Division 9
Gold Coast City Council
Bystander Program
About our initiative
The Be There Group is proud to be working in partnership with Division 9 of the City of Gold Coast to deliver a community-led bystander empowerment initiative. Building on a long-standing relationship in this region, our work is centred on supporting everyday people to recognise the signs of domestic and family violence and respond safely, confidently, and with care.
This project aims to make Division 9 the safest division on the Gold Coast, free from domestic and family violence, by equipping local residents, groups, and community spaces with the tools and confidence to be part of the change. Through workshops, local leadership development, and the creation of grassroots networks, we are embedding a culture of looking out for one another, challenging harmful attitudes, and standing up for respect.
What makes this approach unique is that it is led by the community, for the community. We work alongside neighbourhood centres, local champions, sporting clubs, businesses, and families to ensure the strategies we use are grounded in local context, culturally relevant, and sustainable. Our model encourages people to act when they see, hear or sense something is not right, not through confrontation, but through care, curiosity and community responsibility.
With Division 9 as a leader in this space, we are laying the foundations for long-term cultural change—where domestic and family violence is no longer tolerated, minimised, or hidden, and where safety and accountability are shared values across the region.
Would you like to get involved?
Because we would absolutely love you to!