About The Project

  • Annual funding of $100,000 for the next three years, to expand primary prevention education, training in the workplace and the broader community to continue the work of the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032.
  • Continued Gippsland Free From Violence funding to expand primary prevention in the workplace and in the community.
  • Funding to improve accessibility to Bass Coast’s outdoor assets including our beaches and walking trails.

Background

Preventing family violence and fostering cultural and institutional change stand as pivotal strategies in addressing the pressing issues faced by women in the Gippsland Region. With some of the highest rates of family violence in Victoria, women in the region confront significant challenges exacerbated by limited access to essential services and housing. The stark statistics, such as Bass Coast’s ranking at #23 out of 79 LGAs in Victoria for family violence rates, underscore the urgency of concerted action. Recognising the gravity of the situation, we have actively engaged in the Gippsland Free From Violence Partnership, spearheaded by Gippsland Womens Health as a regional initiative toward primary prevention.

As current participants in the Free From Violence Local Government Grant Program through the Victorian Government, we have utilised our resources to fortify internal mechanisms for identifying and addressing family violence. Our efforts have also extended to revitalising crucial partnerships, particularly with major employers in the region, through Workplace Active Bystander Training. Moreover, we have integrated primary prevention principles into our organisational fabric, including induction processes. These endeavours have been supported by dedicated full-time equivalent (FTE) committed to fostering critical conversations that challenge entrenched attitudes and norms driving gender inequality.

Without sustained investment, our capacity to meaningfully contribute to primary prevention efforts will be severely curtailed. It is imperative that we secure ongoing support to maintain momentum and effect lasting change in our community’s approach to combating family violence and promoting gender equality.