Women’s self-defence workshops have been held at UOW to empower women to stand up for themselves against violence.
UOW Pulse student event manager Jaimee Evans said it was hoped that the workshops would give women more confidence.
Miss Evans said the self-defence workshops were designed as a holistic approach to feminism and self-defence.
“Violence against women is definitely a prevalent and ongoing issue that us, as women, do face,” Miss Evans said.
“To be able to deliver something like these self-defence workshops will help women to feel empowered and to give a little bit of strength back to those who may not feel as though they have it.”
In Australia, one in four women experience domestic violence from an intimate partner.
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, males were the primary abuser in 95 per cent of cases where a male killed a female partner.
Miss Evans said the four-part theory and practical workshops will help empower women to build on confident skills needed to defend themselves.
“Balancing theory with practical and understanding the why, how and the reason behind the actions definitely helps you to know how to respond in a certain situation,” Miss Evans said.
“It’s all about having knowledge about when and what our bodies’ response might be to certain things and understanding different situations.”
UOW student, Tia Jackson said that although she hasn’t participated a self-defence workshop yet, she “100 percent” suggests giving it a go.
“Self-defence, having an idea of how to get yourself out, or a way of making an experience the least violent, that knowledge is crucial as a woman,” she said.
“Self-defence classes are definitely very important, but we also need to start teaching men and specifically young boys to not make (women) need to defend themselves.”
Undertaken by the Director and Lead instructor of Power2SelfProtect Dr Sally Lai said the workshops are free if students attended both the theory and the practical workshops.
“I hope that they just feel empowered and strong and confident to set boundaries in relationships or in situations,” Miss Evans said.
“To just feel as though they can act, and they can have strength even sometimes when we feel as though we can’t .
“It’s important to know that we are strong, and we can do it.”
