Drunk and raped in Cairns
June 17, 2008 by Megan · 2 Comments
Inebriated women in Cairns run the risk of being raped, according to local police: Booze fuels sex attacks – cops. The Far North Police area has long had high rates of sexual assaults (or reported sexual assaults). I wonder who is responsible for the sexual attacks? Police, community or individual?
Messages to women to not drink excessively, to not walk home alone and to always stay in contact with another person and to inform them of your whereabouts are often met with disgruntled community squeals of forcing women to be responsible for men’s bad behaviour. I am not in favour of making anyone else responsible for another’s doings, but, I do take the sentiment that local Cairns police were attempting to convey: responsible drinking and personal safety. Research has supported that there has long been a link between alcohol use and sexual assault and that women have to enact safety measures before they become alcohol affected.
Women have the right to go anywhere and do what ever they like: including getting drunk if that is what they fancy. Similarly, women have the right to wear what they like. However, with rights comes responsibility. We all have the right to jump on the plane and go to Papua New Guinea, but we would not do it without having the correct shots, visas or Malaria tablets. We would be responsible and act to protect ourselves.
The international and annual Reclaim the Night movement was born out of women being told to stay indoors after dark. A serial killer on the loose, Police imposed a curfew in an attempt to keep women safe. Women reacted and demanded that Police keep the women safe by catching the killer. Now, more than 30 years later, on the last Friday evening of October, women and children still take to the streets as a reminder of their right to safety, day and night, at home or on the street. I am sure that marching inebriated is not acceptable as it may well void insurance. I am sure that march organisers risk manage against all manner of potential harms. I am sure that march organisers recognise that with rights comes responsibilities.
Who’s job then is it to risk manage and keep inebriated woman safe in Cairns, or any other town? The women, the police, the community?
Photo, “Tired of the night” by sol_one at stock.xchng.
Therapy pets to teach protective behaviours
June 12, 2008 by Megan · 7 Comments
Imaginif is on the hunt for a selection of small therapy pets: guinea pigs, guinea fowl, bantams. Talk doctor Rebekah Allen fostered an abused Puppy from the dog shelter and our child clients loved her. Talk doctor Rebekah used the puppy’s abuse as an introduction to the children’s experience of abuse and as a lead in to protective behaviour conversations. It has worked beautifully and now many of the children greet me not with, “Hello Megan,” but with, “Is Izzy here today?”
Keran over at Birdwing Therapies uses her adorable therapy pup Pabu to build resilience and teach empathy in her child clients. Many nursing homes use dogs as companion healers for lonely and depressed residents. Disability support services frequently encourage the use of animals as therapy. Animals as therapy makes sense.
Rather than get a dog or cat, Imaginif has decided to offer a selection of small therapy animals. I posted a request in Cairns FreeCycle (Yahoo teams with Freecycle to turn junk into treasure) and have this morning had a response about a same gender guinea pig set. We continue to seek Guinea Fowl (how I love those birds) and Bantams.
Are you in Cairns and do you have some Keats (Guinea Fowl chicks), bantams, or similar small and huggingly portable pet you would be willing to gift to children in therapy at Imaginif? They will be cared for by myself and will live in luxury at the new Imaginif premises. Please contact Megan Bayliss if you can be a childhood hero.
Some pet therapy sites of interest:
Animal Assisted Therapy
Association of Australian Assistance Dogs (Mareeba)
Paws Outdoors (dog walking in Cairns – recommended by Megan Bayliss from Imaginif)
Take stock with FREE protective behaviour training
June 11, 2008 by Megan · 3 Comments
End of financial year stock take sales are everywhere. At Imaginif, rather than stock take, we encourage people to take stock of their life and to do things that bring on the positive winds of change.
To celebrate difference, Imaginif is having a Take Stock sale.
BITSS of Protective Play financial year end training
Imaginif is now giving away
two one FREE positions in the next
BITSS of Protective Play training
to be held in Cairns on the 20th of June, 2008.
Hurry: The first two web based contact forms received back stating you would like a FREE place in the BITSS training on June 20th, will receive the complementary positions. I will email you confirmation of your winning take stock position and you will get the full training package just as every other attendee on the day gets.
Take stock now and get a FREE training in the BITSS model of protective behaviours (value $175.00 p/p).
If you are travelling and want accommodation close to Cairns, Imaginif recommends two Bed and Breakfasts in the street immediately behind us:
Head and shoulders, knees and vagina
May 27, 2008 by Megan · 7 Comments
Many parents are too embarrassed to use correct names for private parts. Are you one of those who cannot say vagina, penis, anus or breasts? Protect Kids from Sexual Predators. Use Correct Names for Private Parts.
At Party BITSS we sing a song: Head and shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes. But wait…what is missing? What falls in between our shoulders and knees? Just all of our private parts that nobody likes to talk about because it is considered rude and impolite. At Party BITSS we add vagina and penis to the song and we add a vagina or penis to the body outlines we do. We are not rude or impolite. We are protective and make child protection serious business.
If children cannot talk openly about their private parts in a safe and supportive environment there is a reduced risk that they will be able to tell you about their private parts under a time of stress and confusion. If someone touches your child you need to know. It is your job to stop it from happening again, to protect your child and to help your child understand that what happened was not their fault. For your child to tell you they need to know that they are allowed to discuss those parts of the body in a serious way without getting growled at by a cranky parent or carer.
Go on: have a vagina or penis conversation today. I know its scary and a bit awkward at first but if you don’t do it, you may be leaving your kids open to enforced secrecy. Tomorrow I’m going to tell you a super easy and non threatening way to begin having that conversation.
Even Google knows how to use correct terminology: Google Mail – Because Google’s got a Doodle, not a Penis.
BITSS of Protective Play financial year end training
May 24, 2008 by Megan · Leave a Comment
Megan Bayliss from Imaginif PTY LTD invites you to experience a fun and helpful workshop to encourage lasting change for your child and family clients:
BITSS of Protective Play
End of financial year training
Cairns, June 20, 08
Experience how to support families and children in protecting themselves from sexual assault by using everyday household items and simple activities that they can bring into play, in their homes and on a daily basis, to reinforce personal safety.
The BITSS of protective play training will provide you with:
- Background and historical protective behaviour knowledge to inform future practice with,
- Information, knowledge and articulation of the BITSS model of protective behaviours that can be used in your next session with a family or child,
- Thoughtful appreciation and ongoing demonstration of child protection as a community responsibility,
- Some creative ideas to immediately encourage families to practice protective behaviours, and
- Skills in play you can immediately attach your knowledge to.
Cost of BITSS workshop: $175.00 (tax inclusive) per participant
Cost includes:
- the workshop,
- a bag of BITSS (toy resources),
- a copy of Bitss of Caramel Marmalade on Toast
- blanket permission to use the BITSS model in your own trainings
- blanket permission to copy and distribute unlimited copies of “Parent Sense”, a protective play tutorial written for parents and carers.
When: Friday 20th June 2008, 9.00 am – 3.00 pm (Morning tea and lunch provided).
Where: Imaginif’s creative space, 206 Jensen St, Edge Hill (Top of Jensen St, on the right heading up the hill, just short of the T intersection with Hutchinson St.).
Who: Parents, Counsellors, support workers, early educators, teachers, liaison officers, child protection workers, community workers, day care providers, youth workers, service club leaders (Guides, Scouts, etc), anyone who is interested in keeping kids safe.
Registration: Verified bookings are essential and you MUST return your registration form (contact Megan to get one) and payment before the training. Sixteen places only. Contact Megan now for a registration package and tax invoice.
Pre workshop reading: About BITSS
Accommodation within walking distance to Imaginif:
Red Jensen Bed & Breakfast
Kookas Bed and Breakfast
Birdwing Bed and Breakfast
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