Cade Lucas
With a rise in cases of sexual assault and family violence across Melbourne’s western suburbs and Australia as a whole, the Western Region Centre Against Sexual Assault (WestCASA) is gearing up for a big year of training local organisations about how to create a safe and respectful environment for everyone and reduce sexual assault and family violence.
In order to do this the organisation has welcomed two new trainers who Westcasa head of operations Karen Woolford said will bolster its advocacy and education efforts in the western suburbs next year.
“The targeted investment in this area will assist us in reaching, and providing safe, culturally appropriate accessibility to all members of our very diverse five local government areas, whilst also supporting other workers and community organisations to be well informed and educated about their role and contribution to the prevention of sexual and family violence,” Ms Woolford said.
The new trainers are Warde McIntosh, who has worked extensively with multicultural, migrant and refugee communities and will take on the role of lead program development and community education.
Also joining is Adrian Wilson from Cricket Victoria who has extensive experience working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, LGBTIQ+ communities and people living with disability.
Both have now commenced their new roles and Ms Woolford invited schools, sporting clubs, businesses and local associations to get involved and educate their members of all ages and ethnicities on consent, what defines sexual assault and how to safely respond to the disclosure of sexual assault.
“Our training covers essential topics in an inclusive tailored manner as which will make learning enlightening and enjoyable,” she said.
“We understand the sensitivity of the subject, so we’ve crafted sessions that are approachable yet impactful. Let’s do our part and work together to create an environment where everyone feels heard, respected, and safe.“
Information: training@westcasa.org.au or call (03) 9216 0444 to find out more.
