Run Against Violence

Patty Kikos interviews Brenton Pobjie, whose life has been shaped by service and resilience. His grandmother found refuge with the Salvation Army when fleeing domestic violence with her 6 children, and his father became a minister, instilling in Brenton the importance of helping others. After his mother tragically passed in a car accident, Brenton dedicated himself to youth work, including time spent in rehabilitation schools. As a Child Protection case worker, Brenton emphasises the power of deep listening and the need to show respect when in someone’s home. He shares practical tools to help children express when they feel unsafe, offering valuable insights for anyone caring for vulnerable young people.

Tarsha Jones is a proud Gomeroi woman who only learned of her Aboriginal heritage when she was a teenager. She opens up to Patty Kikos about how family violence impacted her life when her brother was hit by a drunk driver that caused him to have frontal lobe damage, and was ultimately drug addicted for 25 years. When Tarsha left her emotionally abusive husband who was an alcoholic, she never expected that her life would turn upside down. But that it would then become the right way up after she completed a TAFE course, changed careers, and after much deep listening and unexpected soul searching fro both her and her husband, found their way back to each other - in a much healthier way. 

The fabulous Dr Hayley Boxall shines a light on family and partner violence by teaching us about "desistance", and practical ways that we can encourage people to stop choosing to use violence. In this refreshingly down to earth interview with Patty Kikos, Hayley talks about the importance of 'respect' for different cultures, valid reasons people choose to remain in relationships, how violence is not limited to lower socio economic environments and why pressuring someone to 'just leave', won't necessarily solve their problems.

15 years have passed since the tragic event when Brenda Lin’s parents, brothers and aunt were murdered. She is now a criminologist who is completing her PhD, and is one of the co-founders of the Survivor Hub, an organisation that supports, informs & empowers people impacted by sexual assault. Brenda shares her extraordinary story of resilience with Patty Kikos, and how she is still healing after the grief and trauma she has experienced.

Dr Tim Moore is an Associate Professor and the Deputy Director at the Institute of Child Protection Studies. He shares his love of storytelling with Patty Kikos, along with comical cautionary tales of 'what not to do' from the lessons he learned as a youth worker. Tim's passion about empowering adults to have 'uncomfortable conversations', to ensure young people have a voice, inspired him to co author the much anticipated Tuned In training modules, released by NAPCAN. We take a deep dive into all 6 components, which are a wonderful resource for those working with groups of young people, to help them 'be safe and feel safe'.

Tarryn Cherniayeff shares her extraordinary story of empowerment with Patty Kikos. From relinquishing control and access to her own money to uncovering her ex’s gambling addiction and ice pipe. None of that was as shocking as the money he’d stolen or the amount of loans he’d taken out in her name. While the financial fallout is not quite over, Tarryn has found incredible ways to experience freedom, heal, love, thrive, be independent, and live life on her terms.

The party is over. Now that the Run Against Violence Virtual Team Challenge has finished for another year, we look back and reflect on the 2022 challenge and remember why it’s important to continue shining a light on domestic and family violence in our communities.

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The first Run Against Violence Virtual Team Challenge was held in 2017. 5 years on, we speak with 3 of our original Team Captains, Margie, Ben and Belinda about why they are still passionately involved with the Run Against Violence and how conversations in their community have changed over that time.

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The Katherine Women’s Legal Service (KWILS) is a not-for-profit community legal centre based in Katherine in the Northern Territory that provides free legal services in the Katherine region. In fact, they cover an area the size of Victoria & Tasmania combined!

Siobhan Mackay is the CEO of KWILS and has a unique insight into the challenges faced by domestic and family violence victims, and the support services available to them, in remote and regional communities (and our First Nations and Indigenous women in particular).

Also in this episode, you'll meet Belinda from the Dead Ringers in our Team Spotlight.

Run Against Violence partners with the National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN) to help ensure that every teenager in Australia has the opportunity to learn about what healthy relationships look like for them. Over the last 2 years, the RAV has donated $200,000 to NAPCAN to enhance and expand its Love Bites program (and 100% of funds raised in 2022 will be donated too).

Madelene McGrath is the National Stakeholder Manager and NAPCAN and Dr Brenda Dobia is an Adjunct Fellow, with the School of Education at the Western Sydney University and has worked with NAPCAN for many years to adapt, expand and develop Love Bites. Today they join us to talk about Love Bites, including how the money raised by RAV has and will be used to expand and enhance the program.

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