The Ochre Ribbon Campaign was established by the Western Australian Aboriginal Family Law Service who identified the need for a ribbon that can be symbolic to Aboriginal people who are survivors of domestic and family violence. 

It follows in the footsteps of the male-led White Ribbon Day campaign which aims to end men’s violence against women.

Binaal Billa’s project coordinator Michelle Kable said the idea of the campaign is to raise awareness of family violence and its devastating impacts in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

“The ochre ribbon symbolises the vision of eliminating family violence in our communities and send a strong message that violence will not be tolerated against Aboriginal women, children and men,” she said.

“The intention is to strengthen other advances in the prevention of domestic violence by other agencies and campaigns and to deliver a message that is succinct to Aboriginal people. It is culturally focussed in its values and contributes to the message that Aboriginal people will not tolerate violence.”

The ochre ribbon is significant as the ochre colour symbolises the land, while the brown writing on the ribbon is a symbol for Aboriginal people.

This is the first year of the Ochre Ribbon Campaign and Mrs Kable said they hope to make it an annual event.

Next Wednesday, the whole community is invited to the free event to be held at Northside Chapel from 11am.

Mrs Kable said it’ll be a great family day out and will give the kids something to do during the school holidays.

“It’s going to be a fun day,” she said.

“We’ve got some great activities lined up such as face painting, tattoos, a jumping castle and old-fashioned games like egg and spoon races, three-legged races, sack races.”

As well as plenty of fun activities for the kids, Medicare Local will be providing free health checks and a number of other services will be attending.

“We invite the whole family and community to attend the event to raise awareness of family violence and to help promote healthy relationships,” Mrs Kable said. 

“We’re hoping to get a lot of support from the community.”

For more information about the event, phone 6850 1234.