Kevin Cooper, a Muddi Muddi and Moytrabin Traditional Owner, is here to talk about the upcoming STAND events in Wangaratta.

The values behind STAND - respect, safety and community – shares similar values at the heart of The Marmungun Rock, a local symbol of unity created by his late father, Uncle Wally Cooper.

“My father, Wally Cooper, came up with the concept of The Marmungun Rock as a way to recognise community members that do good work and put their community first," Kevin said.

"And he didn’t want it just for Aboriginal people.

"He wanted it to reunite and reconcile a community together.

"That’s why he wanted it to be a rock where it didn’t matter whether you were black, white or brindle.

"That we could come together as a community and recognise the people that put the community first.

"That’s what respect looks like to me.

"Respect in the cultural sense is having respect for your Elders, respect for people who have been through much more than you’ve been through.

"In a personal sense, respect to me is down to if you give someone your word or something like that, tell them you are going to do something, you live by your word and do it. That’s how I’m raising my kids.”

Kevin said keeping each other safe has always been part of cultural life.

"We are all there to be a part of each other’s lives, whether it came down to raising children while we were off hunting, or just caring for our Elders," he said.

"Caring for the women and children around you, just making sure everyone’s kept safe.

"Our women are the closest to our Creator, as women can give life.

"So we care for them as we would care for our Creator.

"Therefore, if a woman or a child was abused, that was not tolerated in a cultural sense.”

Through his work with VACCA (the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency), Kevin continues this commitment to community care and respect.

“So with VACCA currently, I’m working with them with at-risk youth who are disengaged from schools and potentially going into committing crimes and going down the wrong path," he said.

"As a part of this eight-week program that I developed at VACCA, we go out and share culture with them and engage them in something that is a part of them.

"Deep down, a lot of our youth are getting lost and not knowing their sense of purpose.

"So they are going down the wrong path with drugs and alcohol, violence and things like that.

"This is an early-stage intervention to be able to discourage that behaviour.

"One of the key aspects we do talk about throughout the program with VACCA is respect, caring for each other, the respect to listen to someone to understand what they’re talking about, but then us showing you the respect to have your say as well.”

When asked about STAND training, Kevin says it’s something everyone should take part in.

"Everyone should be there to stand for each other, stand together as united to make sure that we’re all cared for and looked after," he said.

"It shouldn’t be just a one-time thing. It should be more often, should be ongoing in my opinion.”

This STAND event is designed to give people the skills to step in when it matters most.

Participants will learn how to notice the signs of discrimination, disrespect, and violence, and how to respond safely and respectfully.

STAND is delivered in partnership between the Centre Against Violence and the Rural City of Wangaratta, with support from the Free From Violence Local Government Program.

You can choose to attend on Monday, 1 December 6pm - 8pm or Wednesday, 3 December, noon - 2pm at Wangaratta Performing Arts and Convention Centre.

This free, interactive two-hour workshop is open to everyone.

Registrations are essential and close 26 November.