Bystander Intervention Training Workshops Make A Return in November
It’s Not A Compliment will run a new series of Bystander Intervention Training workshops in November following a successful pilot in September.
The new workshops will run fortnightly with a newfound focus on applying intervention strategies to street harassment scenarios. They will also draw together our work in sharing stories and raising awareness of street harassment’s harmful impacts.
“We've worked on focusing more on role play and case studies so that participants have the chance to apply the skills to a story that’s been shared with us over our socials, and think about ways to put the intervention skills into practice”, said It’s Not A Compliment’s head of training and events Jia Kho.
While the September workshops were predominantly attended by young women, we will be attempting to broaden engagement in November. Kho added, “We are keen to get more men—particularly men who identify as cis-het, and who would identify as benefiting the most from traditional patriarchal systems—involved and attending these workshops, as they would have the greatest potential to effect change if they bring these conversations into their own peer groups.”
Like the pilot workshops, the November bystander intervention training aims to destigmatise talking about street harassment and equip the community with tools to be active bystanders in cases of street harassment. We believe that a safe educational and discursive environment is key to fostering these conversations and ultimately creating a more equitable, inclusive society.
The workshop was first run in collaboration with the University of Melbourne Student Union’s women’s department in August. It will then run once more in October through the Australian National University’s Women’s Alumni Network before the new series launches. Workshops will be run on November 14 and 28 from 3:00-5:30pm (with a five-minute break). Registration is available through Eventbrite.
About It’s Not A Compliment:
It’s Not A Compliment is a Melbourne-based grassroots organisation fighting for the rights of all individuals to enjoy public spaces free of the fear of harassment. Our work involves sharing stories on the harms of street harassment, developing educational resources and advocating for more policy action from our government.
Available for interview:
Aakanksha Manjunath, co-founder
Annelise Lecordier, co-founder
Jia Kho, head of training and events
Media contact:
Mark Yin
0430277180