Let’s end the coward punch

Violence ends with us

We provide education, strategies and resources to empower young people so that together we can stop violence and end the coward punch.

Pat Cronin Foundation Be Wise Presentations

Violence is destroying young lives

In 2016, 19-year-old Pat was struck in the head with a Coward Punch. Two days later his parents made the agonising decision to turn off his life support.

Young people often resort to this kind of violence because they don’t know how to handle conflict and emotions. That’s where we come in.

Together we can end the violence

We understand how senseless violence devastates families and communities. That’s why we visit hundreds of schools and other groups each year to teach young Australians how to make wise decisions when challenged with conflict.

400+

Participating schools

80,000+

Engaged students

100+

Participating organisations

Violence Prevention Starts with Education

Ben O'Toole from Pat Cronin Foundation speaks to students

Education Programs

We partner with schools and other groups to provide education programs that change lives, including:

Strategies for managing anger
Assessing risks and consequences
How to respond to social violence
See Our Education Programs
Mark Murphy Whitefriars Catholic College Principal

Info Hub

We believe education is the key to changing young lives. So we provide resources to help you make an impact:

Lesson plans and activities
e-Learning courses
Informative articles
See the Info Hub

The Pat Cronin Foundation has impacted over 80,000 young lives

One of the only school presentations that I actually enjoyed.

Student, year 11

The students were silent throughout this whole presentation.

Teacher, year 9

It got me thinking of next time when I get angry never use violence because you never know what would happen. It was overall very touching and useful.

Student, year 11

Very powerful and delivered so effectively to the students and staff.

Teacher, year 11

Fantastic tool for enhancing harmony.

Teacher, year 11

I wish this presentation could be shown to all young people in their 20s, 30s and 40s.

Teacher, year 11

It was really interesting and moving.

Student, year 11

I think that our year level needed this.

Student, year 11

We found it very valuable and have referenced the presentation in follow-up conversations with students and parents.

Student, year 11

Everyone walked out with a different view on fights.

Student, year 10

It gave me the confidence to help people in these situations and always look out for others, especially my closest friends and family.

Student, year 12

One of the only school presentations that I actually enjoyed.

Student

The students were silent throughout this whole presentation.

Teacher

Everyone walked out with a different view on fights.

Student

I wish this presentation could be shown to all young people in their 20s, 30s and 40s.

Teacher

How to Get Started

1

Request info

We’ll share more information about the education programs we offer.

2

Let’s chat

Connect with our team and we can help tailor a program to suit you.

3

Empower your community

We’ll share the tools and strategies they need to make wise choices.

Support us

Be Wise Walk

Get your friends together for our Be Wise Walk or virtual Walk to Anywhere. Funds raised go to violence-prevention education across Australia.

Learn more

Become a Sponsor

Partner with us and help prevent social violence while strengthening relationships with your customers, clients and community.

Learn more

Make A Donation

Your generous donations help us offer our Education Programs to schools and other groups at no cost.

Learn more

What is the Coward Punch and how do we put an end to One Punch attacks?

Inflicting death and countless life-altering injuries, the Coward Punch is a serious and widespread problem in Australia.

Read more
How do we end the coward punch?

The Coward Punch: Common Questions

Laws in states across Australia uphold the criminal offence of unlawful striking causing death. This has colloquially been referred to as the Coward Punch Law. Each state’s laws specify the definition and conditions of this criminal offence.

Interpreting the Crimes Act and trying to state the law is tricky business. The following links might help you in your own research but it is in no way legal advice. Please seek legal advice from a qualified person.

The Victorian law now stipulates that all cases of manslaughter by unlawful and dangerous act involving a single punch or a strike delivered to the victim’s head or neck, which causes injury to the head or neck, automatically constitutes a dangerous act. Section 4A, Crimes Act 1958 (Vic)

As stated by the Parliament of Victoria, “The provisions clarify that a punch may be covered by the new section even if it is part of a series of punches, and the death may be caused by the punch even if the death was the result of an injury from another impact caused by the punch/strike” Read more here.

A mandatory minimum sentence is now required: “Circumstances of manslaughter by single punch or strike, or manslaughter in circumstances of gross violence, arise a custodial sentence with a non-parole period of ten years must be imposed” Read more here.

A King Hit is the same form of attack as a Coward Punch – a strike to the head or neck, often delivered from behind, usually unprovoked and without warning.

The term King Hit has been replaced with the term Coward Punch to reflect the shame a perpetrator should feel.

This stigmatises rather than glorifies the act. Altering our language contributes to changing the culture: it aims to deter people from engaging in this type of violence because they will be labelled a coward.

A One Punch Death describes the tragic outcome of when a person is fatally attacked with a Coward Punch and dies from the injuries sustained during the attack.

Our mission is to End the Coward Punch through social violence prevention education, by delivering programs for young Australians that promote positive behaviours. The Pat Cronin Foundation raises awareness about senseless social violence that fuels one-punch attacks.

Pat Cronin was having a few quiet drinks after his first Seniors football match. When a brawl started to build at the pub, being a loyal and caring mate, Pat stepped in to pull a friend away. That was when Pat was coward punched in the head from behind. Read more.

Violence is never the answer. Learn why with a Pat Cronin Foundation Be Wise Presentation and our Info Hub of resources.

5 Steps to discussion emotion in the classroom - Pat Cronin Foundation

FREE TEACHERS’ RESOURCE

5 step guide for discussing conflict, emotions and violence with high school students

This easy five step guide will help you prepare a powerful lesson for your high school class and will support you to confidently lead difficult conversations with students.

Teacher’s Resource Download

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