Hannah Felsbourg
28 November 2025
Anglicans joined thousands walking through Melbourne’s CBD to show churches could play a role in ending violence against women.
The 2025 Walk Against Family Violence was organised by Respect Victoria as part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence campaign.
Participants walked from Birrarung Marr to Treasury Gardens on Friday, November 28, calling for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.
Read more: Holy Trinity stands by survivors amid highest DV rates
Melbourne diocese assistant bishops Genieve Blackwell and Paul Barker joined parishioners and clergy from across the diocese in the walk.
Bishop Blackwell said joining the walk reminded people that churches could be part of the solution to gender-based violence.
She said the Church looked at ways to encourage both men and women to be seen as equal in God’s sight.
Anglicans met on the steps of St Paul's Cathedral to pray before the Walk Against Family Violence 2025. Picture: Hannah Felsbourg
Diocese members joined a sea of orange along Flinders Street carrying a Prevention of Violence Against Women program banner reading “Love does no harm.”
PVAW program manager Kerryn Lewis said the crisis they were responding to was urgent, citing a United Nations report on global femicide rates.
“In 2023, one woman was killed every 10 minutes by a family member or partner,” she said.
If you or someone you love needs confidential information, counselling or support contact 1800 RESPECT.
In an emergency please phone triple zero (000) to reach ambulance services or police.
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