Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia’s Chief Justice Will Alstergren AO returned to Brisbane late last week for the launch of the Ask A Mate app.
The app is a project of Beyond DV Ltd, a charity working to support victim survivors of family violence and campaign for its prevention.
The Chief Justice is working alongside Beyond DV and its founder, Carolyn Robinson, with the common goal of eradicating family violence.
The Chief Justice is committed to addressing the issue.
He visited Brisbane in November last year for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and the start of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence.
It was at that event that the Ask A Mate app video was previewed. The final product has now been launched as part of the Lions and Beyond DV’s partnership during May’s Queensland’s Domestic and Family Violence Prevention month.
The Ask a Mate app features video answers to commonly posed questions, aimed at boys and men aged between 13 and 18.
Each video features a prominent male role model from sport or entertainment, and current ‘mates’ include Brisbane Lions co-captain Harris Andrews (pictured).
The Chief Justice previously said: “By the time families are coming to our courts things are often really escalated, and the damage in many cases is irreversible.
“We need to do everything we can to step up and speak out to stop this behaviour in the first place. And it’s men who have the biggest role to play in this. We need men to play their part in changing this culture of disrespect and violence against women.”
The theme for the 2025 Domestic and Family Violence Prevention month is Take positive action today to build a safer Queensland.
Throughout May, iconic Brisbane landmarks, including the Story Bridge, will light up in purple as a symbol that everyone deserves to be safe and feel safe, and live free from the threat or experience of violence.
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