More than 150 Queensland Police Service members have joined a major community event raising awareness of domestic and family violence, an issue affecting communities across Queensland, including Logan.
The Darkness to Daylight event was held in Brisbane overnight on 18 June and into the morning of 19 June after being postponed from Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month because of weather.
The event, hosted by Challenge DV, included a 110km relay-style run representing the 110 lives lost to domestic and family violence in Australia each year.
QPS said 20 Queenslanders lost their lives to domestic and family violence last year.
Participants could also join the final 10km or 3km legs of the event, which raised money for domestic and family violence prevention and early intervention programs.
Office of the Commissioner General Manager Cathy Ford said the event showed the community standing together against violence.
“Today we saw the strength of the Queensland community come together to say that domestic and family violence is never okay, and that there is never an acceptable excuse,” Ms Ford said.
Ms Ford said events such as Darkness to Daylight helped keep the conversation about domestic and family violence in the public eye while supporting those affected.
“Every step taken today sends a powerful message of support to victim-survivors and reinforces our collective commitment to ending domestic and family violence,” she said.
She said raising awareness was an important part of prevention and early intervention efforts.
“Domestic and family violence impacts people from all walks of life and every community has a role to play in challenging harmful behaviours and supporting those who need help,” Ms Ford said.
QPS said police respond to an average of 500 domestic and family violence-related callouts each day, or about one every three minutes, highlighting the ongoing impact of DFV in communities such as Logan.
“While these figures are confronting, they also remind us why education, prevention and community support are so important,” Ms Ford said.
Anyone in immediate danger should call Triple Zero.
