Image: Photo credit: Renata Meneses on Pexels
In a powerful bid to raise awareness and educate the Eastern Suburbs community about the warning signs of domestic abuse, Waverley Council is considering a motion to support the Lokahi Foundation’s proposed “Red Flag Day” event at Bondi Beach. The event, planned for December 6, 2024, aims to be a striking call to action, coinciding with the global 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence.
The focus of Red Flag Day is clear: to educate the public about the early indicators of abusive relationships, commonly referred to as ‘red flags’, and to rally community support for survivors. Every day, Australian women face dangerous situations, and with one woman killed by domestic violence every five days in Australia, the stakes could not be higher.
The proposed event will take place during 16 Days of Activism, an annual international campaign that runs from November 25 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) to December 10 (Human Rights Day). This global initiative seeks to end violence against women and girls, mobilizing communities to take action, advocate for change, and spread awareness.
At the heart of Red Flag Day is education. The beach will be lined with red flags, each printed with statistics or key warning signs of domestic abuse, including coercive control—an insidious form of psychological abuse that often precedes physical violence. Coercive control, now criminalized in New South Wales as of 2023, refers to behaviours that isolate, manipulate, or intimidate victims into a state of fear. The legal change was a significant victory for domestic abuse advocates, recognizing that abuse is not always physical, and mental control can be just as damaging.
The need for domestic abuse education
NSW Police have reported that 32 domestic violence-related homicides occurred in 2022, with Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs seeing hundreds of domestic abuse reports each year. Victims often struggle to escape abusive relationships, with research showing it takes an average of seven attempts to leave. Many remain trapped by fear, financial dependence, or the manipulation of a coercive partner.
The Lokahi Foundation, the organization spearheading this event, works tirelessly to support women and children impacted by domestic and family abuse. Based in the Eastern Suburbs, the foundation offers services like case management, housing support, and emotional counselling, empowering survivors to regain control of their lives. Lokahi’s Red Flag Day seeks to further this mission by creating a visual display of solidarity on Bondi Beach, while also providing a platform for public education.
However, the event still faces hurdles. Waverley Council has historically restricted events on Bondi’s sands during the busy summer months. Despite these limitations, the motion allows some flexibility, and the council is working with Lokahi to find a solution that complies with policies. Public pressure and support for this event may prove vital to its success, especially in a year that has seen mounting calls for domestic violence awareness.
The importance of events like Red Flag Day cannot be overstated. Domestic abuse thrives in silence, and community education is a key weapon in fighting this ongoing epidemic. By highlighting the signs of abuse—physical, emotional, and financial—the campaign encourages friends, family members, and even passers-byers to recognize potential dangers and offer support.
For those in need of help or support, domestic violence services are available:
– National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1800 737 732
– NSW Domestic Violence Line: 1800 656 463
– Lokahi Foundation: https://lokahi.org.au/
– 1800 RESPECT: 1800 737 732 (24-hour counselling and support)
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