PR-03-2026
27 March 2026, MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – The Philippine Consulate General in Melbourne held a Self-Defense Practical Training at the Consulate as part of its celebration of International Women’s Month and its continuing Gender and Development (GAD) efforts. The activity was organized to promote women’s safety, empowerment, confidence, and situational awareness through a combination of personal safety learning and practical self-defense instruction.
In his welcome remarks, the Consul General emphasized that women’s empowerment must also be practical and felt in everyday life. He noted that self-defense begins not only with physical technique, but with awareness, sound judgment, and the confidence to set boundaries and respond appropriately in difficult situations.
The program featured two complementary components. The first was a personal safety and situational awareness briefing delivered by Leading Senior Constable Aaron Heriot and Senior Constable Karina Frampton of the Victoria Police Crime Prevention Unit, covering topics such as travel safety, theft prevention, aggressive behavior, emergency response, family violence awareness, scams, and other practical safety measures relevant to daily life. The second was a hands-on self-defense training session led by Mr. Michael George, a Melbourne-based trainer experienced in boxing, Muay Thai, wrestling, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
The activity aimed to equip participants with useful knowledge and basic self-defense skills while also encouraging greater confidence and preparedness. The Consulate noted that programs of this kind form part of its continuing commitment to support the safety, well-being, and empowerment of women in the Filipino community.
The Philippine Consulate General in Melbourne remains committed to developing community-centered initiatives that advance women’s welfare and promote a safer, more supportive environment for Filipinos across its jurisdiction.
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