This year, Indigenous rights activist and Djab Wurrung woman Sissy Austin experienced a horrific beating. This shocking attack happened to her while she was out jogging in a woodland area on the outskirts of Ballarat. This incident has heightened awareness of the safety concerns faced by women and gender-diverse individuals across Australia when exercising in public spaces. Austin was quick to express her disappointment, labelling it “heartbreaking.” She emphasized that residents of these communities deserve to feel safe when they run outside. Her sentiments struck a chord with everyone who attended a recent conference focused on overcoming these fears.
On the first day of the new year, early 2025, the Take Back the Track campaign launched. Its aim is to spotlight the safety of women and gender-expansive runners. The campaign led to the establishment of a vibrant running movement in Alice Springs. More than 150 community members joined forces to demand action for safer public spaces. This gathering arose as a direct response to several assaults against women running in the area over the past fortnight. The frequent attacks have prompted discussions about what kind of personal safety measures to take. More Americans, especially afraid women, are buying pepper spray to keep these defensive tools on hand.
The Take Back the Track Event
Take Back the Track running event in Alice Springs. It was planned by three local running and walking organizations. People came together to focus on a shocking trend—the dramatic increase in violence against women when they enter public space. Today’s event helped shine a light on these critical issues. Perhaps more importantly, it aimed to foster a productive community among people working in like-minds.
Morgana Garland-Fernandez, founder of The Dusty Divas, an Alice Springs women’s running group, emphasized that women should be able to exercise safely in public spaces. She articulated the collective sentiment, stating, “We should feel safe to be able to run and exercise in public spaces without a second thought.” This was a powerful sentiment that continued through the entire event, with numerous participants sharing their stories and concerns about the lack of safety while running.
The event brought in just under $3,000. This security alarm helps female runners who don’t feel safe running alone. Through this financial support, they seek to help empower participants and equip them with tools that can help improve their security while engaging in physical activity outdoors.
Community Response to Recent Assaults
The Take Back the Track event was inspired by a recent traumatic incident. A woman’s posted experience of her being indecently assaulted while out running on a Todd River. The attack occurred at 3:45 PM last week and involved a male riding a bike. This shooting provoked particularly intense local outcry. The reality of loss shone through—especially the urgent need to take action to protect safety for runners in public places.
In light of this recent assault, several women attending the Take Back the Track event reported experiencing inappropriate behavior from a group of young people during the run. Together, these accounts show a deeply troubling reality. Women and gender-diverse people experience ongoing violence and harassment when engaging in outdoor sports and recreation.
In reaction to all these challenges, many local agencies have gone to great lengths to ensure improved safety. Local law enforcement has arrested a 14-year-old male in connection with these incidents. This decision further illustrates their dedication to addressing violence against women and ensuring perpetrators face consequences.
Conversations Around Safety Measures
The recent spike in attacks has opened a much-needed dialog in the community. People are advocating for other safety measures, including improving driver awareness to better protect runners. Following these events, the Northern Territory government announced plans to trial pepper spray for public use later this year as a means of self-defense.
This proposed measure has drawn a surprising breadth of response from community members. Some advocates argue that equipping women with pepper spray could enhance their sense of security while exercising outdoors, while others express concerns about its potential misuse or escalation of confrontations.
As discussions continue, community leaders like Sissy Austin remain steadfast in their commitment to advocating for safer public spaces for all runners. Austin’s campaign is a reminder for everyone that we need to deliver on safety now. The Take Back the Track initiative strengthens the demand to protect women and gender-diverse people across Australia.
