MATE Bystander Program Information

MATE is an education and intervention program teaching us all to be leaders in the prevention of all forms of violence, including sexism, racism, homophobia, bullying and discrimination. In order to be effective leaders, one must first recognise problematic behaviour. Therefore participants walk through real world scenarios focusing on each facet of violence. By gaining this practical level of understand, participants learn how to be effective bystanders to both over violent behaviour and covert problematic situations that contribute to violence. MATE educates and informs participants on how and why being an active and effective bystander will make a positive difference. The long term aim of the program is to address the cultural and social norms that support inequality and violence. MATE is more than bystander empowerment. It provides an education while challenging attitudes, beliefs and behaviour that may in some way, contribute to the problem. It gives us the knowledge we need to recognise an issue, empowers us to take responsibility, provides the tools we need to effectively interrupt the behaviour and the confidence and capacity to do so. The MATE Bystander program sits within Griffith University's Disrupting Violence Beacon as its primary prevention strategy. It is evidence-based and backed by years of research in to bystander behaviour.