16 Days of Activism: NO MORE
Today, for 16 Days of Activism, we revisit the crucial work of NO MORE and share Community Development Worker, David Hardy’s insights into building stronger families and communities to reduce domestic, family and sexual violence (DFSV).
Founded by Dr Charlie King AM in 2006, NO MORE is an Aboriginal initiative that addresses the prevention of domestic and family violence through a whole of community approach. NO MORE works with men, service providers and the wider community to develop local responses to reduce the incidence of domestic and family violence by changing men’s behaviour and attitudes towards women, with the safety of women and children as the primary objective.
NO MORE partners with a range of businesses and organisations, and is supported by CatholicCare NT, to deliver its programs, resources and services.
David Hardy has lived and worked in Darwin for 50 years. He is passionate about working with communities to develop local responses to reduce domestic and family violence.
David Hardy, Community
Development Worker,
NO MORE
Q: What action are you or your organisation taking to try to prevent or respond to domestic, family and sexual violence?
I work with Top End remote communities, supporting men who want to champion a change of attitudes and behaviours towards women and children, and then working with all those in the community who seek change, including women, Aboriginal and other service providers, government, and local businesses.
Building on community strengths, I assist groups develop Domestic Violence Action Plans to implement their ideas about how to change the attitudes and behaviours of men and children, and to promote a safer community free from domestic and family violence.
I provide community awareness and education/discussion workshops about the drivers of domestic and family violence, including gender inequity, the general acceptance of violence, intersectionality, the effects of colonisation and intergenerational trauma.
Q: How would you encourage others to take action to stop domestic, family and sexual violence?
Listen deeply, and work with men and the community to develop, support, enable and advocate for local responses to reduce the incidence of domestic and family violence.
Support men’s leadership around healing for men and boys, and encourage positive male role modelling to promote safe and respectful family relationships. Focus on building stronger, healthier families and communities, so there isn’t a generation of broken families and fathers, partners in prison, that results in the continuation of intergenerational trauma.
Q: What message would you like to leave about domestic, family and sexual violence?
The reduction of domestic and family violence needs men to stand up, as individuals and a group, and take ownership for finding the solutions. In a trauma-informed way, encourage honest, brave conversations on the use of violence and what the impact is on our families. While men may have the power to be destructive, they have equal power to care for and look after their families.
Support
If you or someone you know is experiencing DFSV and is in immediate danger, please call 000. For further support, contact the 24hr helplines or support services on the Northern Territory Government website. Other support services and helplines for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people include:
