our mission:

To bring hope & healing, information & connection to individuals & communities doing it tough, especially; Indigenous Australians, LGBTI + individuals, those who live in remote areas, survivors of trauma – in particular, those who have been impacted as a direct result of; suicide & violence toward women.

give us a crack!

How:
SPARK the DARK Gatherings: We will illuminate significant locations with solar lights, transforming tragedy into hope & healing. The Gatherings will be symbolic events that will alter the essence of a space... so women can walk within it again - knowing that there is a living, breathing solidarity. This will also SPARK discussion & maintain the momentum of ‘our voice’.
SPARK the DARK Australia Tour 2019: We will be hitting the road, from Melbourne to Cairns, taking the roads less travelled. The Retro Girls Fun Fab Fun Show will be performed in every isolated town possible, bringing the joy of song to the communities of every region, especially those affected by the drought. We will be raising awareness of Our Watch. We will be supported by Rotary & working in collaboration with other existing organizations, possibly – CWA, AWIA / Buy-a-bale / ICPA, White Ribbon, Lions Clubs etc.
SPARK the DARK Australia’s trauma trigger alerts:
We strive to provide positive & uplifting experiences on our online platforms & at our events, if posts contain links to articles with disturbing content (at times this will be necessary, as we will be collaborating with many established entities - working toward illuminating the issue of respecting & protecting women etc), these posts will have BIG warnings. Everyone is welcome to come and go from our community, as they wish. Spam & inappropriate posts & members will be removed. These are safe spaces & events. Please feel free to share, ‘we are gonna make a change...’ it’s gonna be beautiful....check it out; it’s a happening thing..............
https://www.facebook.com/SPARKtheDARKAustralia/
https://www.instagram.com/sparkthedarkaustralia/
https://www.theretrogirls.com.au/spark-the-dark-australia.html
Our Watch website link, trauma TRIGGER warning, some content maybe upsetting;
https://www.ourwatch.org.au/
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Please email us at theretrogirls@outlook.com if you would like us to SPARK the DARK in your town/region!
We take the door, you spread the word.
It’s not a *fundraiser, it’s raising awareness & its having a seriously FUN time!
Please give us a crack!
*If you would like to utilize SPARK to fund-raise for a local essential service you are welcome to, we would like to support you in strengthening your venue/ town/ region.
SPARK the DARK is continuing to evolve. From our research (including the ABC series 'Back Roads') it has become apparent that many isolated towns/ regions have pressing needs in order to survive, we would like to offer you the opportunity to use this event as a vehicle to take positive inclusive action to address these needs.
Please take a look at our online sites.
Please let us know when suits to give you a call & we can create a wonderful event together!
To put on a SPARK the DARK Fun Fab Fun Show in your town....
Our requirements are;

1. An enthusiastic contact who can coordinate a venue & help to share the event within their region.
2. A clean venue that seats 100+ & has a clean green/change room (a toilet /dusty storage room is not acceptable for OH&S reasons).
3. Clean safe affordable accommodation

resources

Up-to-date resources provided by solid service organizations.
Trauma TRIGGER warning, a lot of this content is very confronting & disturbing.
Support services in each state of Australia are listed in the link below, provided by DVRCV;
dvrcv.org.au/support-services
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1800RESPECT is a National 24hr confidential info, counselling & support ph service; 1800 737 732
1800respect.org.au
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‘Our Watch’ is a creating nationwide positive change. ourwatch.org.au
 The link below is a poster that shows findings are from The Line’s tracking research measuring attitudinal changes of 1,000 young people (aged 12-20) and 500 parents from September 2015 to May 2017. The Line is Australia’s national campaign helping young people to develop healthy, respectful relationships and reject all forms of violence.
https://www.ourwatch.org.au/getmedia/6408db54-1fd5-47e5-b19e-fc98e243e6f6/OurWatch-TheLineInfo_final.pdf.aspx?ext=.pdf
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The link below takes you to a PDF of a poster of ‘Know your A – Z’. This resource offers 26 ways everybody can support others, challenge stereotypes, promote respect & prevent violence.
https://www.ourwatch.org.au/What-We-Do/Know-Your-A-Z-%E2%80%93-Preventing-Violence-Against-Women
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The links below are of how we can work together to make a positive change, they include the current statistics, there is a poster & a video, they are called ‘Change the Story’.
https://www.ourwatch.org.au/getmedia/f5b5a777-15fb-49ed-934b-962d5c20a21c/Framework_4pp_A4_Online_AA.pdf.aspx
Video; https://youtu.be/fLUVWZvVZXw
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‘Safe Steps’ provides a 24hr support line in Victoria; 1800 015 188. The safe steps response phone line connects women (this includes anyone who identifies as female or transfeminine) and their children with specialist support workers who can help them explore their options, develop a safety plan and access supports that allow them to live safe from family violence.
safesteps.org.au/