UNITE! Students take to the streets again to stand up against gender-based violence

Monday, 27 October 2025

Wodonga TAFE, in proud collaboration with Junction Support Services, is inviting the community to take part in the annual UNiTE! – Walk Against Violence event on Wednesday, 26 November 2025, from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM at Junction Place, Wodonga. The event forms part of the United Nations’ 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, a global campaign that calls for collective action to prevent and eliminate violence in all its forms. 

 See the full 16 Days of Activism local events calendar here. 

The UNiTE! Walk aims to bring together local residents, community organisations, schools, and businesses to stand in solidarity and raise awareness about the ongoing issue of violence against women and girls. Participants are encouraged to wear orange, the official colour of the campaign, symbolising hope and a future free from violence. The morning will include a community walk through central Wodonga, followed by light refreshments, educational activities, a guest speaker and information stalls hosted by local support services. 

“This event gives our community the chance to stand together and show that violence will not be tolerated,” said Ruby Sidebottom, a Wodonga TAFE Community Services students participating in the event project. “By taking part in the UNiTE! Walk, we’re sending a message that respect, equality, and safety are values we all share.” 

Junction Support Services’ Victoria Kean said more than one in three women and girls will experience gender-based violence. “We unite on this Walk Against Violence to demonstrate our shared commitment to taking a stand against violence in our community and building a safer future for our young people. Together, we stand with victim survivors, to help raise awareness, change attitudes, reduce stigma, and advocate for a future where everyone feels safe and respected.”

This event also represents the culmination of a major class project for Wodonga TAFE’s Certificate IV in Community Services students. Under the guidance of their teacher Cathy Prior, students have taken the lead in planning and delivering the UNiTE! Walk as part of their final assessment.

“This project is a really exciting way for students to actively engage in their community and make a difference, as they hopefully will do once they enter the workforce with their qualifications under their belt,” says Cathy Prior, community services teacher at Wodonga TAFE. “Last year’s event was a real success and we’re hoping to build on it again this year.”

Working in dedicated teams across logistics, communications, activity coordination, and stakeholder engagement, they have been involved at every stage of the process. The project not only provides hands-on experience in community development projects, but also deepens their understanding of complex social issues, connecting the ‘why’ of community services with real-world action. 

Community members and organisations are encouraged to join the walk, wear orange, and demonstrate their support for equality and respect locally and globally.

Keep up to date with our Facebook event: https://bit.ly/4qlsHId