“Text me when you get home.” It’s a phrase exchanged between women every night — not out of politeness, but out of necessity. For many, it’s a ritual born from fear rather than courtesy. Recent data shows that 63 per cent of Australian women avoid walking alone after dark in their local area, compared with just 31 per cent of men. The reason is simple: they don’t feel safe.
Determined to challenge this reality, Perth women’s safety advocate and We Are W/M volunteer Casey Edmonds is taking a stand — and a long walk — to raise awareness about the issue. On March 7, as the sun sets, Edmonds will begin the inaugural Text Me When You Get Home Walk, a continuous overnight walk from McCallum Park in Victoria Park along the Swan River to the Narrows Bridge. The 10-kilometre loop, known locally as “Bridges,” will be repeated throughout the night until sunrise on March 8, coinciding with International Women’s Day.
The event aims to raise both awareness and funds for We Are W/M, a Perth-based not-for-profit organisation that delivers consent education and safety programs to schools, workplaces, and communities. The walk will be supported by local businesses, advocates, and community members, who can sponsor or join a 10km round alongside Edmonds to show solidarity.
“Like most girls, I learnt the rules early,” Edmonds said. “Wait for your brother to walk home from school. Never leave the nightclub alone. Hold your keys between your fingers when you walk. Call someone so you’re not really alone. These behaviours are normalised — but they shouldn’t be.”
Edmonds, who has volunteered with We Are W/M since 2025, said her own experiences of feeling unsafe inspired her to act. “I have been followed. I have been yelled at. I have felt that stomach drop that tells you something is wrong. It doesn’t matter where you live or how old you are — the rules apply everywhere,” she said.
The walk will be bookended by community events to mark sunset and sunrise, including wellness activities on March 7 and an International Women’s Day Community Breakfast on the morning of March 8. Edmonds hopes these gatherings will bring people together to reflect on the shared goal of creating safer communities.
All funds raised will go directly to We Are W/M’s education and prevention programs. “Young people deserve better education, safer conversations, and the chance to understand their bodies without shame or confusion,” Edmonds said. “I’m walking to start conversations about why safety is not experienced equally — and why education is essential in changing this reality.”
We Are W/M co-founder and executive director Nicolette Beard said the initiative immediately resonated with the organisation’s mission. “This walk is a meaningful opportunity to raise awareness, spark conversation, and support the ongoing work of We Are W/M,” she said. “If you’ve ever texted a friend when you got home — or waited for that message — this walk is for you.”
Beard said the event symbolises solidarity and hope. “It’s about listening, standing together, and committing to a future where saying ‘Text me when you’re home’ is no longer necessary.”
The Text Me When You Get Home Walk will take place from sunset on March 7 to sunrise on March 8, starting at McCallum Park, Victoria Park. Registrations and donations can be made via wearewm.org.
