To create long term lasting change in the lives of young people in the Hawkesbury LGA
The RIV Project is locally designed and community funded. It is a
unique 10-year model with the vision to create lasting long-term
change and increased safety for young people, families, schools,
and community in the Hawkesbury.
- Increase young people’s capacity to form and maintain safe and respectful relationships now and into the future
- Decrease physical and sexual violence occurring for participating young people
- Decrease domestic and family violence for participating young people and their families and in their future families
- Increased capacity for young people, school communities and families to identify concerns and reach out for help
- Increased support for young people and families who are currently experiencing violence / safety issues
- Increased awareness and trust in available support services
Committing to 10 Years Social Change
Start with a 2-year project that grows over time funding by Community Bank North Richmond & Richmond ($731,505)
In the first 2 years the RIV Project will:
- Work with 2 local high schools and 1 primary school
- Train 10 – 20 local workers / teachers / counsellors to facilitate Love Bites
- Deliver Love Bites 2-day safe relationship program to all students in years 7 and 9 in both schools
- Develop and implement a trial Love Bites program for year 6 students
- Identify young people and families already at risk / experiencing violence and offer group and individual support
- Support teachers and school communities to reduce violence / increase safety
- Measure and evaluate outcomes
- Use outcomes data to engage corporate / government sponsorship and funding.
- Working with Community Bank North Richmond & Richmond to identify and engage other corporate partners.
- Applying for relevant Government fund.
Targets by Year 4
- Working with 4 high schools and 2 primary schools
- Reaching over 2000 young people
- Providing additional support to over 330 vulnerable / at risk young people and 220 families
Targets by Year 10
- Reaching 8 high schools and 6 primary schools
- Increasing engagement by a further 80%
Why
It is well known that the rates of domestic violence are at alarming rates with more than 1 women / child is being killed every week in Australia.
www.countingdeadwomenaustralia.com
It is less well known the issues faced by young people:
- Internationally, it is estimated that 20% of 13-18-year-olds experience physical violence (similar rates between girls and boys) and 10% experience sexual violence (girls are more likely to be victims than boys).
- In 2018, a survey of 275 Year 9 and 10 students in Victoria revealed 88% of participants had been a victim of abuse in their most difficult relationship (Daff et al. 2018).
- Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (2018): 28.5% Australian teens had experience abuse in their relationships.
Based on the lowest level estimates up to 2,500 young people in Hawkesbury today have or will experience violence in their teen relationships.
