Supporting prevention
Information on community initiatives and events supporting prevention of domestic and family violence.
Sunshine Coast March and Candlelight Vigil
The Sunshine Coast community is invited to stand with victims of domestic and family violence, at the annual march and candlelight vigil on Wednesday, May 1.
This year’s theme is Hear Their Voices - Speak Up for Women and Children.
The candlelight vigil will be held at Cotton Tree Park, The Esplanade, Maroochydore at 5.30pm. Prior to this, the community is invited to join the march to the vigil site. It starts at the corner of Cornmeal Parade and Horton Parade Maroochydore. Please gather from 5pm for a 5.10pm start.
Show your support and join us on Wednesday, 1 May.
One Billion Stars - Weave paper stars workshop
Calling all crafties! Learn how to weave 8-pointed paper stars for a giant community display. Join Julia Quinn for a special hands-on workshop supporting the One Billion Stars project.
One Billion Stars encourages communities around the world to weave stars as symbols of hope, courage and solidarity to end all forms of violence. Supported by council’s Community Development team, Queensland Corrective Services and Department of Youth Justice for Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month.
Sessions run from May 2 to May 13 across Sunshine Coast Libraries.
Domestic and family violence is not only physical and can show itself in many different ways. One way is, coercive control, a pattern of controlling and manipulative behaviours in a relationship.
Increasing understanding of coercive control underpins action to create change in our communities. In particular, learning from stories of people with lived experienced supports this change. Several of these stories are available to watch through the love ≠ control storytelling initiative.
Watch the stories of 10 Queenslanders and learn how they safely left abusive relationships here
Red bench project
Find out about why we have red benches located across our region
Red park bench looking out to the ocean.
The Red Bench project is an initiative of the Red Rose Foundation to raise awareness of domestic and family violence. Red benches remind us domestic and family violence occurs within all communities.
Sunshine Coast Council supports the initiative and has installed benches in the following public locations:
- Quota Park, Nambour
- Alex Bluff Foreshore Park, Alexandra Headlands
- Happy Valley Park, Caloundra
- Lower Maple Street, Maleny.
Each bench delivers a simple message on a plaque, ‘change the ending: let’s stop domestic violence’.