Speeches
Thursday, 10 July 2025
Official National and Oceania launch of the Guardian Girls Karate Program
I warmly welcome you all to Government House for the Oceania launch of the Guardian Girls Karate Program.
I thank those of you who have travelled from interstate to be here today, including the Consul General, and I especially welcome our guests who have travelled from overseas: leaders of the World Karate Federation, Koyamada International Foundation and Amy Connell, who this week has been training instructors from Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia and Fiji.
The emphasis of protecting women from violence must be on preventative efforts, and the responsibility of harm must sit squarely on perpetrators.
Well over 100 Australian women have died because of male violence in the past 18 months.
While society attempts to address the underlying beliefs and circumstances that lead to violence against women, initiatives such as karate for self defence can go a long way to help women keep themselves safe, and develop physical and emotional resilience, as well as confidence and focus.
The greater the involvement from multiple sectors of society – not just government but also business, education, community – the more effective we’ll be at reducing these abhorrent statistics.
I thank the World Karate Federation, the Koyamada International Foundation, and the United Nations Population Fund for coming together and using their collective funding, skills and experience to create this program, now present in 20 countries around the world.
I thank you for designing and rolling out a 90-minute program that is inclusive, open to women of all ages and backgrounds, and will be offered free of charge.
The philosophy of karate is something I admire greatly, including its focus on non-violence wherever possible.
Its practice of developing the body and mind to work together is also an extremely useful skill that serves practitioners well in their lives off the mat.
I trust that some women, feeling empowered by these self-defence sessions, may even sign up to formally study karate.
I thank Karate Australia and Karate SA for their support of this program, and I thank Michelle Wilson, South Australian and former National Karate Team member, who will lead the project at a national level.
I look forward to seeing it rolled out across various settings in our community, including schools and community groups.
Congratulations to all parties involved. It is now my great pleasure to declare the Guardian Girls Karate Program officially open.