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State-wide crisis line providing 24 hour counselling, support and information for women and their children

Referral to refuges and outreach services

Information and support to family and friends

Emergency interim accommodationAccommodation options for women and their children

Media Advocacy Project

Violence against women - Key determinants

Gender Inequality

An adherence to rigidly defined gender roles expressed institutionally, culturally, organisationally and individually (VicHealth 2007).

Community attitudes that condone violence as a means of settling disputes, that support (or provide weak sanctions against) violence against women, and that support ‘the privacy of the Family’ (VicHealth 2007).

Providing women’s perspective and lived experience Women as advocates, rather than ‘victims’ – Giving voice to

women’s strength Challenging stereotypes by providing diverse voices Passionate, authentic and engaging Making statistics real: Real women, real experience research

(not just research findings or statistics) – Connecting with people to change attitudes Local or comparative (matching up speakers with audience)

Project funded in 2007 by Vichealth Initial phase: Recruited 14 women Now in phase III - Funding extended until 2014

2012 WD administers a central pool of approximately 40 advocates The Eastern Media Advocacy Project (pilot) Training pilot

Speechwriting and public speaking

Media techniques

Practical exercises

Family violence is only about black eyes and broken bones

Family violence is a private family matter – it’s none of our business

No one can help

He only hurts her when he is drunk, he is stressed, he is depressed etc

He is still a good Dad.

It’s only because he loves her, he is jealous, he want to know where she is.

She must have asked for it, she pushes his buttons, it was her fault.

It can’t be that bad or she would just leave.

Key messages:“Everyone can help to prevent violenceagainst women by interrupting orintervening into sexist or violent attitudes and behaviours”“We can build acommunity that is free from violence”