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Mayor’s DV Taskforce

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
  • CQUniversity
  • Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal
  • Department of Justice and Attorney General - Integrated Services Response Team
  • Department of Seniors, Disability and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships
  • Holy Spirit College
  • J Hamilton & Associates
  • Legal Aid
  • Lendlease
  • Mackay State High School
  • Mackay Sugar
  • Mackay Women’s Services
  • Marabisda
  • Minds Aligned
  • Primefit Sarina
  • Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research
  • Queensland Police Service
  • Reconcile Life
  • The Neighbourhood Hub
  • Young Professionals Network
  • Whitsunday Anglican School
  • ZONTA
DV Taskforce 

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.

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

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