Morning and afternoon tea events have been held at Eldercare’s Head Office and 13 residential aged care facilities across the Greater Adelaide and Yorke Peninsula regions to raise awareness about the national anti-violence initiative White Ribbon Day.

Chief Executive Jane Pickering said staff members were encouraged to take the White Ribbon oath to ‘stand up, speak out and act to prevent men’s violence against women’.

“The names of staff members who took the pledge were written down and then displayed to all site staff members as a commitment to their oath,” said Ms Pickering.

Eldercare is currently working towards becoming a White Ribbon Workplace Accredited organisation and is aiming to receive official endorsement in early 2018.

“Eldercare has successfully completed Stage 1 of the White Ribbon Workplace Accreditation Program which included a staff survey and presentations at all sites,” said Ms Pickering.

“Eldercare already advocates an anti-bullying culture and I believe there is more we can do to support women who are victims of domestic violence.”

“82 per cent of Eldercare employees are female and our aim is to lead a cultural change across the organisation that better supports women including the provision of special leave for employees who are a direct victim of domestic violence.”

A group of Eldercare staff also attended the 2016 White Ribbon Breakfast at the Adelaide Convention Centre last Friday where Chair of the Royal Commission into Family Violence the Hon. Marcia Neave was guest speaker.

White Ribbon Day coincides with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women as a part of the UN Secretary-General’s campaign UNiTE to End Violence against Women.

Here's a snapshot from the 2016 White Ribbon Breakfast in Adelaide.