Domestic violence: Leaders at elite Brisbane schools offer hope after recent spate of attacks

Student leaders at prestigious Brisbane boys’ schools are taking bold steps to offer hope to the community following a spate of atrocious domestic violence attacks against women.

STUDENT leaders at prestigious boys’ schools are taking pledges and vowing to respect women after a spate of atrocious domestic violence attacks.

At Villanova College, at Coorparoo, in Brisbane’s southeast, senior boys have promised to fight the “disrespectful objectification of women on social media”, challenge demeaning “everyday banter”, and “celebrate the achievements” of the females in their lives.

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The powerful pledges were made at Friday’s school assembly following a speech by Minister for Women Di Farmer ahead of International Women’s Day.

They come after the school community was rocked by the horrific murders of Hannah Clarke and her three children in nearby Camp Hill.

“You could have heard a pin drop when I was talking about early intervention and why it was up to these boys to help change the toxic culture of violence against women,” Ms Farmer told The Sunday Mail.

Di Farmer with Villanova's Dean of Mission and Identity, John Holroyd.

Principal Mark Stower said it was vital for an all-boys school to raise gentlemen who served society not tore it down.

“We have been very cautious about what happened in Camp Hill, a lot of our families have some connection,” Mr Stower said.

“It has been very hard for young men, 14, 15 or 16 years of age, to understand (the tragedy).

“We have been working with them around controlling their emotions, particularly anger, and asking ‘what would a good man do?’.

Senior boys at Villanova College, have promised to fight the “disrespectful objectification of women on social media”, challenge demeaning “everyday banter”, and “celebrate the achievements” of the females in their lives.

“Violence can start with language, the tone and the words you use.”

Among the other pledges were to “use my voice and stand up for what I know to be right”, “challenge female stereotypes within the sporting community”, and “call for gender balance in all forms of leadership in society”.

Hannah Clarke and her three children were killed by her estranged husband in Camp Hill in February.

At St Joseph’s College, in Brisbane’s inner city suburb of Gregory Terrace, Year 12 leaders will on Tuesday address the 1700-strong student body about what gender respect means for them.

Senior boys at Villanova College, have promised to fight the “disrespectful objectification of women on social media”, challenge demeaning “everyday banter”, and “celebrate the achievements” of the females in their lives.

“It will be really powerful coming from the boys themselves – and it is part of a suite of steps to raise gentlemen, not just a one-hit thing,” deputy principal Damien Fall said.

Terrace students will wear purple ribbons – an anti-domestic violence symbol – all week, while external experts have been brought in to speak to students about “toxic masculinity”.

Brisbane Boys Grammar has established a Gender Respect Committee which raises money to help women escape domestic violence and runs initiatives such as Listen to Her with nearby girls’ schools, while Iona College in Wynnum West, on Brisbane’s bayside, has an #iRESPECT movement.