MINISTER for Police Liza Harvey heard from leaders of the Choose Respect initiative on what the community-based organisation had achieved in Bunbury at a breakfast on September 3.
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The initiative lends itself to leadership with a focus and follow-up approach to achieve respect within schools, organisations and it has also been implemented at the Bunbury prison.
Bunbury MLA and Choose Respect patron John Castrilli said this needed to be a generation of change in the way people behave and choose to participate in the community and it wouldn't happen over night.
"Early intervention is very important and it can take one person to make things happen," he said.
"By having this Choose Respect umbrella to work under it has the ability to reduce crime and violence in the community."
Carey Park Primary School Principal and Bunbury Respect chairman Peter Rigden has been leading the initiative and has implemented the framework into his school.
He said he saw great results and a decrease in the number of students being bullied.
"A simple visual reminder to respect each other with care and consideration has been put in many locations around the CBD, on buses and sporting grounds,” he said.
Bunbury Prison superintendent Kerry Bishop said when she took on the role in 2012. there were serious issues with bullying of prison staff.
She said there were no programs in place so she looked for a model she could use to help with the bullying.
"I use the Choose Respect model as a benchmark because it gives me something simple to work with as there is a low level of numeracy and literacy ability," Ms Bishop said.
"These people are going back into the community and it is my responsibility to make sure when they get out that they have a good level of respect and understanding.
Bunbury Taxis Bill Woodward said the message had changed the behaviours they saw in the Bunbury CBD at night time.
"I see a lot of people effected by alcohol, especially on the weekends and the way things have changed over the last seven or so years is amazing,"
After the breakfast there was a new sign unveiled at the Bunbury taxi rank.
The signage was installed to support the Bunbury Alcohol Accord and local taxi drivers who adopted the Choose Respect principals in their dealings with passengers and community members.
Mr Castrilli said the taxi rank sign aimed to remind people their actions had consequences.
