Sexual harassment prompts Queensland runner to tackle safety concerns herself

Queensland runner Kate was harassed and stalked during an early morning run south of Brisbane earlier this year. She reported the incident to the police but later withdrew her complaint, finding it extremely traumatic. Kate's experience sparked overwhelming online support and highlighted the prevalence of sexual violence, with statistics revealing one in five Australian women having experienced sexual violence.

Moved by this response, Kate decided to organize a personal safety workshop to empower women with techniques to feel safer when exercising alone. She partnered with advocate Danielle Godfrey, a former police officer with over a decade of experience investigating crimes, including sex crimes. Godfrey emphasizes the importance of awareness, yelling, and creating distance to avoid potentially dangerous situations.

While self-defence and awareness can be helpful, they cannot guarantee protection in traumatic events, as the brain may not process threats quickly enough. Public health researcher Tracy Kolbe-Alexander supports the idea of self-defence to help women feel more in control, but stresses the need for a societal approach to improving women's safety.

Police acknowledge all reports of suspicious behavior and remain committed to ensuring the community feels safe.