Record donation achieved for respectful relationship education

PHOTO: The Hon Jodie Harrison, NSW Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Kirrily Dear, Co-Founder of Run Against Violence and Leesa Waters, CEO of the National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN) and Dr Hannah Tonkin, Women's Safety Commissioner for New South Wales.

With great pride, we recently had the opportunity to hand over an unprecedented cheque of $111,308 to NAPCAN's Love Bites program.

That brings our four-year investment in the program to over $400,000, the largest ever made by an Australian non-government entity.

This year's fundraising total was generated through more than $70,000 of donations, topped up with a further $40,000 from the sale of RAV merchandise and entry fees.

RAV is a volunteer organisation ensuring that 100% of donations and other funds generated go directly to preventing family violence. 

NAPCAN’s CEO, Leesa Waters, says young people and conversations are essential ingredients for a safer Australia.

"Our Love Bites respectful relationships program gives young people the opportunity to have frank and open conversations about what healthy relationships look like, what red and green flags look like, what consent looks like, and much much more.”

“Through our 4-year partnership with Run Against Violence, we’ve been able to dramatically expand Love Bites. Vital funds have meant that we’ve been able to train more facilitators, particularly in rural and remote areas, and develop culturally-informed program adaptations, trauma-informed support modules and infrastructure."

“Importantly, this is about equity and fairness; it is often the areas in most need that struggle to raise the funds to train facilitators and run these types of programs.”