Together We Can 2026

Together We Can – Collective Conversations for 16 Days of Activism

Join us this 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence for a half-day of collective conversations and action as we explore how Together We Can work towards a community free from gendered violence.

Hear from guest speakers, grass roots initiatives and take part in interactive sessions around challenging rigid gender norms, fostering positive expressions of masculinity and strengthening community connection and action across the places we live, work, learn, play and socialise.

This event is an opportunity to gather as a community from workplaces, education, sporting clubs and community groups. You will walk away with new ideas, insights and tools to be part of the collective action across your personal and professional life.

Event details:

• Date: Tuesday 1 December 2026

• Time: 9:00am – 1:00pm (arrival 8.30am encouraged)

• Location: GMHBA Stadium, 370 Moorabool St, South Geelong 

• Tickets: FREE, registration essential by Tuesday 24 November (ticket includes morning tea)

What is the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence?

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is a global campaign, led annually by UN Women, that calls for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls. It runs every year from 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) to 10 December (Human Rights Day).

In Victoria, the campaign is embraced by communities through grassroots activities and collaborative initiatives. 16 Days of Activism is a key opportunity to come together, raise awareness, and take action to challenge gender inequality and prevent gender-based violence.

Who will be presenting?

We are humbled to have Tarang Chawla as our keynote speaker. Tarang Chawla is one of Australia’s leading voices on preventing men’s violence against women and children. An educator, writer and board director, he serves on the Australian Government’s Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Advisory Council, bringing more than a decade of advocacy and public leadership to the national response.

As a Victorian Multicultural Commissioner, Tarang chaired the Commission’s Family Violence Working Group. His experience spans university education at Monash University and the University of Melbourne, government advisory roles, and work with schools, businesses and sporting organisations. Through national media commentary and public campaigning, he challenges the attitudes, institutional decisions and failures of accountability that allow men’s violence to continue.

Tarang co-founded Not One More Niki following the murder of his younger sister Nikita by her partner in 2015. His work connects the consequences of violence with the decisions that can prevent it, placing clear responsibility on men and institutions to turn commitments to women’s safety into action.

A local panel: We are also welcoming a panel of three local people with lived experience of gendered violence or expertise in the area to talk about the complexities of violence, with a focus on our community.

Our successful deep dive sessions will be back including:

• Unpacking the Adolescent Man Box (back by popular demand - Jesuit Social Services

  • This session will explore the Adolescent Man Box survey, which was conducted with Australian teenagers, asking about their beliefs in relation to how teenage boys should act, and about a range of attitudes, behaviours and experiences. It received incredible feedback at our 2025 event, so we look forward to welcoming JSS back.

• It's Time We Talked - Maree Crabbe

  • 'It’s Time We Talked' is a violence prevention initiative that supports young people, parents, schools, government and the community sector to understand and address the influence of pornography.

• Stop it Now! Australia - Jesuit Social Services

  • Stop it Now! Australia is a national helpline to prevent child sexual abuse. The session will cover what they do, their new resources and how community can use their services and resources if they need to.

• Introduction to Active Bystander Training - The SAFV Centre

  • This session will cover a basic introduction to active bystander training, run by The SAFV Centre's Training team.

Choose your deep dive when you register below, so the day runs smoothly and you get the most out of it.

Who should attend?

Everyone – we all have a role to play in preventing gender-based violence.

This event will feature a range of conversations supporting us to better understand the role we play in building safer more respectful communities. You will leave with practical actions you can take across your workplace, home life, sporting club, school or community.

This is an in-person only event and will not be recorded.

For any enquires, please contact events@safvcentre.org.au

This event is hosted by The Sexual Assault & Family Violence Centre and is sponsored by Women's Health & Wellbeing Barwon South West.