As Australia continues to grapple with the national crisis of domestic violence against women and children, three members of the country’s creative industry have launched May8, the first national day of action specifically aimed at mobilising men.
Founded by Paul Chappell (Founder, Brand+Story), Wade Kingsley (Founder, The Ideas Business), and Ben Lucas (Head of Marketing, Foremind), the May8 initiative launches today with a clear message: men need to stop standing on the sidelines and start taking responsibility in the fight against domestic violence.
The initiative was sparked by a confronting week in 2024, when a series of high-profile acts of violence against women dominated national headlines.
“That week forced us to ask ourselves, why aren’t we doing more? And if we’re not doing enough, chances are most men aren’t either,” said co-founder Ben Lucas.
“Talking with my partner about the family violence stories in the news, it became clear that I wasn’t comfortable bringing it up with my mates. That made me reflect on why that was. If I knew that it was an issue that men needed to do more to help siolve, why wasn’t I comfortable talking about it with my mates?”
May8 is designed to close the gap between awareness and action. Backed by new research conducted by Ideally*, the initiative found that while 84% of Australian men agree domestic violence is one of the country’s most serious issues, many aren’t sure how to help.
41% of men surveyed said they don’t speak up because they don’t know what to do, and 40% said they don’t see it as their responsibility.
“Most men are horrified by domestic violence statistics but don’t know where to start in taking action,” says May8 co-founder Wade Kingsley. “We’re not experts in this space, we’re just three blokes who saw a gap that needed filling. May8 is about giving men practical ways to do something rather than nothing.
8 actions for May8
Developed with support from an expert advisory panel including frontline workers and family violence specialists, May8 encourages men to take one or more of eight practical actions on May 8 and beyond:
Talk to a mate – Use conversation starters to bring up the issue of family and domestic violence.
Post your support online – Share that you’re participating in May8 and tag the campaign to spread awareness.
Tell a woman in your life – Let her know you’re actively supporting the cause.
Make a donation – Support organisations helping victims of domestic violence.
Educate yourself – Read resources like Jess Hill’s Quarterly Essay, “Losing It.”
Donate an old phone – Through DVSafePhone, unused phones can help women escape abusive situations.
Share education – Watch and distribute videos from The Line campaign to younger males.
Gift essentials – Donate gift cards to women’s shelters, where survivors often need support for everyday purchases.
“This isn’t a women’s issue. At its core, it’s a men’s issue,” said co-founder Paul Chappell. “And we want to use the skills we’ve developed over the course of our careers as communicators to help men take that first step. The more engaged we are, the more active we’ll be in solving the problem.”
May8 hopes to complement the ongoing work of government and charities by activating a new group of advocates, Australian men who are ready to speak up and take meaningful action.
*May8 research conducted in May 2025 by Ideally. Nationally representative survey of 418 respondents across Australia.
Main image: Wade Kingsley, Paul Chappell and Ben Lucas.