The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence in the Yarra Ranges

Council is leading the way in promoting gender equality through training and development opportunities for all employees. 

The link between gender inequality and family violence is clear and preventing violence against women starts with changing attitudes and stereotypes about gender that lead to disrespect and unequal power relationships.

Council recently received State Government funding to shape and implement future workplace policies, processes and practices to achieve gender equality in the workplace and in the community.

Council is delivering Gender Equity and Bystander employee led workshops who train fellow colleagues on how to support those experiencing family violence, to link them with professional services and act as gender equality advocates in the workplace.

Family violence incidents in the Yarra Ranges reported to police from June 2017- June 2018, are almost as high as the state rate of family violence for the same period, according to Crime Statistics Agency data.

Gender equity advocates at Council Coordinator of Youth Development Anita Holman, Digital and Communications Officer Jesse Graham and Project Coordinator Tony Mann

Yarra Ranges had 1,010 reported incidents per 100,000 people, compared to state-wide figures which showed 1,204 incidents per 100,000 population. Yarra Ranges received 1,585 reported incidents in total during the 12 month period.

Yarra Ranges Mayor Tony Stevenson said it was important to acknowledge and make the connection between violence against women and gender inequality to reduce and eventually eliminate family violence and violence against women.

“This training equips our employees with how to respond to disclosures of family violence experienced by fellow employees, and how to refer them to appropriate supports,” Cr Stevenson said.

“Up to 500 officers have gone through the workshops and the program will continue into 2019 and beyond so all employees can take part in the sessions.”

Cr Stevenson said part of the training involved challenging gender inequality, rigid gendered stereotypes and action employees can take when a person discloses they are experiencing family violence.

“This 16 Days of Activism, I’d like everyone in the community to challenge sexist behaviour, outdated attitudes and gender stereotypes and think about where your line is, what behavior and language is acceptable to you, and what is not,” Cr Stevenson said.

“Not being a bystander means that if you witness behavior and language that discriminates against someone based on their sex or gender, that you let them know it’s not okay.”

The 16 Days of Activism began on 25 November on International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and will culminate on Human Rights Day on 10 December. 

This year’s theme is Orange the World: #HearMeToo.

Council supports community advocacy group Voices of Women which hosts Women in Government workshops to provide opportunity for women to learn about local government and why more female Councillors are needed. Next year participants will learn skills to become successful politicians, run campaigns and support one another.

The group was recently awarded funding from Council’s Grants for Community program.

The Grants for Community selection criteria includes having community groups demonstrate social inclusion principles, specifically including culturally and linguistically diverse groups, gender diversity and people living with a disability.

Students from Upper Yarra Secondary College, Little Yarra Steiner School and Cire Community School, are developing their own gender equity change projects through Inspiro Health Services’ Ambassadors for Gender Equality & Respect program, also funded by Council’s Grants for Community program.

The students delivered their student-led programs to teachers, peers and the wider school community. They ran teacher training sessions, creative events and helped create a ‘student voice’ toolkit for secondary schools to adopt.

The project has been developed by Inspiro, EDVOS, GenderWorks, Council, Eastern Health, Women's Health East and the schools. Council and Women with Disabilities Victoria has been running free workshops for Yarra Ranges professionals to help build their knowledge and skills to prevent violence against women with disabilities.

 Women living with disabilities experience violence and abuse at an alarmingly high rate. Voices Against Violence research from the Office of the Public Advocate, showed 45 out of 100 women reported experiencing violence from perpetrators including psychological, physical, sexual, controlling behavior or economic abuse in a recent study.

Council’s Creating a Place for Women in Sport  tool aimed at sporting clubs, launched in July, was nominated for a VicHealth award and was developed with other councils to assist clubs to recognise how they are going in relation to gender equality.

The tool is available on Council’s website and allows Sporting clubs to review different areas of their environment, including leadership, club culture, membership and engagement, volunteers and employees and facilities.