A record number of Victorians stood in solidarity with Safe Steps on Wednesday 1 May 2024, lighting up buildings and candles in support of the Candlelight Vigil to honour and remember the lives lost to family and domestic violence.
Family violence advocates and victim-survivors Farah, Boyd, Rivka and Katie addressed over 400 attendees to share their experiences and messages for reform.
Over 50 buildings and landmarks across Victoria showed their support by lighting up in purple, with Geelong, Gippsland, Corryong and Morewell hosting their own local events.
Further amplifying awareness, the vigil received media coverage from an unprecedented number of media outlets, including ABC, Channel 9, Channel 7, Channel 10, The Age.
We would like to extend a special thanks to the following esteemed guests for attending and providing their support:
- Premier of Victoria, Jacinta Allan,
- Vicki Ward, Minister for Prevention of Family Violence and Minister for Employment,
- The Hon Mark Dreyfus, Attorney General, Cabinet Secretary and Member for Isaacs,
- Kat Theophanous, Member for Northcote,
- Dr Samantha Ratnam, Leader of Victorian Greens,
- The Honourable Judge Mercuri, Deputy Chief Judge of the Federal and Family Circuit Court of Australia,
- Peter Khalil MP Federal Member for Wills,
- Zoe Daniel MP, Federal Member for Goldstein,
- Fiona McCormack, Victims of Crime Commissioner,
- Lauren Callaway, Assistant Commissioner, Victoria Police
The 2025 Candlelight Vigil will take place on Wednesday 7 May. Keep an eye on our socials for updates.
Watch highlights from the 2024 Candlelight Vigil
Watch the full Vigil recording.
Buildings and organisations that supported Safe Steps’ Candlelight Vigil 2024 include:
Melbourne:
- Melbourne Town Hall
- AAMI Park
- Federation Square
- Drummond St Services
- Flinders St Railway Station
- Rialto Melbourne
- Melbourne Cricket Ground
- Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
- National Gallery of Victoria
- Royal Exhibition Building
- RMIT University
- The Royal Women’s Hospital
- Crown Resorts
- Myer Melbourne
- Victoria Police Spencer Street and Glen Waverley Academy
- Melbourne Town Hall
- Parliament Gardens Coles Fountain
- Ikon Park
- 8 Exhibition Street
- Manchester Unity Building
- Freshwater Place Apartment
- 4 Treasury Place
- Bolte Bridge and sound tube
- Altona Theatre
Regional:
- Drum Theatre
- Gippsland Women’s Health
- South Gippsland Shire Council
- Kardinia Park Stadium Trust
- Barwon Health
- Deakin University
- The Sexual Assault & Family Violence Centre
- Give Where You Live Foundation
- Anthony Costa Foundation
- Surf Coast Shire Council
- Orange Door
- St Mary of the Angels Basilica Geelong
- Geelong Library & Heritage Centre
- GMHBA Stadium Geelong
- Clocktower Sale
- Gippsland Performing Arts Centre
- Loy Yang Power Station
- Stawell Town Hall
- Wedge Entertainment Centre Sale
- West Gippsland Arts Centre
- Cunningham Pier Geelong
- Steam Packet Gardens
- Geelong Skate Park
- Geelong Yacht Club
- Moorabool Street Catenary Lights
- Geelong Broadcasters Digital Signage
- The Gordon Digital signage
- Locations across Morwell and Corryong
Vigil supporters:
- Crown Resorts
- Our Watch
- Safe and Equal
- Carlton Respects
- Crime Stoppers VIC
- Kara Family Violence Service
- DV Assist
- Meli Geelong
- Respect Victoria
- Victoria Police
- VCOSS
- Say No to Violence
- Melbourne City Council
- National Family Violence Prevention and Legal Services
- Centre Against Violence
- VincentCare Vic
- Aboriginal Family Legal Services Queensland
- Federation of Community Legal Centres
- Victorian Department of Families, Fairness & Housing
- Lewis Holdway Lawyers
- Bendigo Tafe
- Allison Rowe Family Lawyers
- DjirraVIC
- Emma House Domestic & Family Violence Services
