Anti-violence colouring competition

Week without Violence is held in October each year across Australia. Activities for the 2004 Week Without Violence in the Western Region was a colouring-in and sticker design competition organised by the Western Region Family Violence Prevention Network. Students designed stickers and coloured in pictures on the theme of "We all have a right to feel safe all of the time".

"Figures released by Victoria Police show that children were present at more than 92% of family violence incidents attended by the police in 2000-01," said Melissa Afentoulis, CEO of Women's Health West. "Children are always affected by family violence, whether as witnesses or if they experience it directly. Activities like this give children and young people critical information about ways to seek help if they are affected by violence. They also affirm children and young people's right to feel safe in their home, school and community."

Over 150 entries were received for the Week Without Violence competition, and the activity prompted classroom discussion of a range of issues related to violence including safety, bullying, racism and family violence. It was also a way to promote the range of ways children and young people can seek help if they are affected by violence.

The winning anti-violence sticker design.

The overall winner of the sticker competition was Zeynep (15) from the Victorian School of Languages, whose design is reproduced here. Her design will be printed as a sticker and distributed throughout Brimbank and Maribynong to raise awareness of violence and safety issues.

FIND OUT MORE about the Western Region Family Violence Network.