Mildura Rural City Council, Victoria, is collaborating with the Gender Equity Action Sunraysia group (GEAS), to better understand gender inequality and the effect it has on violence against women in the community.
GEAS plans to survey as many residents as possible to get their views on gender equality.
Councillor for Community Wellbeing and Services, Min Poole, said the survey results would serve a vital role in shaping programs and methods to combat domestic violence in Sunraysia.
“By gaining a better understanding of our residents’ views and thoughts on this major contributor to domestic violence, this will help inform where further action can be taken to prevent violence against women.
“The results will tell us how deeply the community understands gender equality and will also be used to measure changing attitudes over time as we implement actions.
“It’s also great timing coming off the back of our annual White Ribbon Community Walk, allowing us to keep this very important issue in the spotlight.”
Last month Council received more than $80,000 in Victorian Government funding as part of the state wide Free from Violence program, which aims to combat family violence and violence against women through a raft of preventative measures.
Cr Poole said Council would use the funding to focus on early parenting as a way to not only engage the community, but deepen understanding of the gendered drivers of violence against women.
“This significant funding injection will help us plan and deliver projects and training, working hand-in-hand with the Victorian Government, the community and local agencies,” Cr Poole said.
