Merlin Entertainments supports ‘Stop it at the Start’ campaign to help eliminate violence against women

November 25, 2021

Attractions / Education / Safety / Wellness /

This International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (25th November) Merlin Entertainments is lending its support to the ‘Stop it at the Start’ campaign, aimed at breaking the cycle of violence against women.

‘Stop it at the Start’ is an Australian Government campaign to reduce violence against women. It aims to unite the whole community in helping to break the cycle of violence and encourages adults to positively influence the attitudes and behaviours of young people by:

Role-modelling respectful behaviour
Unmuting ourselves and calling out disrespect when we see it
Having open and ongoing conversations about respect

By standing with ‘Stop it at the Start’, Merlin Entertainments aims to enact change to help eliminate violence again women through education, awareness and staff training, because while not all disrespect results in violence, all violence against women starts with disrespect.

As the global leader in location-based family entertainment, Merlin Entertainments is all about family fun, and family fun is based on respectful behaviour.

Ian Wood, Regional General Manager of Merlin Entertainments Australia & New Zealand advises

“we encourage fun and respect at all our attractions and in everything we do. That’s why we support the Stop it at the Start campaign, encouraging people to speak up when they see disrespect and role model the positive behaviour we want to see in future generations.”

In recognition of International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and in support of the Stop it at the Start campaign, Merlin Entertainments has engaged experts to present masterclasses and training for employees. The masterclasses will educate teams on the links between disrespect in young people, violence against women and the importance of role modelling respectful behaviour. The training course will also include the subject of prevention of violence against women and provide practical information to help them speak up and take action against this type of violence and abuse within workplaces.

Find out more about the Stop it at the Start campaign here: respect.gov.au

30th September 2021 - Merlin Entertainments prepares to reopen NSW attractions

29th September 2021 - Merlin Entertainments ‘confident’ about future despite US$878 million loss in 2020

5th May 2021 - Merlin Entertainments offers ‘Dine and Discover Day Off’ for permanent staff

31st July 2020 - Merlin Entertainments Group’s Sydney attractions offer frontline workers free entry in August

4th June 2020 - Merlin Entertainments’ flyer attractions reopen with additional health and safety measures

28th June 2019 - Lego owners lead £5 billion acquisition of Merlin Entertainments

16th May 2019 - Merlin Entertainments signs up to global disability campaign

15th November 2021 - BarBend.com survey reports on the pervasiveness of harassment against women at the gym

2nd July 2021 - Barrister to head Swimming Australia inquiry into discrimination and harassment claims

10th September 2019 - Victorian hospitality venues pledge to halt workplace sexual harassment

19th March 2019 - New Auckland Art Gallery Director will not take on role after harassment allegation in Canada

26th February 2018 - Draft Entertainment Industry Code of Practice to prevent workplace discrimination and harassment

8th January 2018 - MEAA looks to protect theatre workers from sexual harassment

3rd November 2017 - Australia’s state theatre companies condemn sexual harassment

3rd February 2016 - Perth Fringe performers suffer abuse, threats and sexual harassment

12th December 2017 - AFL executive forced to resign over sexual harassment complaints

17th December 2017 - Australian Major Performing Arts Group condemns harassment and bullying

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.