By Natalie BennettThursday 2 May 2024Health and WellbeingReading Time: 3 minutes
May8 is MATE Day!
Warning: The following article contains mentions of themes that some reads might find distressing. If you need support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit lifeline.org.au.
Key points:
- MATE day is a day for gratitude and celebration of those incredible who stand by us.
- Through such acts of support, we not only reduce the incidences of suicide, homicide, and trauma but also foster a stronger sense of community and mutual support.
- Email MATE with your inspiring stories to “Dob in a Mate for Doing Something Great” & any questions about how to be a good mate and active bystander – [email protected]
May 8th is MATE Day, to honour and celebrate the spirit of action, recognising the significant impact of being there for one another and the role of amazing bystanders in our lives.
An active bystander is a person who takes action to support their friends, colleagues, even a stranger by stepping in during critical moments or helping when they see their mates or someone in need.
MATE Bystander are calling on workplaces, communities, schools and universities to join in the celebrations of those individuals who embody true mateship, especially during Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month.
And we’re answering this call!
Dob in a Mate for Doing Something Great!
We’re encouraging the community to recognise and celebrate the positive impacts of their mates, colleagues, and strangers through personal gestures, shared stories, and educational engagement.
Share your positive and impactful stories about your mates, colleagues and even strangers by emailing the MATE Bystander Program – [email protected]
Not camera shy? Why note share a video shout out for your mate.
By sharing these positive and impactful stories about our mates, we remind them of how important their actions are and the difference those actions have made in our lives. Through these acts of support, our mates not only reduce the incidences of suicide, homicide, and trauma but also foster a stronger sense of community and mutual support.
Who is MATE?
The MATE Bystander Program focuses on education and intervention, empowering participants to be leaders in the prevention of violence and problematic behaviours. By adopting a proactive bystander approach, MATE leads the primary prevention initiatives against violence, sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, and discrimination, while fostering positive and safe workplaces and communities.
MATE has grown into a globally recognised, award-winning initiative, grounded in evidence and trauma-informed practices from Griffith University’s Disrupting Violence Beacon. Tailored to meet the specific needs of workplaces, schools, universities, and communities, MATE collaborates closely with clients to deliver expert-driven solutions and aims to make a difference one bystander at a time. MATE training stands out for being interactive, empowering, energetic, and pragmatic, making a lasting impact on participants and changing the world!
At the heart of MATE is the goal to eliminate the prevalence of abusive behaviour and the subtler dynamics that sustain hostile environments. Through awareness raising and impactful education, MATE empowers individuals to recognise their power to initiate change. This recognition inspires action, underscoring that the journey to a more respectful and safe society begins with each one of us.
There is support available
If you need support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit lifeline.org.au. If you have been impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au.