Founded in 2018 by Dorothy Gilmour, Rotary SAFE Families is a national and international primary prevention initiative dedicated to reducing family violence and abuse across all communities — reaching men, women, children, young people, and the elderly regardless of background, identity, culture, or belief.
Central to our mission is a deep commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity. We believe that effective prevention must be accessible to everyone, and that meaningful engagement with culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities requires trust, partnership, and respect.
Five years ago, PP Ronald Moss (Rotary Caroline Springs) joined the Rotary SAFE Families Leadership Team, bringing with him a wealth of connections across Victoria's diverse communities. Through his introductions, Rotary SAFE Families has built genuine relationships with African, Indian, and Persian communities, among many others, delivering workshops, guest speaker presentations, and culturally appropriate resources to hundreds of participants.
Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in everything we do:
Education and Outreach
Dorothy has delivered more than 250 workshops and presentations throughout Australia, covering Mental Health Literacy, Prevention of Child Abuse, Prevention of Male Abuse, Elder Abuse, Domestic Violence, Workplace Safety, and Career Transition — all specifically adapted for CALD audiences.
Multilingual Resources
Recognising that language should never be a barrier to safety, Rotary SAFE Families has produced printed resources in nine languages, including a Guide for the Prevention of Abuse, resources on Elder Abuse, Child Safety, and general family violence prevention in multiple formats. All resources are freely available at www.rotarysafefamilies.org.au.
Film
Original films produced by Dorothy address Elder Abuse, Male Abuse, Child Abuse, and Domestic Violence and Its Impact on Children — including a film produced entirely in Swahili for East African communities.
Community Partnerships
Workshops have been delivered and continue in partnership with organisations including the East African Women's Foundation, Himilo Connects, Girl Chat, African Youth Initiative (now Aspire), and Australian Refugee & Family Reunification, ensuring our reach extends to those who may otherwise be excluded from mainstream services.
Rotary Consortium
Rotary SAFE Families operates through a growing consortium of Rotary Clubs — including Rotary Melbourne, Rotary Hawthorn, and Rotary Caroline Springs — and, under the leadership of District Governor Emma Clark, will now extend formally across District 9815 clubs, significantly expanding our capacity to serve diverse communities.
We celebrate the contributions of people of all backgrounds — across identity, culture, language, faith, and experience — and we are proud that Rotary SAFE Families continues to grow as a genuinely inclusive movement for the safety and well-being of all Australians.
REMEMBER: PREVENTION OF ABUSE BEGINS WITH YOU and ME!
