Council commitments

Mackay Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month – May 2026.

#MackayRespect is our community’s commitment to preventing domestic and family violence.

Each May, the Mackay region unites for Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month (Queensland). This May we do this through the launch of the #MackayRespect campaign, led by the Mayors DV Task Force.

#MackayRespect is about creating a culture where respect is visible, expected and modelled — in homes, schools, workplaces, sporting clubs and community organisations.

The 2026 Queensland theme, “Together Queenslanders can prevent domestic and family violence,” reflects what #MackayRespect stands for: shared responsibility, early intervention and safer communities.

What is Mackay Respect?

#MackayRespect is a local community movement focused on preventing domestic and family violence before it starts.

Through education, awareness and community leadership, #MackayRespect:

• Promotes zero tolerance for domestic and family violence
• Encourages respectful relationships
• Raises awareness of support services in Mackay
• Empowers individuals to speak up safely

Supports behaviour change and accountability

#MackayRespect sends a clear message: violence begins with disrespect — and prevention begins with respect.

Why #MackayRespect Matters?

Domestic and family violence affects thousands of Queenslanders each year — including families in Mackay. The impact extends to children, workplaces, schools and the broader community.

#MackayRespect exists to:

• Increase community awareness of domestic and family violence in Mackay
• Promote respectful behaviour across all generations
• Encourage help-seeking through local and state support services
• Strengthen Mackay’s collective response to violence

When Mackay stands together under the banner of respect, we build safer homes and stronger futures.

How to Take Part in #MackayRespect?

Everyone in Mackay can participate in Mackay Respect during Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month.

1. Get Involved in the #MackayRespect Campaign

• Visit the #MackayRespect installation during the month of May
• Take a photo or short video and share on social media
• Tell us: “What Mackay Respect means to me/us.”
• Then nominate another person, business or organisation to participate

Let’s make #MackayRespect visible across the region.

2. Speak Up for #MackayRespect

Challenge disrespectful comments or harmful behaviours safely and confidently. Early action prevents escalation.

3. Listen and Believe

If someone discloses domestic and family violence, listen without judgement. Encourage them to contact:

• 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) – 24/7 national counselling service
• DVConnect (1800 811 811) – Queensland crisis support

4. Support and Connect

Help individuals experiencing domestic and family violence in Mackay connect with professional services. Remind them they are not alone.

5. Lead with Respect

Model healthy, respectful relationships in your workplace, sporting club, school or community group. Mackay Respect starts with everyday behaviour.

#MackayRespect Support Services

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic and family violence in Mackay, confidential support is available 24 hours a day.

Mackay Regional Council - Support services

If you are in immediate danger, call 000.

#MackayRespect – A Safer Future Starts Here

#MackayRespect is more than a campaign.
It is a community standard.

By supporting #MackayRespect and the Mayors DV Taskforce, you are helping create a region where violence is not tolerated and respect is the expectation.

This May, stand with #MackayRespect.
Choose respect.
Choose safety.
Choose a stronger Mackay.

Proudly Supported By:

"Not now, not ever" is the very clear pledge taken by council's elected members and executive leadership team in May, 2024,

The pledge was signed to highlight council’s collective stance against domestic and family violence (DFV) in our community.

May is Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month in Queensland to raise community awareness.

The signing of the pledge is part of a wider internal campaign to support council employees, including reviewing and updating our current DVF policy and e-learning modules.

Media release: Council stands united against domestic violence

Mackay Regional Council Councillors (from left) Cr Nathenea Macrae, Cr Heath Paton, Cr Ash-Lee Johnson, Cr Alison Jones, Cr Namarca Corowa, Cr Karen May, Deputy Mayor Belinda Hassan, Mayor Greg Williamson and Cr George Christensen signed a pledge to stand against domestic and family violence at a morning tea today. (Absent but also signing, Cr Peter Sheedy.)

Mackay Regional Council executive leadership team (from left), CEO Scott Owen and directors Janine McKay (Community Services), Lisa Young (Organisational Capability and Risk), Aletta Nugent (Planning, Growth and Sustainability), Jason Devitt (Infrastructure and Operations) and Angela Hays (Corporate Services).

Council is also driving the Mackay Draws the Line campaign in partnership with the Mayor’s DV Taskforce, which is made up of business and community leaders from across the region.

This campaign and taskforce aim to tackle domestic and family violence by leading conversations in business and the community and developing networks and strategies that get the message out that our community does not accept violence of any kind.

In May 2019, council expanded this campaign with a series of free stickers for the community – a book sticker, bumper sticker and bin sticker. The stickers, released to coincide with Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month, aim to start the conversation about Domestic and Family Violence, raise awareness of these issues, provide support and paint a clear message that Mackay draws the line against these behaviours.

The Mayor’s DV Taskforce was formed by the Mayor and councillors in November 2016 following a breakfast with Dame Quentin Bryce in the October of 2016. 

Dame Quentin was in our region at the time, meeting with local officials about the Not Now, Not Ever report, seeking consideration for localised responses to ending domestic and family violence.

Mission

To lead a localised collaborative response to ending domestic and family violence in the Mackay region.

Membership

The Taskforce is a mixed industry, business, government, and service network with representatives from:

• Aurizon
• Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal
• Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety
• Department of Women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships and Multiculturalism
• Holy Spirit College
• J Hamilton & Associates
• Mackay Combined Rotary
• Mackay State High School
• Mackay Sugar
• Mackay Women’s Services
• Marabisda
• Minds Aligned
• Mirani State High School
• Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research
• Queensland Police Service
• Reconcile Life
• Salvation Army
• The Neighbourhood Hub
• Young Professionals Network
• Whitsunday Anglican School
• ZONTA

Achievements

• May 2017 - Mayor Williamson hosted a Domestic & Family Violence Awareness Leadership Forum with more than 100 local community leaders in attendance.
• November 2017 - Mackay Draws the Line – Domestic and Family Violence Stops Here campaign was launched.
• May 2018 - Mackay Regional Council introduced a Domestic and Family Violence Policy and 20 days paid leave for staff experiencing domestic and family violence.
• From May 2018- June 2019 - Mackay Regional Council participated as one of five trial-sites across Australia for the Local Government Domestic and Family Violence Toolkit development, funded by the Department of Social Services and supported by ANROWS.
• May 2019 - Mackay Draws the Line sticker campaign was launched with a suite of bin, bumper/business and book stickers developed in conjunction with the DV Taskforce and community. The sticker campaign saw over 18,000 stickers distributed to community.
• November 2020 - Mayor’s DV Taskforce supported the concept development of and donation of funds towards a local DFV Campaign led by the Mackay Women’s Service.
• Mackay Regional Council has provided 2 rounds of Bystander training to staff and DV Taskforce members, one in 2018 and 2021.
• March 2021 - Mayor Williamson, representing the Mackay region and the Mayor’s DV Taskforce participated in the LGAQ led ‘Not in our Backyard’ DFV campaign.
• October 2021 - Red Bench project and development of supporting webpage with QR codes on red bench plaques linking community to resources. Further red benches are planned for installation around the region. Some DV Taskforce members have also committed to installing red benches on their controlled sites including Lendlease installing a bench at Caneland Central Shopping Centre.
• 2021 - current - Red Bench project with QR code linking community to resources.
• May 2025 – Mackay Rotary Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month
• July 2025 – Inaugural ‘Together in Prevention: Queensland Local Government DFV Leaders’ Forum’ hosted in Mackay in partnership with LGAQ and the Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Council.

• May 2026 - #MackayRESPECT campaign – a social media campaign encouraging conversations about ‘What respect means to us’.  The campaign included 2 large scale RESPECT letters signs located on the Council Precinct Lawns and mobile letters that were located in a variety of public sites across the month including both shopping centres, the Mackay Base Hospital, CQ University and high schools.  

   

If you would like to know more about the Mayor’s DV Taskforce, contact Cara Gjuzi at cara.gjuzi@mackay.qld.gov.au

Stop abuse at the start: local government’s new Domestic and Family Violence campaign

Mayor Greg Williamson threw Mackay Regional Council’s support behind the LGAQ Not in our Backyard campaign, signing our pledge to continue to work together with other local governments across the state to stamp out domestic and family violence in our communities.

In 2020 Mackay Regional Council was nominated to and inducted into Queensland’s inaugural Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Honour Roll under the Corporates category.

Council was nominated for the Honour Roll for contributing to the awareness and prevention of domestic and family violence within the community and supporting our employees affected by domestic and family violence.

Learn More

Mackay Regional Council has joined other Queensland councils in partnership with the Red Rose Foundation to install red benches as permanent reminders that domestic and family violence occurs in all communities.

The presence of a red bench is raise public awareness and provide an opportunity for this important issue to remain visible.

Mackay Regional Council has expanded on the red bench project by adding QR codes that lead visitors to information and support.

Watch out for more red benches popping up around the community. 

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Learn More

Mackay Regional Council has partnered with DV Safe Phone to donate fleet smartphones no longer required by council staff to victims of domestic and family abuse.

The initiative directly supports our corporate social responsibilities, not only with supporting victims but also reducing our e-waste.

Council’s initial shipment to DV Safe Phone totalled 25 smartphones. Our full fleet of smartphones currently totals 572 which will all eventually end up in the much needed hands of victims.

If your business or organisation is interested in learning more about this initiative, contact Cara Gjuzi or visit the website.