In a statewide first the Woorabinda community will join forces with the Queensland Centre for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence in a bid to promote intolerance for violence to children.

QCPDFV Director Heather Nancarrow and Education Officer Michelle Bradford will assist Woorabinda’s Women’s Shelter Co-ordinator Ailsa Weazel in creating resources developed directly with the community.

“We will be working with Ailsa and the Woorabinda school Principal to create resources for educating young people in the Woorabinda community that violence is wrong and will not be tolerated,” Ms Nancarrow said.

“The need for such educational resources was identified by Ailsa as she felt the children were accepting violence as the norm and she asked for assistance to create culturally relevant resources to challenge the values and attitudes that support and contribute to violence.

Ms Nancarrow said the lack of existing support services for Murri children dealing with violence issues also prompted the need for creating educational resources.

“Aboriginal people are estimated to be about 45 times more likely to be involved in violence than non-Aboriginal people, reflecting the devastating impact that colonisation has had on their communities.

“These resources will be among a number of strategies used to address violence in Aboriginal communities and could be used as a model for others wanting to develop resources for their own local context.

Ms Nancarrow and Ms Bradford will travel to Woorabinda to begin the project on February 17 and 18.