Jenan Taylor
28 November 2025
Churches and community members in Hampton Park took to the streets to show support for people experiencing domestic abuse as part of a widespread push against gender-based violence.
They marched their neighbourhood waving banners and posters calling for respectful relationships and encouraging men to reflect on their ideas of masculinity, on International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
Hampton Park is in the City of Casey local government area which has the highest rate of domestic violence in Victoria.
Holy Trinity Anglican and Hampton Park Community House partnered on the initiative to make a difference for safety in the area.
Walking alongside participants who had joined from the HPCH and other denominations in the area, Holy Trinity parishioner Christine Phillips believed the march showed survivors they were less alone in their struggle because people were prepared to stand with them.
“If I can just help make a difference for one person then that is good,” Mrs Phillips said.
Read more: When abuse leaves no bruises
Uniting church member Diane, and HPCH chief executive Kate Madden were deeply concerned about the high rates of domestic violence, saying many people they knew had experienced it.
They believed it was important to call out gendered violence as a community because it would otherwise remain hidden, and wanted more people to be vocal about not tolerating it.
“Standing up about it as a community makes an impact and shines a light on the issue,” Diane said.
Local Star Community newspaper reported in August that Victoria Police had dealt with more than 7000 incidents in the City of Casey since the start of 2025.
Holy Trinity vicar the Reverend Argho Biswas said the worsening DV situation and the gap in local church-based efforts to address it led him to make tackling gendered violence his parish’s mission.
“Other churches had food trucks, shower trucks and were doing many good works that benefited the local community,” he said.
“We wanted to do something that worked for the community too, but Holy Trinity did not have a large number of volunteers who had time to give.”
Read more: Church ‘a soft space to land’: Violence survivor
Mr Biswas said while doing Melbourne diocese’s Prevention of Violence Against Women training program he realised it was a focus that did not need many people to give their time all the time.
Five people from the church now spearhead the effort, and Holy Trinity plans to install a family safety champion for any congregants and members of the wider community who might need DV support.
He said Holy Trinity’s mission and its partnership with the HPCH and other organisations who shared the common goal of making Casey a better place, was attracting interest from other faith denominations.
After the walk, participants further discussed and considered the nature of respect in relationships over refreshments provided by the community house.
Holy Trinity will also hold an exhibition of art created by survivors as part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gendered Violence campaign.
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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