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

Lee is a Prevention Sector Engagement Lead at Our Watch and a qualified lawyer. Her academic background in criminology and law reflects a deep curiosity about systemic and structural violence, as well as a commitment to addressing what drives violence against women in our communities.

With local government and peak body experience in primary prevention and campaign roles, she has previously developed tailored primary prevention tools rooted in pragmatism and approachability. Lee is passionate about raising awareness about family violence and building community capacity so that everyone feels connected to the role they can play in ending family and gender-based violence in Australia.

Sharmila is a Prevention Sector Engagement Lead at Our Watch with a background in policy, community development and domestic and family violence service delivery.

She is passionate about the primary prevention of men's violence against women, and has led a number of initiatives in local government and not for profit organisations. Sharmila is also interested in how intersectional practice is implanted in in primary prevention.

Cameron is a proud social worker who has never been satisfied with outdated masculine stereotypes in Australia.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 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.