A new not-for-profit, May8, has launched today (May 8th), offering a practical framework to help men take personal action in addressing one of Australia’s most urgent social issues: domestic and family violence.
Co-founded by Wade Kingsley, Paul Chappell, and Ben Lucas, May8 is not about pointing fingers — it’s about providing a starting point for men who want to help, but don’t know how.
A Stats Crisis That Needs a Startup Mindset
Every ten days in Australia, a woman is killed by an intimate partner. Despite widespread recognition of the problem — 84% of Australian men agree that violence against women is a major national issue — research shows that 40% don’t see it as their personal responsibility.
Backed by a panel of experts in domestic violence prevention, May8 applies a startup mindset to social change: keep it simple, make it frictionless, and invite participation.
Eight Actions for Immediate Impact
At the heart of the May8 campaign is a list of eight small, achievable actions men can take today:
- Have a conversation with a mate. Find ways to bring up Family and Domestic Violence using conversation starters. See May8.org for conversation starters
- Share your participation in May8 on your social network and tag us in. Every post can encourage other men to do the same.
- Let a woman in your life know you are actively supporting the cause. Sometimes just saying aloud that you are not just a bystander is worth her knowing.
- Make a cash donation to organisations that need your help.
- Read educational resources like Jess Hill’s essay “Losing it” or research from the Invisible Man project.
- Donate an old mobile phone. Women fleeing domestic situations often have their phones tracked by perpetrators. DVSafePhone repurposes old phones for women in need.
- Watch the video from “The Line” and share it with a younger male you know.
- Donate a gift card to a Women’s Shelter. Many women need gift cards to buy essentials when a perpetrator controls their bank account
Each action is supported by resources and links on the May8.org website.
From Ideas to Impact
What started as a conversation among friends with media, marketing, and entrepreneurial experience has quickly grown into a national initiative. The founders credit their backgrounds in startups and creative industries for shaping the project’s accessible, no-judgement approach.
A Platform for Scalable Change
While May8 is not a tech startup in the traditional sense, its founders see it as a platform for behaviour change — and one with the potential to scale nationally.
Already, early adopters and advocates are stepping forward across Australia, with growing interest from corporates and community organisations looking to embed May8’s actions into their own prevention strategies.The team encourages men to visit May8.org, take action, and become part of the national shift.
