Wednesday, 26 June 2019

More Victorians will be trained in preventing family violence with new funding to teach people how to call out sexism and create gender equality policies in schools, health services, councils and workplaces.

Minister for Prevention of Family Violence Gabrielle Williams today announced $1.2 million to support 12 women’s health services across the state.

As a part of this funding Gippsland Women’s Health Service will receive $100,000 to continue their vital work with 26 key partners including local government, community health, prevention of family violence organisations and schools to take action to prevent violence against women and promote gender equal behavior.

The funding to the 12 services will help promote gender equity, deliver bystander training to call out sexism, develop toolkits and support creation of gender equality policies in health services, councils, schools and community groups.

It will support nine regional and three statewide women’s health services – Women’s Health Victoria, Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health and Women with Disabilities Victoria.

Family violence is a national emergency, with one woman killed at the hands of a current or former partner every week. It is the leading cause of death, disability and illness in Victorian women aged 15 to 44 years.

The Andrews Labor Government established an Australian-first Royal Commission into Family Violence in 2014 and has since invested more than $2.7 billion to implement all 227 recommendations made.

Quote attributable to Minister for Prevention of Family Violence Gabrielle Williams

“We’re tackling family violence with a range of approaches – this funding for our valuable women’s health services will help create a grassroots culture change to stop the sexist attitudes that we know can lead to violence.”

Quote attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria, Harriet Shing:

 “By helping local and regional partners work together – from the local council to the local footy club – we’re promoting equality and respect for women in all areas of Victorian life.”

“We all want a community where women and girls are safe and with this funding we are doing that work from the ground up.”