Supporting research and resources

Below is a selection of key research and resources regarding the prevention of violence against women and gender equality that have been collated to assist you in developing evidence based planning and programs.

• Change the Story: A shared framework for the primary prevention of violence against women and their children (Our Watch)
• Commonwealth Government policy framework
• Gender equity fact sheets
• Information sheets
• National Community Attitudes Survey Towards Violence Against Women (ANROWS)
• Regional prevention strategies and plans (Regional Women’s Health Services)
• Victorian Government resources
• Key organisations

Change the Story (Our Watch)

‘Change the Story: A shared framework for the primary prevention of violence against women and their children in Australia' recognises local government as the tier of government closest to community, and the crucial role that councils and other community based actors can play in achieving gender equality and preventing violence against women.

Resources supporting the framework can be accessed below:

• Change the Story: A Shared Framework for the Primary Prevention of Violence Against Women and their Children in Australia (PDF - 2.1MB)
• Change the Story Infographic (PDF - 288KB)
• Community based PVAW - A Toolkit for Practitioners (PDF - 1.75MB)
• Let’s Change the Story: Violence Against Women in Australia Video (YouTube - 4:27 length)
• Our Watch and MAV Workplace Equality & Respect Webinar (Vimeo - 42:08 length)
  The Municipal Association of Victoria in partnership with Our Watch recorded this webinar, focusing on the Workplace Equality and Respect standards, which are currently being implemented in 19 councils across Victoria.
• Workplace Equality and Respect Webinar - Frequently Asked Questions (PDF - 43KB)
• Workplace Equality and Respect Website (HTML)

Commonwealth Government policy framework

• National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-2022 (PDF - 636KB)
• Third Action Plan 2016-2019 of the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children

Gender equity fact sheets

There are several areas where local government can advance gender equity for women. The fact sheets below detail some of these areas. These fact sheets were developed by a number of councils, women’s health services, VicHealth and the MAV in 2012.

Gender Equity Fact Sheets are available for download:

• All Fact Sheets (PDF - 516KB)
• Fact Sheet 01 – Why Gender Matters (PDF - 134KB)
• Fact Sheet 02 – Gender Analysis (PDF - 133KB)
• Fact Sheet 03 – Infrastructure (PDF - 121KB)
• Fact Sheet 04 – Land Use Planning and Design (PDF - 108KB)
• Fact Sheet 05 – Promoting Women in Leadership (PDF - 111KB)
• Fact Sheet 06 – Workplaces (PDF - 98KB)
• Fact Sheet 07 – Sports and Recreation (PDF - 121KB)
• Fact Sheet 08 – Access to Services (PDF - 161KB)
• Fact Sheet 09 – Key Concepts and Definitions (PDF - 142KB)
• Fact sheet 10 – Further resources (PDF - 98KB)

Information sheets

A series of preventing violence against women information sheets have been developed by MAV to assist councils with their work in this area, particularly those just starting out, and support councils to embed the prevention of violence against women and gender equality into council programs.

This information can be used to:

• Build your knowledge about violence against women and its prevention
• Obtain commitment from your council to champion the prevention of violence against women
• Help you engage on this issue with key community partners, the media, or council staff
• Give you pointers for where to go for more resources
• Help you to plan for the long term, so that councils keep gender equality and the prevention of violence against women on the agenda

All information sheets (PDF - 4.5MB) are available for download, or you can download individual sheets:

1. Getting Started (PDF - 247KB)
2. Concepts and Definitions (PDF - 215KB)
3. Frequently Asked Questions (PDF - 209KB)
4. Building the Case for Action (PDF - 290KB)
5. Communication and Raising Awareness (PDF - 255KB)
6. Embedding PVAW into Council Business (PDF - 274KB)
7. Leadership (PDF - 238KB)
8. The Role of Men (PDF - 249KB)
9. Opportunities for Staff Induction (PDF - 250KB)
10. Building Long-Term Commitment (PDF - 252KB)
11. Gender and Emergency Management (PDF - 382KB)
12. The Role of Animal Management (PDF - 282KB)
13. The Role of Libraries (PDF - 286KB)

National Community Attitudes Survey Towards Violence Against Women (ANROWS)

The National Community Attitudes Survey (NCAS) towards Violence against Women and Gender Equality has been conducted four times, between 1995 and 2017. The survey aims to measure community attitude and understanding of violence against women and what influences their perspective and if it has changed over time. It also addresses gender equality and willingness to intervene when confronted by violence or its drivers.

Reports have also been published specifically on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders’, people born in non-main English speaking countries and young people’s attitudes towards violence against women.

• A commitment to ongoing NCAS is a part of the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and Their Children 2010-2022 (PDF - 722KB).
• The 2017 survey report conducted by ANROWS is now available.
• The NCAS reports provide a snapshot of Australian attitudes towards violence against women. The 2013 reports can be accessed via the VicHealth website.

Regional prevention strategies and plans

Most councils are working with their regional women’s health services in the development and delivery of regional strategies and action plans to prevent violence against women.

In addition to the nine regional women’s health services, there are also three statewide services: Women’s Health Victoria, the Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health and Women with Disabilities Victoria.

Women’s health services are key partners in supporting local government to build a community that is just, inclusive, and fair. More information on women’s health services can be found at Action to Prevent Violence Against Women.

Regional prevention plans and initiatives links can be found here:

Victorian Government resources

Below you will find key strategic documents and resources related to the work being led by the Victorian Government in preventing family violence and all forms of violence against women, and promoting gender equality.

Victorian policy framework

Victorian Government Guidance on Family Violence and Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Planning

In May 2017, the Department of Health and Human Services released a guidance document (PDF - 82.6KB) for local government on family violence and municipal public health and wellbeing planning. This guidance supports the implementation of Recommendation 94 of the Royal Commission into Family Violence report and provides examples of practical measures councils can take to reduce family violence and respond to the needs of victims in preparing their municipal public health and wellbeing plans for the 2017-2021 planning cycle.

Additional resources

Key organisations

• ANROWS
• Make the Link
• Partners in Prevention network
• Respect Victoria
• Safe + Equal: Standing Strong Against family Violence (DV Vic and DVRCV)
• Our Watch
• VicHealth
• Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission.
• Workplace Gender Equality Agency