ALBION Park High School students are stepping up to the challenge of creating a future that is free of domestic violence.
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In the Shellharbour region, the Lake Illawarra Local Area Command is listed in NSW’s top three commands with the highest domestic violence callout rate.
This fact is what prompted Albion Park High School’s move to become a White Ribbon School and this year they will raise funds for the White Ribbon Foundation.
Teacher, Kelly Poole said their White Ribbon journey had really shed some light on the “silent struggle”.
“It’s been a really positive initiative because it’s a very confronting issue and something a lot of people don’t talk about,” she said.
“One in three people are a victim of violence and that is really concerning because that’s a third of the school's population.
“And it’s not just girls that are victims, but the boys may see it in their homes as well and we want them to be an advocate for change.
“For us it has been about building respectful relationship and part of the journey has been promoting that. No matter what the gender.
“Because sometimes it can be just a small thing, like saying ‘hey don’t do that to a girl’ and it’s a big deal to step up and make that change.”
Ms Poole said the school began working with the foundation last year and had been developing and delivering information about domestic violence into the classroom across all facilities.
“The current Year 12 cohort, in particular, have decided to make the White Ribbon Foundation one of their charities in 2015,” Ms Poole said.
“They have, with some assistance, spent the last couple of months organising a White Ribbon Movie Night Fundraiser.”
A special screening of the movie Pitch Perfect 2 will be held at Greater Union Shellharbour on May 7, with all 60 per cent of the proceeds going to the foundation and the remaining 40 per cent will go to funding their graduation ceremony.