MORE than 50 men gathered at Morwell Innovation Centre to learn more about the impact gendered violence is having across the region.

‘Men Stepping Up for a Safer Gippsland’ marked the first official event in the 16 Days of Action in Gippsland, featuring Detective Senior Sergeant Rod Findlay, a 26-year veteran of Victoria Police and head of the Eastern Division 5 Family Violence Investigation Unit.

Attendees also heard from three local male champions for change: TAFE Gippsland Chief Executive Justin Fallu, community leader Michael Taplin, and Latrobe City Council Community Strengthening Coordinator Liam Bantock, who spoke candidly about men’s responsibility to challenge harmful behaviours and create safer communities.

Gippsland continues to record some of Victoria’s highest rates of family and gendered violence.

In the year to July 2025, almost 10,000 family violence incidents and 2100 sexual offences were reported across the region. These figures are widely acknowledged as under-reported.

Mr Taplin urged men to speak up on the issue.

“Understanding the situation many women face in Gippsland is the first thing men should be doing,” he said.

“It’s important for me to help other men understand it’s on us to speak up about a culture that has been too easily accepted – we all have mothers, daughters, sisters, grandmothers, and friends who could be affected by domestic violence.

“This is our social responsibility.”

Mr Fallu explained the education and training TAFE Gippsland can provide in the prevention of gendered violence in the community.

“We are champions for the growth of women in male-dominated professions and with this comes the responsibility of ensuring that men in our organisation and our male students are provided with the right tools to be allies for change,” he said.

Event Facilitator and Primary Prevention Practitioner Mike McEvoy emceed the opening day.

“It is really exciting to see this initiative from men in Gippsland – stepping up to talk to other men and work together to stop men’s violence against women and children,” he said.

“It gives me hope that we’re on the way to creating a safer and fairer community where everyone can thrive.

“The tipping point will happen when more men come on board, start to admit the ways society treats men and women differently, commit to learning and listening, and step up to make practical improvements to our households, clubs, schools and workplaces.”

Chief Executive of Gippsland Women’s Health and co-convenor of the initiative, Kate Graham spoke to the urgency of this endeavour, which comes from the support of men.

“This change requires us all to work together and cannot be done without the contribution of men as allies and change agents within our community,” she said.

“Women have held the responsibility for this change for too long and we need our men in Gippsland to collaborate with us to change this for our community now and our future generations.”

Co-convenor Chris Buckingham capped of what the meeting meant.

“One way or another, every Gippslander is affected adversely by gendered violence,” he said.

“It is up to us as men to step up, play our part and help make our region a safer place for everyone.”

Men Stepping up for a Safer Gippsland was co-hosted by Latrobe City Council, Gippsland Women’s Health and The Fair Co.

More information on the 16 Days of Action in Gippsland can be found at: https://gwhealth.asn.au/lets-chat-gippsland/

The 24-hour national counselling 1800 Respect line can assist with domestic family violence and sexual assault via 1800 737 732. For men experiencing relationship difficulties, call the Mens Line Australia at 1300 789 978. For assistance and counselling for men who use violence or for people to support someone they know, call the Men’s Referral Service at 1300 766 491.