What can we do about men’s violence? Thursday Night Live’s latest provocation

The next Thursday Night Live! on September 13 poses the question: What can we do about men’s violence? A monthly talks program presented by the Lismore Regional Gallery and Southern Cross University, Thursday Night Live! puts critical, thought-provoking topics in the spotlight.

“The Thursday Night Live! sessions have been growing in popularity throughout the year due to the various touch points that each one brings to the range of issues covered,” said Brett Adlington, Director of the Lismore Regional Gallery.

“The September session will be a particularly challenging one, as it deals with one of the most troublesome issues of contemporary times –the alarming growth of male violence towards women. We anticipate that this event will bring about many tough but needed conversations about how men can come together to say ‘Enough’.”

In the days after the alleged rape and murder of Eurydice as she walked home alone at night, memorial vigils were held in many cities and towns across Australia, including Lismore.

Phil Blackman, who organised the Lismore gathering as a series of weekly events for men called An end to violence and rape – enacting the peaceful man, is part of the Thursday Night Live! panel.

Joining him is Greg Telford, an Aboriginal and Islander man from Minjungbal Country in the Tweed Valley and founder of Rekindling the Spirit; and Lizette Twistleton, coordinator of NSW men’s referral service No To Violence.

The facilitator is Dr Rob Garbutt, Deputy Head of School (Teaching and Learning) in the School of Arts and Social Sciences at Southern Cross University.

“When women are unable to do something as ordinary as safely walk home from work, something needs to change in Australian culture, and Australian male culture more specifically,” said Dr Garbutt, a Senior Lecturer in Cultural Studies.

“That’s not going to happen unless men see what is going on around them and take responsibility for eliminating toxic forms of masculinity.

“Our Thursday Night Live! panel will discuss men’s roles in bringing about change in unequal relationships between men and women that can lead to violence. It is an important conversation about the type of society we want to hand to the daughters and sons who follow after us.”

EVENT INFO

Thursday Night Live!

Thursday September 13, 6pm – 7.30pm. Free event.

Lismore Regional Gallery, 11 Rural Street Lismore, NSW

* This is an Auslan Interpreted event

* This is a wheelchair accessible event

Thursday Night Live! is presented by Lismore Regional Gallery and Southern Cross University.

Biographies

Evening introduced by Luke Addinsall. Luke is a Mental Health social worker specialising in working with men who use violence. Luke is currently the Clinical Specialist for the Men and Family Centre and is also in Private practice part time. He sits on the DVNSW Policy and Advisory Panel, No To Violence NSW Expert Panel and NSW Men's Behaviour Change Network. Luke also provides training around the State, currently involved with the Education Centre Against Violence to develop and facilitate its new Graduate Certificate in Men's Behaviour Change Individual and Group Interventions. Luke's passionate about supporting men to tap into their tenderness and integrate it into their sense of self.

Facilitator

Dr Rob Garbutt is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Arts and Social Sciences at Southern Cross University. His research lies at the intersection of identity, place and belonging.

Panellists

Phil Blackman is a local choreographer, performer, arts facilitator and father who works for RED Inc. In response to the June 2018 rape and murder of Eurydice Dixon, Phil began a series of weekly events for men under the banner ‘An end to violence and rape – enacting the peaceful man’. He believes that discovering and enacting the peaceful man is the beginning of ending men’s violence and rape. He applies himself to this process of discovery as a reflective and moderately-educated philosopher.

Greg Telford is a proud Aboriginal and Islander man from Minjungbal Country in the Tweed Valley. Greg has been working in the field of child protection, alcohol and other drug work, social and emotional well-being, and holistic healing for the past 24 years. He has a Master of Indigenous Studies from Southern Cross University. Greg is the founder of Rekindling the Spirit, a program for Aboriginal Families of Lismore and the surrounding areas dealing with substance abuse issues, problems with violent behaviour, and difficulty connecting with partners and children. He believes that “You cannot heal, what you cannot feel”.

Lizette Twistleton is NSW Sector Development Coordinator of No to Violence, the peak body for men’s behaviour change work. She has worked in the human and community services sector for 30 years for NGOs and local government. She has experience working in domestic and family violence, youth work, health promotion and community development. She has specialised in men’s behaviour change work, with 12 years as a men’s behaviour change program facilitator and three years delivering partner contact. Lizette has also provided training and supervision focusing on men’s behaviour change work. She is passionate about working collectively and collaboratively to create lasting safety for families.