The Stop It Before It Starts! Art Comp was held from May 2024 to Valentine's Day in 2025. The Comp accepted original artworks on the theme of violence prevention.
Watch our promotional video here to see what our artists had to do!
The comp was held in three rounds. All entries were received on our VPA Instagram page. Winners won $250 for their entry.
View all entries on this page and tell us which won you love the most for our People' Choice prize. Voting open until April 30.
Thanking our major sponsor
Artwork title: Self Love Artist: Madison La Belle I’ve illustrated this artwork through my own experiences with past toxic relationships and own reflections on where my priorities lie. My piece illustrates that self love is the most valuable and rewarding thing that one can achieve, with self love you are able to live your happiest life and carry immeasurable strength and light in your heart. Self love also allows us to separate ourselves from what no longer serves us and ensures that we will be happier and loved in the future. For the art work itself, I used vibrant colours to symbolise various positive emotions bursting from the centre of the person to convey the overwhelming feeling of love for oneself.
Artwork title: I don't wanna be a monster Artist: Pie Yi Wang This piece portrays a looming monster along with factors that lead to violence: desperation, isolation, prejudice, trigger, place, and frustration. Inside the mouthless monster is a vulnerable little boy, reflecting the fear and turmoil beneath the surface. Rather than focusing on the act of violence itself, the artwork serves as a reminder that recognising and addressing the inner cries for help is key to preventing violence before it manifests.
Artwork title: Overflow. Fill your own cup and then give others the overflow Artist: Katie Potatieart Too often we give everything we have to our partners, family, friends and co-workers and put ourselves last. This drains our cup, energy, leading to frustration, desperation and often isolation. We don’t make good choices when we are empty. We need to promote taking care and healthy needs first through self-care and healthy life style habits, then we can offer our positive mindset to others and make healthy choices.
Artwork title: Stop the violence Artist: Stephanie Vella That bittersweet moment when a purchaser acquires your work. That piece that evokes so much of your truth and with it, emotion. Reminded of the joy and gratification too, your message has reached another, to continue its journey.
Title: My Gallery Opening Artist: Emma Ischmidt As soon as I saw the announcement for this campaign, I knew this was something I wanted to take part in. The new C-10 model of understanding why violence occurs and how to prevent it gives me hope for the future and our continuing understanding of violent behaviour towards others. As a victim-survivor, I wanted to capture my interpretation of the model and to raise awareness and continue conversations. The painting depicts people sitting in an art gallery containing paintings of a victim-survivors experience of violence. Set in a gallery, they are opening up to people around them, inviting them to be part of their story; something to celebrate. The leaves around the frames symbolise growth and acceptance coming from the experience. The depictions of emotions and images are in golden frames as paintings because as a victim-survivor I found art a powerful tool in being able to express and communicate how I was feeling. The top left painting is of the ocean with a life saving ring, symbolising feeling lost and isolated. The second is a smashed window, but covered up by new awning and a bright light in the room. As experience always stays with a survivor, but we learn how to turn this experience into strength and that we are not defined by this. The third (top right) shows the internalised thoughts and name calling that occurs as a result of violence being covered up by words of affirmation and power. The bottom left is of a book, writing the next chapter and taking power back in our lives. The bottom right is depicting relationships and intimacy, learning to connect with others and yourself again after experiencing violence. The painting symbolises overcoming strength, building of self resilience and celebrating the people around you.
Title: Distraction 1 Artist: Carol Seeley No description
Title: Holding the Light Artist: Sarah Jane Starr This symbolic journey begins at the foot of the Golden Tree, which offers a choice: to go in the direction of not growing and going around in circles, or to choose an open heart and going with the healthy flow of change. The mountains represent the making of the Climb for Change, acknowledgement and accountability, an understanding that falling can happen within change, and that through courage and asking for help one will find that one is supported to connect to one's self-awareness and to one's own ability to heal with the understanding that others can hold space for you, however, it is your job to heal yourself. Here one is able to be open to the world of therapeutic tools and resources, be that of mentorships, journaling, creativity, and connecting with the natural world around you, nature. Circling back to the Golden Tree is wisdom supporting, and holding the light for you, assists you to see that the light is within you also. To me, violence of any kind is created from the distortion of one's belief that they have about themselves. Fear is its foundation. When one acknowledges this, takes accountability, learns, understanding through self-awareness, it presents an opportunity for healing to begin for everybody. When you heal, others do too.
Title: Ray speaks her journey Artist: Sarah Jane Starr Raye speaks, was the voice I needed, but didn’t have through Displaced Value. Even though she is a character in black, she has the heart of a “Ray of Light” within her. Raye speaks her Journey is that of Displaced Value to Empowerment. Here it begins, an internal dialogue at its early stages of One being in Puzzlement. A force that knocks One out of Balance. One’s world starts to feel overwhelmed, disoriented, exhausted and the why’s come into play. One’s world becomes smaller, One retreats, feel’s boxed in and can see no way out. One begins to cultivate piecing things together, as in this place there is only one way to go…UP. One feels the Cloak of internal protection and invisibility, which assists One to become stronger and sit with…. I SEE YOU! I finally see you. Knowledge and wisdom starts to take hold as you face the mirror in their direction. With the strength you’ve acquired, One leaves with a backpack and trailer holding trauma, sadness, pain, anger and fear, BUT most importantly, carries it all with COURAGE. Keeping on the healing path, the process begins and the journey of building One’s self up starts. Removing distorted beliefs and replacing with kindness to self and building new beliefs. Surrounding One’s self with supports that assisted in bringing One back to One’s self. One’s beautiful and unique self. Momentum picks up. One reconnects to their Inner Compass, One’s own Inner Guidance, a coming home to One’s self. Rebuilding strength, self esteem and becoming One with One’s Equilibrium. One starts to dream, laugh again, can feel hope and joy rising, begins to feel balance with a new skill set to the Glorious rise of This IS ME. One has now rebuilt a Life of Inner Power and Self Love, replacing fear with Kindness to self, opening up to share One’s self, sharing wisdom, trusting in self, trusting others again. A blossoming in believing in self and knowing YOU ARE ENOUGH. Arriving at We are All One. We are all wanting to be loved, seen, heard and respected. Be kind, be compassionate, expand, inspire, respect self and others…..Simply BE LOVE.
Title: She chose the bear Artist: Brigette Bell Commentary on a recent social media trend of an online street poll asking women would they chose to be alone in the woods with a bear or a strange man. The answers and reasons of women choosing a bear over an unknown man were heart breaking. As was the vitriol directed towards women online for choosing the bear. This artwork depicts a serene scene where a female bear peacefully sleeps in her den, symbolizing safety and sanctuary. Adjacent to her, in a mirror image, lies a woman in her own bed, also sleeping peacefully. This parallel suggests their joint vulnerability. The den is surrounded by a dense barrier of thorns, emphasizing protection and allyship against the external dangers. This imagery reinforces the theme of safety and shelter which is vital for escaping violent situations and healing from trauma. Within the den walls vibrant purple flowers bloom abundantly, each carrying symbolic meanings of hope, renewal, inner strength, and the courage to continue on. The Lily of the Valley flower makes an appearance as well, known for good luck and happiness but also for its poisonous nature, symbolizing pain, loss, and death to recognise the trauma and pain of victims of violence.
Title: Breathe Artist: Mark du Potiers This painting of mine is a scene of quiet chaos, of someone falling into the deep, of being overwhelmed and feeling enveloped by the vast ocean. I made it during a period when I had a lot of pressure on myself and felt many strong emotions. I think of it from time to time… and it’s always a visual reminder for me to breathe, as there’s always a way out of the current. It’s a great act of kindness to oneself and to others, to simply stop and breathe, before reacting. Giving ourselves a little time to process means there’s opportunity to change how we may act.
Title: Breathing Out Artist: Jess Millman No description.
Title: Coming Back to Life Artist: Jess Millman A dried rose from a distant memory given new life in a special healing ritual performed on Dharawal Country.
Title: Reclaim Artist: The Water Dancer - Katy Woods Arts and movement is a powerful medium to offer insight. I created this woman in red whose graceful actions become twisted as she is blinded by unhealthy love, she is the monstrous torment she both feeds and endures. Finding herself trapped she chooses to shine her light of change as a beacon, her community helps her to reclaim herself.
Title: Meaningful Artist: Sanny Sans My art represents peace, reflection, and resilience as vital tools for preventing violence. It captures a dreamlike scene as an invitation to the world where love and kindness triumph over anger and destruction by embracing peace in our hearts.
Title: Where the Light Gets in Artist: Carol Seeley Where the Light Gets In” is an expressive abstract about hope, about letting the light in… its about mindfulness, play, reconnecting with the child within.
Title: stop it Artist: Shive Nagah This artwork ‘stop it' is depicting the condition of a female going through domestic violence. Every girl's dream is to have happy and colourful life after marriage, but unfortunately some face domestic violence depicted in the black and white side. If someone’s partner is caring she can face other challenges of life background on colour side) with courage, one other hand if someone’s facing domestic harassment can’t even take benefits of other opportunities in life (depicted by yellow background on chacoal side). The title STOP IT is straight and simple message for the community to stop domestic violence.
Title: DV, injustice begins at home Artist: Thierry Rualt Stop DV. Injustice begins at home, only when it overflows you can see inside.
Title: Empower yourself Artist: Diana Reynolds Rule Empower Yourself is the best strategy to de-escalate any of the 6 factors of violence (i.e. frustration, desperation, prejudice, trigger, place, or isolation) to improve the health and well-being of oneself in or in leaving a DV situation!
Title: Crush the Patriarchy Artist: Safe Place Women's Counselling Enough said.
Title: Aspects of Grace Artist: Rachelle Castro There are many ways to prevent violence within our homes, relationships and our own inner worlds. As someone who grew up in a violent home, I am passionate about instilling peace. And practically, that looks like forgiving. It looks like getting good self-beliefs in check. It looks like patience. Setting aside pride. It’s learning & unlearning. It’s the courage to walk a new path. It’s grace.
Title: The light needs the dark Artist: Aaron Givens No description provided
Original song: Crime doesn’t pay Artist: Kitty Beach
Title: One little joke Artist:: Shantelle van der Leeuw I am not a writer, but as many have I have been deeply struggling with the gender based violence crisis, and found myself frustrated with people not being able to see how harmful misogynistic jokes and comments are- and especially that they are a driver of gender based violence. I wrote this poem one night this week from the swirling emotions and ramblings in my head. If it even helps just one person connect the dots then its worth the vulnerability of putting it out into the world♥ One little joke Harmless they say Each one shaping, each one moulding Connecting the dots to an agenda at bay. One little joke Playing tag, care-free and young ‘You run like a girl’ How good, I’m a boy so my genetics have won. One little joke Kicking a ball, having fun ‘Get back in the kitchen’ Now that I think of it that’s where I see my mum. One little joke I see a boy flick a girls bra strap ‘Boys will be boys’ Our teacher snapped. One little joke At a party with friends ‘Look at her skirt, she must want it bad’ I understand what girls wear now and the message it sends. One little joke Dancing the night away ‘Grab her ass, she’s hot’ Her body must be mine to touch as she sways. One little joke I met a girl, she’s great ‘The things I would do to her’ And its ok for him to say because he’s my mate. One little joke My wedding day -I’m so happy ‘Now you have your own ball and chain’ Having a wife must be a really crappy. One little joke Having mates over for dinner “I wouldn’t let my wife leave the house looking like that’ He’s right I need some control to make sure I keep her. One little joke I’m home from work the kids and house is a mess ‘Why isn’t dinner on the table?’ The value of her days work is less. One little joke I’m mad where is she - she’s running late ‘Hurry up and take care of these kids’ I don’t even know what to put on their plate. One little joke It’s a girls night, my wife gets ready ‘Who are dressed liked that for, get changed right now’ I’ve changed my mind she can’t go, I’m not being petty. One little joke She tells me she unhappy, after all I’ve done? ‘You have no money, no job, nothing without me’ I provide everything she would be silly to run. One little joke Our kids are grown, she wants to start work ‘No I need you here, no one would hire you anyway’ She has an offer she’s says and gave me a smirk. One little joke I lose control, She’s now bruised ‘It’s your fault for making me so angry’ She looks so scared and confused. One little joke We go to the hospital, I lie to their face ‘Look at you taking such great care of your wife’ Everyone thinks I’m the picture of grace. One little joke I can’t have her leave the house without me in case she speaks out ‘I must know where you are at all times, you can’t leave’ I’m starting to feel paranoid, it’s all I can think about. One little joke I take the keys for her car, it’s easier then constantly checking my phone ‘You should want to be home anyway this is where you belong’ I can’t have her going out on her own. One little joke She’s decided she going to leave me I must silence her quickly ‘Get inside right now!’ She’s driving off, but I know exactly where she will be. One little joke My wife’s funeral, everybody is so sad for me ‘A car accident, what a horrible tragedy’ No one will ever know that she tried to flee. One little joke Rippling through a mind Nobody ever thinks it’s enough to take a life But if you don’t see it, you are blind. Is it really One Little Joke….
Title: Make a Stand, PAINT your Hand Artist: Keira Sloetjes Exhibition held October 5 - November 29, 2024. Fundraising for violence prevention and response organisations across Australia. Thank you Keira.
Title: A Journey of Healing: Preventing Violence through Understanding Artist: Ange Foster In this series, I explore the deep and often hidden effects of family violence, and how we can prevent it by focusing on healing. The first torso carries the weight of words, those painful, harmful words that can hurt just as much as physical violence. The second torso shows the healing process. You’ll see the words fading, replaced with golden stitches symbolizing the mending and care we need to heal. By the time we reach the third torso, it’s whole again, healed with kintsugi. The cracks remain, but they’ve become part of the strength and beauty. This work is about prevention but not in the usual way we might think of it. It’s about showing the healing that happens when we address harm early. When we focus on education, compassion, and community support, we stop violence before it even starts. We create space for people to heal, to grow stronger, and to break the cycle. Preventing violence is about understanding the long-lasting impact of harm and it’s about intervening early. It’s about building a community where we support each other through recovery, where compassion is at the heart of how we show up for one another.