The conclusion of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence on International Human Rights Day has prompted renewed calls for ongoing community action, with local support services emphasising that the fight against violence cannot be confined to a designated campaign period.

The Mallee Accommodation and Support Program has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting victim-survivors following the conclusion of the annual awareness campaign, which runs from 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, through to 10 December. The organisation continues to provide accommodation and support services to those affected by gender-based violence in the Mallee region.

MASP Chief Executive Officer Charmaine Calis said the 16-day campaign served an important function in raising public awareness of an issue that support organisations encounter daily. However, she stressed that the end of the designated activism period should not diminish community focus on the problem. The organisation's position is that gender-based violence requires sustained attention and action beyond awareness campaigns.

During the recent campaign period, MASP participated in the Respect Mallee initiative alongside other community services agencies and groups operating in Mildura and the broader Mallee region. The collaborative campaign aimed to prevent gender-based violence whilst promoting principles of respect and equality across the community.

Mrs Calis described the Respect Mallee campaign as representing a unified regional approach to addressing violence and its underlying causes. The multi-agency collaboration brought together various services working in the community sector to coordinate their messaging and activities throughout the campaign period.

The 16 Days of Activism is an international campaign that originated in 1991 and has since been observed in countries around the world. In Australia, the campaign has become an established part of efforts to address family and domestic violence, with government agencies, community organisations, and advocacy groups participating in activities designed to raise awareness and encourage action.

Gender-based violence remains a significant issue in Australia, with support services across the country reporting consistent demand for assistance. Statistics from various sources indicate that one in three Australian women has experienced physical violence since the age of 15, whilst one in four has experienced emotional abuse by a current or former partner.

MASP operates within the Mallee region providing crisis accommodation, case management, and support services to women and children experiencing or escaping family violence. The organisation is funded through a combination of state government programs and community support, working within the broader network of family violence services across Victoria.

The conclusion of the 16 Days of Activism campaign typically sees a return to regular programming for support services, though the underlying work of assisting victim-survivors and working towards violence prevention continues throughout the year. Many organisations use the campaign period to launch initiatives or programs that extend beyond the 16-day timeframe, attempting to maintain momentum generated by the heightened public awareness.

Community services in regional areas face particular challenges in addressing gender-based violence, including geographic isolation, limited service availability, and sometimes greater difficulty in maintaining anonymity for those seeking help in smaller communities. Regional services often work collaboratively to address these challenges and ensure adequate coverage across large geographic areas.

The Respect Mallee campaign represents one approach to coordinating regional efforts, with participating organisations pooling resources and aligning their activities to create a stronger collective impact during the awareness period and beyond.