Respect Victoria

Australia’s first National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Family Safety  Plan, "Our Ways – Strong Ways – Our Voices," is currently being developed. This national plan will guide a whole of society approach to addressing the unacceptable rates of violence impacting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, particularly women and children. This landmark plan presents a unique opportunity to support a shared, evidence-informed understanding of what drives violence against and within Aboriginal families, and what works to prevent it. Respect Victoria recognises, respects and strives to amplify the self-determination and voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. We’ve put together key priorities and principles for consideration in the plan, including: · ensuring prevention – including primary prevention – is foregrounded in the plan and is central to its strategic approach · acknowledging and working to address the impacts of colonisation and systemic racism and the ways they intersect with the gendered drivers of violence · embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander self-determination through community ownership of and involvement in prevention efforts · genuine collaboration and partnership between mainstream and Aboriginal-led prevention efforts, services, organisations, institutions and communities  · supporting data and evaluation, including ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander data sovereignty. You can read the full position paper on our website https://lnkd.in/gX8zb5kJ [Alt: An orange tile with bold text in dark green and cream says ‘Primary prevention priorities for First Nations family safety’.]

Last November a man in Melbourne struck a deal for the downgraded sentence of manslaughter for the 2022 killings of Yuqi Luo and Hyun Sook Jeon, who worked as sex workers. The lives of these women mattered. In Victoria, sex work is decriminalised, and further protections have been in place since 2022. Sex workers have the right to be safe everywhere.

📢📢📢 We have an amazing opportunity open at Respect Victoria for existing VPS employees! Come and join us as Senior Advisor, Campaigns. You'll be responsible for delivering innovative, evidence-based and world-class community awareness and behaviour change campaigns and related brand initiatives to engage all Victorians addressing underlying drivers of violence against women and family violence. You'll help deliver campaigns focused on awareness raising, challenging attitudes and contributing to behaviour change, based on extensive market and other research, to address the drivers of family violence and violence against women.   Applications close 2 February. This role is open to Victorian Public Service applicants. Apply via the Jobs and Skills Exchange and share with your networks: https://lnkd.in/g4shKBc6   [Alt: Cream background. Orange text reads: We're hiring! Dark green text reads: Senior Advisor, Campaigns. Orange text reads: Join us in creating a Victoria where everyone is safe, equal and respected.]

We are thrilled to announce Dr Jenny Anderson is joining Respect Victoria as Director, Strategy, Policy and Impact. Helen Bolton, CEO Respect Victoria advised that “We undertook an extensive recruitment campaign for this executive role, and we are so pleased to have Dr Jenny Anderson join our team." For the last five years, Jenny has been the Global Director, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning at Movember. Working internationally, and across Australia, Jenny holds more than 25 years’ social research and evaluation experience gained across the health sector including roles in government, not for profits, consulting firms and university departments. Jenny is passionate about gender equality, and was previously involved in establishing the evaluation of The Orange Door for the Victorian state government. “I’m so excited to be joining the team at Respect Victoria and contribute to the important work they lead in the prevention of family violence and violence against women. I share their vision of a society where women feel safe and respected. I can’t wait to get started!” Jenny joins the Respect Victoria team on 3 February. [Alt: Block orange and black text says: "Welcome Dr Jenny Anderson (she/her) Director, Strategy, Policy and Impact." Next to the text is a headshot of a woman smiling at the camera. She has shoulder-length light brown hair, and is wearing a blue shirt under a light grey blazer.]

The Ballarat Community Saturation Model is about community members and organisations in Ballarat coming together to take shared action on the drivers of violence. It’s about amplifying local activities to reinforce their collective impact to prevent violence. The Ballarat Women’s Fund is an opportunity to strengthen and intensify prevention everywhere that people in Ballarat live, learn, work and play. Applications for this annual grant program are currently open to organisations delivering a program or project addressing prevention of violence against women, support for victims of family violence, family violence education and promoting gender equality in the community. Applications close Friday, January 24th. If your organisation wants to be a part of the change needed to prevent gender-based violence in Ballarat, apply today via the Ballarat Foundation. https://lnkd.in/g8xCFrsT  

Everyone deserves the right to be safe, supported and treated with respect at work. 🧡 There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution for supporting employees, and it’s important to look beyond documents and policies to see the whole person. How can you help people with disabilities access their right to work? #AgencyAccessandAction Women with Disabilities Victoria More here: https://lnkd.in/g4Zxc8Z7 [Video description: In a studio with warm lighting a person with short brown hair – Hannah, wearing an orange turtleneck, a dark green vest with light green flowers on it sits on a chair. Behind Hannah is a blue wall, and some illuminated peach-toned curtains. From some angles in the video the background is also lit in purple tones. From some angles there’s a square reflective surface behind Hannah which has a glowing orange circle – like a sun – on it. The video has text captions in white font of what Hannah is saying. When Hannah says ‘tick a box’ three ticks appear quickly in succession under the captions. When Hannah says ‘happier’ a smiling face emoji appears on the screen.]

For too long, victims have been blamed for the crimes committed against them. Society, the media, and the legal system have asked the wrong questions. ‘What was she wearing? What did she do to upset him?’ Gisèle Pelicot stood strong in her power, refused to take blame, and refused to carry shame for actions that weren’t hers. She challenged broken systems and the patriarchy. She is rewriting the narrative on shame. When defence lawyers asked if she’d change her surname to avoid its ‘shameful’ associations, her answer was loud and clear. She said her grandchildren were still named Pelicot. “My name is known across the world now. They shouldn't be ashamed of carrying that name.” [Alt: Violet background. Dark green and orange text: "I now have confidence in our capacity to find a better future where everyone, women and men alike, can live in harmony with respect and mutual understanding". In smaller dark green text in the bottom right corner: Gisèle Pelicot.]

For too long, victims have been blamed for the crimes committed against them. Society, the media, and the legal system have asked the wrong questions. ‘What was she wearing? What did she do to upset him?’ Gisèle Pelicot stood strong in her power, refused to take blame, and refused to carry shame for actions that weren’t hers. She challenged broken systems and the patriarchy. She is rewriting the narrative on shame. When defence lawyers asked if she’d change her surname to avoid its ‘shameful’ associations, her answer was loud and clear. She said her grandchildren were still named Pelicot. “My name is known across the world now. They shouldn't be ashamed of carrying that name.” [Alt: Violet background. Dark green and orange text: "I now have confidence in our capacity to find a better future where everyone, women and men alike, can live in harmony with respect and mutual understanding". In smaller dark green text in the bottom right corner: Gisèle Pelicot.]

Since the Ballarat Community Saturation Model was announced in mid-2024, Respect Victoria has listened to and learned from hundreds of community members in Ballarat. Today, alongside Minister for Prevention of Family Violence Natalie Hutchins, we announced the next steps in co-creating the saturation model with the Ballarat community. We are thrilled to be working with The Australian Centre for Social Innovation (TACSI) to collaborate on this work. Expressions of interest are now open for a local working group that will help lay the foundations for the model, and information is available about other opportunities to get involved. Stay tuned for further updates, and find out more here: https://lnkd.in/ggGf3p-Q

Here's what's on our agenda for 2025 and the things we want 'out'. ✅❌ What would you add to the list? 🧾