Mackay Campus was the focal point for discussion of the new National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children this week.

A special panel event was hosted by the Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research (QCDFVR), which is based at CQUniversity.

L-R Vanessa Swan, Heather Nancarrow, Amanda Lee-Ross, Libby Lloyd, Dorinda Cox, Dr Melanie Heenan, Maria Dimopoulos and Pauline Woodbridge

This event, filmed for a promotional DVD, involved members of the National Council which produced Time for Action, the blueprint for  the Council of Australian Governments' (COAG) National Plan.

Details are available via http://www.noviolence.com.au/

Amanda Lee-Ross facilitated this panel event in her capacity as Manager for the Domestic Violence Service, Cairns.

Discussion highlighted how communities can work in partnership with government organisations toward reducing and preventing violence.

The resulting DVD will be made available for community sector agencies and individuals working on the prevention of violence against women.

Panel members included National Council Chair Libby Lloyd AM, a board member of the White Ribbon Foundation, ACT.

QCDFVR Director Heather Nancarrow, Deputy Chair of the National Council, hosted the event and participated in the panel discussion.

Other National Council members contributing to the discussion include: Dr Melanie Heenan (Senior Project Officer, Respect and Responsibility Program as well as Senior Program Advisor to the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation's violence against women program, VIC); Vanessa Swan (Director, Office for Women, SA); Dorinda Cox (Manager, Australian Centre for the Study of Sexual Assault, WA); Pauline Woodbridge (Manager, North Queensland Domestic Violence Resource Service); and Maria Dimopoulos (Legal Advisor, Domestic Violence and Incest Resource Centre, Vic).