Change starts with us: A full-day primary prevention workshop

Register

New dates for 2025-26

Free event

About the event

16 Oct, 2025

19 Nov, 2025

17 Feb, 2026

22 Apr, 2026

15 Jun, 2026

11.00am5.30pm AEDT

11.00am5.30pm AEDT

11.00am5.30pm AEDT

10.00am4.30pm AEST

9.30am4.00pm AEST

Online via Zoom

Register

This free training aims to support people who are new to the primary prevention of violence against women sector. It provides the introductory skills and knowledge to implement Change the story: A shared framework for preventing violence against women in Australia, covering: 

  • our vision for a safe, respectful, equal world 
  • what gets in the way of us achieving this 
  • actions you can take to change the story and prevent violence against women. 

This training is for people who are entering or new to the prevention sector, or who are looking to understand the national evidence base. Each program is capped to ensure a positive learning experience. As such, we try to select participants from a diversity of settings, backgrounds and geographical locations. 

How to express your interest

Use the 'Register' button to express your interest in one of the sessions via our form. Your expression of interest will be reviewed, and if successful, you’ll be notified several weeks before the training.

Applications for these workshops will close on 12 September 2025 at 5:00pm AEST.

For support or alternative ways to register, please email training@ourwatch.org.au.

Watch

Facilitators

Natalie Russell (she/her)

Natalie Russell (she/her)

Natalie is a Prevention Sector Engagement Lead at Our Watch, where she works to support and strengthen the capability of Australia’s primary prevention workforce. She has contributed to prevention and gender equality initiatives across local and state government, community health, and non-profit organisations in both Australian and international settings. Natalie is particularly interested in the role of values-based messaging to support meaningful and effective communication in primary prevention. 

Cameron McDonald

Cameron McDonald

Cameron is a proud social worker who has never been satisfied with outdated masculine stereotypes in Australia. From a young age he committed to taking action against gendered violence and what drives it. He has worked in the primary prevention of men’s violence against women, in sexual health and healthy relationships initiatives with diverse populations, young and old. He has worked in men’s health and wellbeing roles, and in therapeutic and group settings with men who have perpetrated violence.

At Our Watch, he authored the Men in focus practice guide (2022) in collaboration with an incredible advisory group and is currently a Prevention Sector Engagement Lead, where he builds the capacity and connectedness of practitioners working to prevent men’s violence against women across the continent. 

Melissa Kulan (she/her)

Melissa Kulan (she/her)

Melissa is a Prevention Sector Engagement Lead at Our Watch with a background in community development and women’s health. Mel has worked on community-led approaches to preventing violence, racism and other forms of discrimination using a range of models. She recently led the design of a 2-day program for practitioners called Deepening the change, which supports the implementation of evidence-based primary prevention. Mel loves dogs, bush walking and being part of a movement for equality and social change. 

Read before the event

Green background with publication title in black.
  • 4 resources in this collection

Change the story publications and videos outline the actions needed to address the underlying drivers of violence against women.

Teal background with publication title in white.
  • 3 resources in this collection

Changing the picture outlines the actions to address the drivers of violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.

Yellow background with publication title in black.
  • 29 resources in this collection

Changing the landscape is a guide to the prevention of violence against women and girls with disabilities.