The Cairns Regional Domestic Violence Service' is delighted to announce the

Annual Breakfast for Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month 2024!

Get ready for a morning of inspiration as we welcome our esteemed guest speaker, Mr. Ben Bjarnesen BM, a passionate advocate for raising awareness of Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) within LGBTQ+ communities. Ben's personal journey, marked by his own experience of abuse within a same-sex relationship, ignited a fierce dedication to improving services for LGBTQ+ victims and survivors of DV.

Ben is a Churchill Fellow who travelled to the USA, Canada, UK and the Netherlands where he explored best practice solutions for Police Departments to enhance the way in which they respond to domestic violence in LGBTQ+ communities, revealing the critical need to have LGBTQ+ inclusive and accessible support services. He has since been actively involved in advising government and non-government organisations internationally on a range of initiatives designed to improve service delivery to LGBTQ+ communities.

Ben is an operational Police officer and volunteers as an LGBTI Liaison Officer. He has previously been named as one of the top 50 most influential and inspiring LGBTI Australians by Cosmopolitan Magazine for his work in this area.

In 2020 he founded the LGBTQ Domestic Violence Awareness Foundation and he is also on the Board of Directors for DVConnect Ltd. He was recently appointed by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to the Queensland Government Domestic & Family Violence Prevention Council.

Ben is an awarded educator and campaigner and in 2020 he had the honour of being inducted into the Queensland Government Domestic & Family Violence Prevention Honour Roll. He was also named as a ‘Human Rights Hero’ by the Australian Human Rights Commission and as one of Australia’s Outstanding 50 LGBTI+ Leaders by Deloitte & Google.

Most recently he was awarded the International Association for Chiefs of Police ’40 under 40’ Award for his commitment and leadership in improving relationships between the police and LGBTIQ communities.”

The excitement doesn't stop there!

Join us as CRDVS CEO Sandra Keogh delivers a powerful call to action, challenging the narrative of praising women for their resilience in the face of violence. Sandra's poignant words will urge us to confront the underlying issues and advocate for lasting change.

Held at the spacious Pullman Cairns International, located at 177 Abbott St, Cairns City, our breakfast event promises a sumptuous buffet featuring a mouthwatering array of hot breakfast options. We cater to all dietary requirements, ensuring everyone can enjoy the morning's delights.

Don't miss this opportunity to be part of a transformative conversation and contribute to the movement against domestic and family violence. For further information or support, reach out to our Community Educator, Colleen, at 4033 6100 or commed@dvcairns.org.

Together, let's stand tall, speak out, and create a world free from violence. ✊