Defence Force units nationally are united in their resolve to take an anti-domestic-violence stance and demonstrate that violence against women is not acceptable human behaviour, and needs to be stopped.

As part of a defensive measures campaign on White Ribbon Day (November 25), females of Combat Support Group, which has its headquarters at RAAF Base Amberley, took part in a self defence workshop where they learnt the techniques of Krav Maga, a self defence system originating from the Israeli Defence Force.

While Krav Maga encourages all students, not just females, to avoid confrontation, sometimes this is not possible. These women were taught specialised Krav Maga techniques that will give them confidence and empower them if they encounter situations where they are threatened in their domestic life, on exercise or deployed – and don’t have any other recourse than to defend themselves against attack.

While ‘White Ribbon’ is a male lead organisation against violence towards women, the HQCSG White Ribbon Committee is made up of male and female members. They organised this event under the auspices of White Ribbon, with the clear aim of reducing and eventually ending all domestic violence. The Committee will be working on the development of similar workshops open to all genders in the future.

The Krav Maga workshop was part of a Defence-wide program nationally across all Services and the Department of Defence to show support for anti-domestic violence measures.