The Baw Baw Shire Council in regional Victoria has endorsed a Gender Equity Action Plan, to help in the prevention of violence against women.
A culmination of a two-year project partnership between Baw Baw Shire Council and Gippsland Women’s Health, the plan is just one strategy within the Baw Baw Public Health and Wellbeing Plan that aims to prevent violence against women.
The Council works with a number of community partners to deliver community and workforce education, internal policy development, community awareness raising, events and advocacy.
Mayor of Baw Baw Shire Joe Gauci said Council strives to prevent violence against women before it occurs through encouraging gender respectful and equitable expectations and behaviours.
“In partnership with Gippsland Women’s Health, we consulted broadly and identified a number of strategies (and associated actions) to assist Council in its endeavours to build a culture of respect within the organisation,” said the Mayor.
“Council has also established an internal working group, with employees invited to participate in this very important initiative. The group had its first meeting on 2 May to discuss how it would progress key initiatives identified in the action plan (and importantly how it would communicate and engage the broader community).”
The working group is welcoming feedback from members of the community regarding the action plan.
