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Trailer
Documentary
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About

It Starts With Us is a documentary and social impact project, harnessing powerful storytelling to drive new approaches to family violence prevention.

The film is a journey into the lives of a group of teenagers and their transformative experiences as part of Project O – an arts-based prevention program delivered in their school.

Accompanied by resources for education and community settings, It Starts With Us shares stories and strategies for working with young people to stop family violence before it starts.

Learn more

Directed by Amelia Tovey
Created with Young People from Frankston VIC, and Rosie Batty

Producer Sophia Marinos • Director of Photography Petra Leslie • Editor Sally Biasiutti • Composer Jessica Dunn • Executive Producers Genevieve Dugard, Deanne Weir • Creative Producer Larissa Behrendt • Community Producer Fallon Te Paa

Directed by Amelia Tovey
Created with Young People from Frankston VIC, and Rosie Batty

Producer Sophia Marinos • Director of Photography Petra Leslie • Editor Sally Biasiutti • Composer Jessica Dunn • Executive Producers Genevieve Dugard, Deanne Weir • Creative Producer Larissa Behrendt • Community Producer Fallon Te Paa

Where to watch

Stream It Starts With Us here via our website, on ABC iView, on ClickView for schools, or host your own screening!

Watch it
right here

Sign up to Big hART’s mailing list to watch the film from this site, streamed via Vimeo and available with captions.

Sign up

ClickView
for schools

The film is available on ClickView, an education platform that streams films into classrooms with integrated lesson plans. Available to stream into classrooms in schools throughout Australia, and in New Zealand and the USA.

Access

Host a screening

You can host a virtual or in-person screening of It Starts With Us for small or large groups with our instant, free and easy-to-use license. You will receive a toolkit to help promote your screening and make the most of your event!

Apply

Watch on
ABC iView

Stream on ABC iView, as part of Compass Series 39.
Stream

What is
prevention?

2 in 5 Australian children are exposed to family violence.*

Primary prevention aims to address the underlying causes of violence – disrespect, gender inequality, power imbalances, and cultural norms that excuse or tolerate violence. The Australian Government has committed to ending family violence in a generation, yet prevention receives less than 5% of allocated funding.**

Without meaningful investment in prevention, how can we expect change?

Learn more

*Australia Child Maltreatment Study, 2023
**Australia lacks consistent data on funding allocated to family violence prevention. This statistic has been derived from a range of sources in different states.

Education

This suite of resources — short films, lesson plans, and educator notes — centres young voices and lived experience.

Designed for classrooms and community settings, these resources support student voice, critical thinking, empathy, and family violence prevention. Creative, accessible activities help educators engage teens in meaningful conversations around identity, relationships, and the issues that shape their lives.

Access resources

Take Action

Take action with us! You can help amplify the importance of prevention work and support the next generation of young people to drive safer futures.

Host a screening

You can host a virtual or in-person screening of It Starts With Us for small or large groups with our instant, free and easy-to-use license. You will receive a toolkit to help promote your screening and make the most of your event!

Apply now

Write to your MP

Use our template letter to get in contact with your local federal representative – and ask what they are doing to support young people in your electorate.
Get started

Share our education resources

Assist teachers and educators to deliver meaningful prevention initiatives in the classroom, with our ready-to-send email.
Get started
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“Whether you sit in a boardroom, a classroom or a seat on the bus, you have influence and you can contribute to the seismic shift towards a world free from violence.”

Rosie Batty AO
Family Violence Prevention Advocate

“Whether you sit in a boardroom, a classroom or a seat on the bus, you have influence and you can contribute to the seismic shift towards a world free from violence.”

Rosie Batty AO
Family Violence Prevention Advocate

“It Starts With Us is a beautiful example of how art can change lives – a must watch for anyone interested in what we can all do to make meaningful change and end gender-based violence”

Moo Baulch
Our Watch Chair

“Primary prevention means stopping violence before it occurs. It means changing the behaviours and norms, in all areas of society, that excuse, justify or even promote violence against women and their children.”

Fourth Action Plan, 2019,
Federal Government

“Let your daughter be assertive and let your son cry. Let young people express and affirm their gender. Teach them about affirmative and enthusiastic consent and role model respectful relationships.”

Kate Fitz-Gibbon
Respect Victoria Chair

“People make choices about their behaviour within a social context. If we don’t change this social context, we won’t stop the violence.”

Patty Kinnersly
Our Watch CEO

“Ending domestic, family and sexual violence hinges on getting it right for children and young people and we cannot do that unless they are involved at every step, on their own terms.”

Dr Tessa Boyd-Caine
ANROWS CEO