Be a Better Bystander – for allied health & community groups

Monday 15 June 2026 | 06:00 PM

Be someone who does something. Learn about supporting a culture of gender equality, inclusion and respect, and a bystanders role in preventing domestic and family violence (DFV).

Join us for a free bystander training workshop tailored to community members who are working in allied health, volunteers of a local community group, or anyone that just wants to make a difference. Together, we can build safer, more respectful and inclusive workplaces and communities.

This practical and engaging session will equip participants with the tools and confidence to recognise when something isn’t right and respond with care, curiosity and community responsibility – not confrontation. Using The Be There Group framework, the workshop empowers everyday people to identify and step in safely and confidently when they see, hear or sense behaviour that may cause harm.

Designed specifically with our local community in mind, the training will explore how everyday individuals can support a culture of gender equality, inclusion and respect, and the vital role bystanders play in preventing domestic and family violence (DFV), bullying, sexual harassment and racism. Participants will gain practical tools to challenge deep‑rooted attitudes, beliefs and behaviours that normalise harm, and to foster accountability and psychological safety within our community.

This workshop will include discussion and real‑world examples relevant to an allied health setting, but with relevance to other everyday situations too.

You will learn how to:

• Lead from any role – understand leadership as a shared responsibility and recognise the influence every person has within their community group or broader network
• Take bystander action – explore the bystander framework, overcome barriers to intervention and apply it in real‑world scenarios
• Respect always – identify bullying, sexual harassment and racism, including their legal definitions and impact on culture
• Practise supportive accountability – respectfully call in behaviour, manage resistance, and respond to disclosures with care and confidence
• Understand domestic and family violence – recognise its forms and dynamics, including coercive control
• Prevent DFV – understand its gendered nature and how bystander action can contribute to prevention using the Be There Group Framework

This is a free community event, open to all, delivered in partnership with City of Gold Coast – Division 9 and The Be There Group.

Free pizza will be provided.

Come along, build your confidence, and learn how you can be part of making our community safer — together.

This is a free event, but please ensure you reserve a spot for catering and planning purposes!

For any further queries about the workshop, email division9@goldcoast.qld.gov.au

Getting there

Consider using public transport or active travel. Plan your trip with Translink's journey planner.

Parking may be limited. For metered parking, use the EasyPark app to start, end, and extend your parking direct from your phone to avoid fines. For more information visit City of Gold Coast's Parking page.