Michael Jeh shares Hannah Clarke’s story to change mindsets about domestic violence in Australia

It’s a tough story to share, but for anti-domestic violence campaigner Michael Jeh it’s a story that needs to be told to help put an end to gendered violence and coercive control.

Anti-domestic violence campaigner Michael Jeh and Director of Rugby at Townsville and District Rugby Union Daniel Withers. Picture: Nikita McGuire

It’s a tough story to share, but for anti-domestic violence campaigner Michael Jeh it’s a story that needs to be told to help put an end to gendered violence and coercive control.

Mr Jeh is a former cricketer who now works in domestic violence prevention and bystander training.

He travels around the country with the Small Steps for Hannah Foundation, sharing the story of Hannah Clarke and her three children who were brutally murdered in Brisbane’s south in February 2020.

The crime shocked the country, with Hannah’s family starting the foundation in an effort to educate children and young people on controlling behaviours.

He is in Townsville this week to speak with corporate groups, government agencies and local sporting groups to share the red flags of domestic abuse, citing the legislation coming into effect in 2025 which will see coercive control criminalised in Queensland.

Anti-domestic violence campaigner Michael Jeh and Director of Rugby at Townsville and District Rugby Union Daniel Withers. Picture: Nikita McGuire

Booked to speak at the Townsville District Rugby Union Club on Monday night, Mr Jeh says his talks are based on primary education of domestic abuse signs and changing the long-term attitudes.

“What we are trying to do is give everyday people a sense of what some of those red flags are,” he said.

Director of Rugby at Townsville and District Rugby Club Daniel Withers said “it will be an emotional story to hear, but an important story to hear”.

“I was introduced to Michael in 2014 as he was working with Rugby Australia at the time. His talks really resonated with our young men at the time,” he said.

“I reached out to him and he came back to me and told me about the work he’s doing with Small Steps and my first instinct was how do we get him here. It’s an important message.”

“We see ourselves as being a part of the community. The small part is playing rugby, the big part is making a better community.”

Following the tragic killings of Hannah and her children, her parents Lloyd and Sue reached out to Mr Jeh, who had been working in the are of gendered violence, and asked him to create a presentation aiming to end the cycle of domestic violence in Australia.

“Lloyd was kind and gracious enough to come up to me after hearing me speak one day and said we need a male voice that is prepared to cut through some of the political excuses and the polite language,” he said.

“2024 is as bad a year as we have ever had, on average a woman is killed by an intimate partner every four days.”

Mr Jeh said his main aim for the sessions is to ‘flick the switch’ in the minds of attendees, saying that many people may be experiencing, perpatrating or enabling domestic violence but are made aware when hearing from a third party.

He said he has had attendees speak with him after sessions, realising they are in a domestic violence situation and seeking help.

“We’ve had half a dozen stories of people that have come up to me within minutes of the presentation saying they are going to leave tonight or taking measures this afternoon [to escape a DV situation],” he said.

“All the wiring is there, all Hannah’s story might have done was flicked the switch.”

“What we are trying to give you is the confidence to back your instincts and empower those who may be struggling.”

Mr Jeh said he was honoured to be given the role as ambassador to the Small Steps 4 Hannah Foundation.

“The foundation is incredibly generous in allowing me to speak. I am only the voice of Hannah and her family, I have the honour of doing that,” he said.

“The voices you will hear from, eerily, come from the people who aren’t here to tell their own stories.”

For those wanting to listen to ‘Hannah’s Story’ contact the Small Steps 4 Hannah Foundation.

Originally published as Michael Jeh shares Hannah Clarke’s story to change mindsets about domestic violence in Australia