Keep Safe Stay Cool aims to reduce the incidence and tolerance of Domestic Violence in young people’s relationships. Primary prevention/ early intervention strategy decreases the incidence or patterns of negative behaviours before they occur.  Utilising primary prevention and early intervention in young peoples lives assists in harm reduction and as young people are exposed to choices that will create healthier relationships and well being overall.

Many Young People have experienced Domestic Violence in some way for example, witnessing it happen to their mother, have friends who are going through it, or have experienced abusive relationships themselves. 

Young people who present in counselling are generally lacking an understanding about what abuse is within a relationship.  A limited number of young people present to counselling stating they are in an abusive relationship.

Reasons for attending counselling include:

• Believe it is their fault

• Want to become “better girlfriends”

• Depression

• Low confidence and low self-esteem

• Practical reasons. Eg. Housing, financial assistance, legal options

Link:  (http://www.ofw.facsia.gov.au/downloads/pdfs/d_v/dv_prevention_strats.pdf)

Keep Safe Stay Cool involves consciousness raising and awareness about Domestic Violence. Young People who participate in KSSC become active towards the issue of Domestic Violence in their community.   Based on community development principles, KSSC has a domino effect on the community as each year more Young People are recruited to become Peer Educators and actively engage with the program.  KSSC networks with The Seeds of Non-Violence (Onkaparinga Collaborative Approach against Domestic Violence.  Each year KSSC participates in activities during the Week Without Violence, Anti-Violence workshops and Local Non-Violence Action Events.  

Link:  (http://www.ofw.facsia.gov.au/downloads/pdfs/d_v/the_way_forward_young_children_dv.pdf)