and we
change when we look to community and we look for examples of how history has
look for examples of how history has
look for examples of how history has provided examples where a community can
provided examples where a community can
provided examples where a community can come together you won’t find more
come together you won’t find more
come together you won’t find more examples than when a community and a
examples than when a community and a
examples than when a community and a society is faced with a social injustice
society is faced with a social injustice
society is faced with a social injustice domestic and family violence is the
domestic and family violence is the
domestic and family violence is the biggest social rights violation our
biggest social rights violation our
biggest social rights violation our society currently faces in Australia
society currently faces in Australia
society currently faces in Australia there is one incident reported of
there is one incident reported of
there is one incident reported of domestic violence every two minutes
domestic violence every two minutes
domestic violence every two minutes so already since I’ve been speaking
so already since I’ve been speaking
so already since I’ve been speaking there have been six calls to police
there have been six calls to police
there have been six calls to police across Australia from people who require
across Australia from people who require
across Australia from people who require help statistics of violence against
help statistics of violence against
help statistics of violence against women in Australia are absolutely
women in Australia are absolutely
women in Australia are absolutely shocking and we can we know that the
shocking and we can we know that the
shocking and we can we know that the this violence that is in the home it
this violence that is in the home it
this violence that is in the home it impacts a child’s development
impacts a child’s development
impacts a child’s development substantially research shows us that
substantially research shows us that
substantially research shows us that when a child grows up in a house of
when a child grows up in a house of
when a child grows up in a house of violence they have great trouble
violence they have great trouble
violence they have great trouble connecting with their friends and family
connecting with their friends and family
connecting with their friends and family they struggle through school and their
they struggle through school and their
they struggle through school and their futures are significantly compromised
futures are significantly compromised
futures are significantly compromised one in three Australian women have
one in three Australian women have
one in three Australian women have experienced physical and/or sexual
experienced physical and/or sexual
experienced physical and/or sexual violence perpetrated by someone known to
violence perpetrated by someone known to
violence perpetrated by someone known to them 61% of these women had children in
them 61% of these women had children in
them 61% of these women had children in their care at the time of the violence
their care at the time of the violence
their care at the time of the violence 71 women were killed by violence by an
71 women were killed by violence by an
71 women were killed by violence by an intimate partner one woman is
intimate partner one woman is
intimate partner one woman is hospitalized every three hours in
hospitalized every three hours in
hospitalized every three hours in Australia three women are hospitalized
Australia three women are hospitalized
Australia three women are hospitalized each and every week with traumatic
each and every week with traumatic
each and every week with traumatic in jury intimate-partner violence is the
in jury intimate-partner violence is the
in jury intimate-partner violence is the leading cause of ill health disability
leading cause of ill health disability
leading cause of ill health disability and death for Australian women aged
and death for Australian women aged
and death for Australian women aged between 15 and 44 the leading cause
between 15 and 44 the leading cause
between 15 and 44 the leading cause sexual assault and domestic violence are
sexual assault and domestic violence are
sexual assault and domestic violence are by any measure the most common crimes
by any measure the most common crimes
by any measure the most common crimes committed in Australia we are in a
committed in Australia we are in a
committed in Australia we are in a domestic and family violence epidemic
domestic and family violence epidemic
domestic and family violence epidemic and the discussion time is over
and the discussion time is over
and the discussion time is over we need to act lives are being lost and
we need to act lives are being lost and
we need to act lives are being lost and futures are being destroyed research
futures are being destroyed research
futures are being destroyed research shows us that Australia has a very real
shows us that Australia has a very real
shows us that Australia has a very real issue with men’s violence rise up was
issue with men’s violence rise up was
issue with men’s violence rise up was created to drive awareness to domestic
created to drive awareness to domestic
created to drive awareness to domestic and family violence there had to be some
and family violence there had to be some
and family violence there had to be some way that the broader community could
way that the broader community could
way that the broader community could actually be part of that solution this
actually be part of that solution this
actually be part of that solution this is the only way forward Australia is the
is the only way forward Australia is the
is the only way forward Australia is the lucky country and for so many families
lucky country and for so many families
lucky country and for so many families and for so many people across Australia
and for so many people across Australia
and for so many people across Australia they don’t feel very lucky at all no one
they don’t feel very lucky at all no one
they don’t feel very lucky at all no one talks about domestic violence no one
talks about domestic violence no one
talks about domestic violence no one wants to talk about domestic violence
wants to talk about domestic violence
wants to talk about domestic violence but we have to let’s drag this beast out
but we have to let’s drag this beast out
but we have to let’s drag this beast out of the darkness so it has nowhere to
of the darkness so it has nowhere to
of the darkness so it has nowhere to hide let’s shine that light on it let’s
hide let’s shine that light on it let’s
hide let’s shine that light on it let’s unpack the cultural and societal issues
unpack the cultural and societal issues
unpack the cultural and societal issues that allow this anti-social behavior to
that allow this anti-social behavior to
that allow this anti-social behavior to persist in our amazing country in our
persist in our amazing country in our
persist in our amazing country in our community let’s shift the shame for
community let’s shift the shame for
community let’s shift the shame for victims of domestic violence and give
victims of domestic violence and give
victims of domestic violence and give them their voices back in just over the
them their voices back in just over the
them their voices back in just over the last year
last year
last year rise up created over 260 homes for
rise up created over 260 homes for
rise up created over 260 homes for families who have exited out of refuge
families who have exited out of refuge
families who have exited out of refuge we’ve supported over 400 children who
we’ve supported over 400 children who
we’ve supported over 400 children who have been displaced due to the violence
have been displaced due to the violence
have been displaced due to the violence when families leave refuge that is the
when families leave refuge that is the
when families leave refuge that is the point where we need to intercept and
point where we need to intercept and
point where we need to intercept and support these families it’s that pointy
support these families it’s that pointy
support these families it’s that pointy end the point of no return
end the point of no return
end the point of no return when families even consider thinking
when families even consider thinking
when families even consider thinking about leaving the violence behind and
about leaving the violence behind and
about leaving the violence behind and when they understand what lies ahead of
when they understand what lies ahead of
when they understand what lies ahead of them
them
them it can be very realistically the point
it can be very realistically the point
it can be very realistically the point where they go back to the violence
where they go back to the violence
where they go back to the violence rise up provides the leg up that makes
rise up provides the leg up that makes
rise up provides the leg up that makes the difference between a family leaving
the difference between a family leaving
the difference between a family leaving the violence behind or moving forward
the violence behind or moving forward
the violence behind or moving forward rise for Liam is our schools program so
rise for Liam is our schools program so
rise for Liam is our schools program so from school camps to school uniforms to
from school camps to school uniforms to
from school camps to school uniforms to after-school activities we’ve got it
after-school activities we’ve got it
after-school activities we’ve got it covered research shows us that when a
covered research shows us that when a
covered research shows us that when a child is more settled in their
child is more settled in their
child is more settled in their environment the mum has more capacity to
environment the mum has more capacity to
environment the mum has more capacity to feel settled and stable and stay in the
feel settled and stable and stay in the
feel settled and stable and stay in the one space if we are going to break the
one space if we are going to break the
one space if we are going to break the cycle of domestic violence we have to
cycle of domestic violence we have to
cycle of domestic violence we have to address the issue and help these
address the issue and help these
address the issue and help these children the this is our future the
children the this is our future the
children the this is our future the children are our future and we really
children are our future and we really
children are our future and we really need to see what’s happening right in
need to see what’s happening right in
need to see what’s happening right in our back yard so stepping out of a
our back yard so stepping out of a
our back yard so stepping out of a violent relationship takes enormous
violent relationship takes enormous
violent relationship takes enormous courage and inner strength it takes the
courage and inner strength it takes the
courage and inner strength it takes the knowledge that there is a community out
knowledge that there is a community out
knowledge that there is a community out there waiting and willing to support
there waiting and willing to support
there waiting and willing to support them in their decision and commending
them in their decision and commending
them in their decision and commending them for the extremely brave decision to
them for the extremely brave decision to
them for the extremely brave decision to leave that violence behind every single
leave that violence behind every single
leave that violence behind every single person can do something to prevent
person can do something to prevent
person can do something to prevent violence we can start by holding our
violence we can start by holding our
violence we can start by holding our friends and family accountable for their
friends and family accountable for their
friends and family accountable for their attitudes and beliefs we can keep our
attitudes and beliefs we can keep our
attitudes and beliefs we can keep our eyes firmly planted on the perpetrators
eyes firmly planted on the perpetrators
eyes firmly planted on the perpetrators of violence we can stop asking why
of violence we can stop asking why
of violence we can stop asking why doesn’t she just leave and how about we
doesn’t she just leave and how about we
doesn’t she just leave and how about we start asking why doesn’t he stop hurting
start asking why doesn’t he stop hurting
start asking why doesn’t he stop hurting her domestic and family violence is a
her domestic and family violence is a
her domestic and family violence is a human rights violation and I can quite
human rights violation and I can quite
human rights violation and I can quite confidently say to you tonight that as I
confidently say to you tonight that as I
confidently say to you tonight that as I stand here we have zero tolerance for
stand here we have zero tolerance for
stand here we have zero tolerance for racial discrimination right let’s commit
racial discrimination right let’s commit
racial discrimination right let’s commit to seeing domestic and family violence
to seeing domestic and family violence
to seeing domestic and family violence for the human rights violation it is
for the human rights violation it is
for the human rights violation it is let’s commit tonight to bringing it out
let’s commit tonight to bringing it out
let’s commit tonight to bringing it out into the open let’s commit tonight to
into the open let’s commit tonight to
into the open let’s commit tonight to pulling an end to domestic and family
pulling an end to domestic and family
pulling an end to domestic and family violence so now you know what I’m
violence so now you know what I’m
violence so now you know what I’m passionate about what is it that you are
passionate about what is it that you are
passionate about what is it that you are all passionate about I’d really liked
all passionate about I’d really liked
all passionate about I’d really liked you to have a little think about that
you to have a little think about that
you to have a little think about that and while you do in your TEDx bags I’d
and while you do in your TEDx bags I’d
and while you do in your TEDx bags I’d like you to all reach down please
like you to all reach down please
like you to all reach down please there’s a beautiful piece of artwork
there’s a beautiful piece of artwork
there’s a beautiful piece of artwork inside if you can take it out for me
inside if you can take it out for me
inside if you can take it out for me show me your lights in honor of all the
show me your lights in honor of all the
show me your lights in honor of all the families affected by domestic and family
families affected by domestic and family
families affected by domestic and family violence let’s shine our light that’s
violence let’s shine our light that’s
violence let’s shine our light that’s amazing
amazing
amazing in closing tonight be kind to one
in closing tonight be kind to one
in closing tonight be kind to one another have compassion and
another have compassion and
another have compassion and understanding we only have one go at
understanding we only have one go at
understanding we only have one go at this life so make it your very best
this life so make it your very best
this life so make it your very best you’re it you’re the ones that can make
you’re it you’re the ones that can make
you’re it you’re the ones that can make this world the best place to live thank
this world the best place to live thank
this world the best place to live thank you
”
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