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Brimbank City Council Ordinary Council Meeting Agenda Officer Reports 13

Report 10.5 - Brimbank City Council’s Plan to Prevent Men’s Violence Against Women (2015-2019) - Towards Gender Equity Directorate: Community Wellbeing Director: Neil Whiteside Policy: Brimbank Community Plan 2009-2030 (Updated 2013), Brimbank

Council Plan 2013-2017 (Updated 2014), Brimbank Family Violence Prevention Action Plan 2010-2013

Attachments: Attachment 1: Brimbank City Council’s Plan to Prevent Men’s Violence Against Women (2015-2019)

Attachment 2: Summary of Submissions Purpose To provide an overview of submissions received on the draft Brimbank City Council’s Plan to Prevent Men’s Violence Against Women (2015-2019) - Towards Gender Equity (the draft Plan), and to present the final draft Brimbank City Council’s Plan to Prevent Men’s Violence Against Women (2015-2019) - Towards Gender Equity, at Attachment 1 to this report, for consideration. Report 1. Background At the Ordinary Council meeting on 14 October 2014, Council resolved: That Council: a. Endorses the Draft Brimbank City Council Plan to Prevent Men’s Violence Against

Women (2014-2018) – Towards Gender Equity, at Attachment 1 to this report, for community consultation for a period of four (4) weeks and invites written submissions.

b. Receives a further report detailing any submissions received and presenting a

final draft of the Brimbank City Council Plan to Prevent Men’s Violence Against Women (2014-2018) – Towards Gender Equity, for consideration.

2. Consultation The draft Plan was placed on public exhibition for a four (4) week period ending on 30 November 2014. The draft Plan was advertised and: • Posted on Council’s website • Copies were made available at the Customer Service Centres in Sunshine, Sydenham

and Keilor • Copies were sent to over 80 people and organisations. Feedback to the draft Plan was positive and Council was commended for its approach. Overall, the response was supportive of the draft Plan.

Meeting No. 380 10 March 2015

Brimbank City Council Ordinary Council Meeting Agenda Officer Reports 14 Report 10.5 - Brimbank City Council’s Plan to Prevent Men’s Violence Against Women (2015-2019) - Towards Gender Equity (continued) 3. Analysis Council received nine (9) written submissions from eight (8) organisations and one (1) individual. The Record of Submissions (at Attachment 2 to this report) summarises the submissions received and the analysis and response. Comments were also received regarding readability and structure. Minor administrative changes were also identified upon further internal review and changes made accordingly. 4. Resource Implications The costs associated with the implementation of the Brimbank City Council’s Plan to Prevent Men’s Violence Against Women (2015-2019) - Towards Gender Equity are provided for in Council’s annual operating budget. 5. Compliance Statement This report has been prepared in accordance with the Brimbank Community Plan 2009-2030 (Updated 2013), Brimbank Council Plan 2013-2017 (Updated 2014) and the Brimbank Family Violence Prevention Action Plan 2010-2013. 6. Officer Recommendation That Council adopts the Brimbank City Council’s Plan to Prevent Men’s Violence Against Women (2015-2019) - Towards Gender Equity, at Attachment 1 to this report.

Meeting No. 380 10 March 2015

ATTACHMENT 1

Trim Ref: 15/30021

DRAFT

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Forward from Brimbank’s Administrators

Violence against women is prevalent, pervasive and costly. It has a profound social, economic and health impacts upon the health of women, their families, their workplace and their community

1.

Violence against women is a crime predominantly committed by men known to them, either a current or former partner. In recognising these impacts, and given the Federal and Victorian Governments priority of this issue, Council is committed to preventing violence against women, and is best placed to achieve this by promoting gender equity. Brimbank City Council’s Plan to Prevent Men’s Violence Against Women, Towards Gender Equity (2015-2019) sets out an approach for the delivery of Council’s actions to enhance gender equity and prevent violence against women.

As the level of government closest to the community, Council is mandated to create healthy, safe and inclusive communities. It also must advocate for social justice and human rights on behalf of the entire community. Over the last few years, Council has played an active role in preventing violence against women through the implementation of the Brimbank Family Violence Prevention Action Plan (2010-2013). Key learnings from our past plan together with evidence in the literature regarding what works to prevent violence against women, has led Council to develop a bold and innovative approach.

To inform the development of the new plan, Council consulted with over eighty internal and external partners, over a six month period. Two community and stakeholder consultation forums were held which focused on drafting a Brimbank Gender Equity Statement. A Reference Group of internal and external representatives was established to provide advice and feedback to guide the development of the plan.

Consultation reinforced the need for Council to prioritise its effort on actions to enhance gender equity and to prevent violence against women. This aligns

with international consensus that gender inequity increases the risk of violence by men against women.

However, Council cannot do this work alone. In fact, achieving gender equity will be a long, staged journey requiring Council’s long-term commitment, as well as that of partners and the community. A collaborative approach will see Council taking a lead role and working together with partners and the community to promote gender equity and prevent violence against women.

Our new plan reaffirms our long-term commitment to address the underlying causes of violence against women. Accountability to actions outlined in this plan will be achieved through a collaborative effort to undertake ongoing monitoring and annual reporting to Council and the community.

1 VicHealth (2011). Preventing Violence Against Women in Australia Research Summary: Addressing the social and economic determinants of mental and physical health.

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Why has Council developed a plan to prevent violence against women? Violence against women is a serious and pervasive issue in Australia. The health, social and economic costs of violence against women are profound:

• one in three Australian women have experienced physical violence since the age of 152

• almost every week, one woman is killed by her current or former partner3

• intimate partner violence is the leading contributor to preventable death, disability and illness in Victorian women aged 15–444

• violence against women cost the Australian economy approximately $13.6 billion in 2009 and it is estimated that it will cost the national economy$15.6 billion by 2021-2022 unless effective action is taken to prevent this violence

5.

Evidence suggests that we can prevent violence against women by addressing the underlying determinants and contributing factors. These causes of violence are complex and multifaceted, including:

• unequal power relations between men and women• adherence to rigid gender stereotypes• broader cultures and patriarchal social structures• a lack of access to resources and systems of support

6.

Violence against women is a crime predominately committed by men known to them, while violence experienced by men is predominately committed by male strangers

7. Men who hold violence-supportive attitudes and rigid attitudes towards gender roles and relations are more likely to perpetrate violence against

women than those who do not.

Vision ‘Brimbank is a gender equitable city where women live free from violence’.

Statement Brimbank City Council commits to a community where females and males are equal and respected.

Principles • Violence against women is a violation of human rights: women have the right to live free from violence.• A focus on primary prevention: we can prevent violence against women by addressing the underlying causes, such as gender inequity.

2 Australian Bureau of Statistics. Personal Safety Strategy, 2012.

3 ibid.

4 VicHealth. The Health Costs of Violence: Measuring the Burden of Disease Caused by Intimate Partner Violence, 2004.

5 National Council to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children. The Cost of Violence Against Women and their Children, 2009.

6 VicHealth. Preventing violence before it occurs. A Framework and Background Paper to Guide the Primary Prevention of Violence Against Women in Victoria, 2007.

7 Australian Bureau of Statistics. Personal Safety Strategy, 2012.

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• Evidence-based approaches: action to promote gender equity and prevent violence against women are supported by a strong evidence base.• Collaborative partnerships: recognising the specific role of local government, and that partnerships with external agencies and the community are

essential in promoting gender equity and preventing violence against women.• Empower and actively engage women and men in the community: everybody has a role in promoting gender equity and preventing violence against

women.• Leadership: local government takes a lead role in promoting gender equity and preventing violence against women through sharing knowledge,

demonstrating best practice and community strengthening.

Role of Local Government in enhancing gender equity to prevent violence against women

Diagram 1. The World Health Organization Ecological Framework8

Council’s action to promote gender equity to prevent violence against women is focused on the community and societal level.

As the level of government closest to the community, local government has the capacity to influence many of the determinants of health and wellbeing, including gender. Brimbank City Council plays a significant role in creating environments that promote the optimal health, safety and wellbeing of all community members. The social-ecological model demonstrates Council’s influence at the community and societal levels to promote gender equity to prevent violence against women.

The unique and key role for local government in preventing violence against women has been identified by the State Government and VicHealth. VicHealth recognises work to prevent violence against women is most effective when a number of reinforcing strategies are implemented across multiple levels of community life

9.

As a large employer in the community and as a workplace, local government can drive change to enhance gender equity in the local community. For example, Council can make provisions to encourage flexible working environments for men and women and provide opportunities to support women into

8 Krug, E., Dahlberg, L., Mercy, J., Zwi, A., and Lozano, R. (Eds). World Report on Violence and Health. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization. 2002:1-56.

9 VicHealth. Preventing violence before it occurs. A Framework and Background Paper to Guide the Primary Prevention of Violence Against Women in Victoria. 2007.

Individual IndividualRelationshipCommunitySocietal

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leadership roles. In addition through utilising existing structures, networks, partnerships, relationships and infrastructure, local government can also generate a whole-of-community approach to promote gender equity and prevent violence against women.

Key themes to guide Council’s action to tackle the underlying causes of violence against women over the next four years are: • Promoting equal and respectful relationships between women and men• Promoting non-violent, gender equitable and inclusive organisational, cultural and social norm.• Promoting a culture of non-violence.

Priorities for action over the next four years have been determined based on where Council is best placed to act to prevent violence against women. 1. Undertake strategic advocacy at the local, state and Commonwealth levels that supports and promotes gender equity and the prevention of violence

against women.2. Undertake research, monitoring and evaluation of policy and programs to ensure continuous improvement.3. Establish effective partnerships across government and non-government agencies to promote gender equity and prevent violence against women.4. An organisational culture that is welcoming, inclusive and respectful of women, and supports women’s leadership at all levels.

5. Undertake a gender analysis of Council policy, planning, programs and services.

6. Explore training opportunities to support staff understanding the underlying causes of violence against women.

7. Implement a communication campaign to promote gender equity and raise awareness of violence against women.

The impact of violence against women on children Violence against women has significant impacts on children. Direct effects on the child include anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, whilst indirect effects can

be impaired social and learning development and aggression10

.

The scope of this plan includes preventing violence against women through promoting gender equity. Ultimately, children’s health and wellbeing are protected

through the prevention of violence against women. The underlying causes of child abuse are different to those underlying causes of violence against women

and therefore require a different approach to prevention and response.

Council commits to continue working in partnership with early childhood service providers in Brimbank to protect children from the effects of violence against

women.

Promoting gender equity Despite significant gains in gender equity in Australia in recent decades, inequities for women remain across many areas of life. This restricts their ability to fully and equally participate in aspects of community life. Due to some social structures, traditions, stereotypical attitudes and behaviours about women and their role in society, the opportunities for women to realise the same rights and privileges as men are often limited. Many of the attitudes and behaviours that

10 Australian Domestic & Family Violence Clearinghouse & University of New South Wales. The Impact of Domestic Violence on Children: A Literature Review, 2011.

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contribute to gender inequity and violence against women occur across a range of community settings such as public spaces, schools, workplaces, community organisations and sports clubs – settings in which local governments have significant influence.

Gender inequity not only negatively impacts on women’s health and wellbeing, but also the wellbeing of families and communities. The following statistics highlight some key gender inequities in Australia: • The pay gap between women’s and men’s full-time weekly earnings is 17.5%

11.

• Despite many women with children being in paid work, women continue to spend more than double the amount of time each day than men caring forchildren

12.

• A 2006 study found fathers spending a greater proportion of their child care time on play activities (41% compared with 25% for mothers), and mothersspending more of their time on physical and emotional care activities (43% compared with 27% for fathers)

13.

• As of 30 June 2011, women comprised 35.3% of the 3,960 positions on government boards and bodies14

.

Enhancing gender equity has significant economic and productivity gains, which impact on local, state and national economies. Research has found that increasing female participation in the workforce by 6% has the potential to add $25 billion annually to the Australian economy

15. Ending gender-based

violence will mean changing cultural concepts about masculinity, and that process must actively engage men, whether they are policy makers, parents, spouses or young boys

16.

11 Workplace Gender Equality Agency. Gender Pay Gap statistics, 2013.

12 Australian Institute of Family Studies. A snapshot of how Australian families spend their time, 2007.

13 Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australian Social Trends, Trends in Household Work 4102.0, 2009.

14 Australian Government Workplace Gender Equality Agency. Gender equality indicators and reporting matters, 2012.

15 Grattan Institute. Game-changers: Economic reform priorities for Australia, 2012.

16 United Nations Population Fund. Gender Equality: Ending Widespread Violence Against Women, 2012.

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Brimbank City Council’s Plan to Prevent Men’s Violence Against Women (2015-2019)

Research and Advocacy

Priority Action Partners Timeframe Measure for monitoring/ assessing that action is achieved

Resource implications

1. Undertakestrategic advocacyat the local, stateandCommonwealthlevels thatsupports andpromotes genderequity and theprevention ofviolence againstwomen.

Undertake strategic advocacy at the local, state and Commonwealth levels that: • Contribute to the development of support

services.• Support women’s participation in

community life.• Embed gender equity into plans, policies,

programs and services.

Lead: Council

Ongoing • Documentation of strategic advocacyat the local, state andCommonwealth level.

• Participation in relevantconsultations regarding policy, andprogram and service development.

• Gender equity is embedded inCouncil plans, policies, programsand services.

Within existing operational budget

2. Undertakeresearch,evaluation andmonitoring ofpolicy andprograms toensure continuousimprovement.

Ensure Council data collection is sex disaggregated, where possible.

Lead: Council

Ongoing • Sex disaggregated data is availableand utilised in Council planning.


Measure community attitudes and beliefs regarding violence against women through a Community Survey.

Lead: Council

2015-2016 • Community attitudes regardinggender equity and violence againstwomen are measured over time.

• Appropriate questions included in arelevant Community Survey.


Continue to gather and disseminate new and existing data, information and emerging best-practice of action to promote gender equity and prevent violence against women to inform local work.

Lead: Council

Ongoing • Attend networking opportunities andbest-practice forums.

• Present at relevant conferences.• Implementation at the local level is

underpinned by evidence and bestpractice.

• Police data is collated annually andanalysed to monitor reporting trends.


Monitor and review any developments in State and Commonwealth Governments policy regarding gender equity and preventing violence against women.

Lead: Council

Ongoing • Provide updates via Council’swebsite.


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Community Partnerships Priority Action Partners Timeframe Measure Resource

implications

3. Establish effectivepartnershipsacross governmentand non-governmentagencies topromote genderequity and preventviolence againstwomen.

Continue to deliver programs to build women’s leadership skills.

Lead: Council Partners:

• AustralianMulticulturalFoundation

Ongoing • Australian Multicultural Foundationtraining reports.

• Enrolment records.• Case studies.


Contribute to the implementation of regional plans: • Western Region Preventing Violence

Together Action Plan (incorporating theUnited Project).

• Gender Equitable, Safe and InclusiveCommunities Project.


• Women’s HealthWest

• Maribyrnong CityCouncil

• Wyndham CityCouncil

• Department ofHealth

• Department ofJustice

Ongoing • Participation at implementationcommittee meetings.

• Documentation of collaborative worke.g. submissions, professionaldevelopment.

• Collaboration with cluster Councils todeliver initiatives.


Participate in relevant network meetings such as the Municipal Association of Victoria’s Preventing Violence Against Women Network and Gender Equity in Local Government Network.


• MunicipalAssociation ofVictoria

Ongoing • Participation at network meetings.• Documentation of collaborative work

e.g. submissions, professionaldevelopment.


Work with community organisations to deliver gender equity and preventing violence against women initiatives in Brimbank.


• YMCA• cohealth• ISIS Primary Care• Sport clubs

Ongoing • Documentation of collaborativepartnerships.

• Opportunities to link women and girlsinto sport and leisure are supportedand promoted.


Continue to deliver programs that engage women and encourage participation in community life and engage men in non-traditional gender roles.

Lead: Council

Ongoing • Documentation of women’sparticipation in programs facilitatedand promoted by Council e.g.women’s circus and neighbourhoodhouses.

• Attendance records at Dad’s storytime sessions.


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Organisational planning, policy and practice Priority Action Partners Timeframe Measure Resource

implications

4. An organisationalculture that iswelcoming,inclusive andrespectful ofwomen, andsupports women’sleadership at alllevels.

Continue to develop, actively monitor and review internal Council policy and practices that promote gender equity and prevent violence against women.

Lead: Council

Ongoing • Relevant policies are reviewed asrequired.


Build the leadership capability of female staff across the organisation.

Lead: Council

Ongoing • Female staff participating inleadership training such as LGProLeadership Programs.


Facilitate appropriately skilled gender balance across internal advisory committees and reference groups.

Lead: Council

Ongoing • Ongoing monitoring of women’sparticipation on Council committeesand working groups.


Expose females to non-traditional roles at Brimbank through workforce planning and work experience opportunities.

Lead: Council

Ongoing • Women are working in non-traditional roles across Council,including work experience students.


Endorsed Brimbank gender equity statement is incorporated into People and Performance documents.

Lead: Council

2014-2015 • Brimbank Gender Equity Statementis included in position descriptionsand other relevant documentation.


5. Undertake agender analysis ofCouncil policy,planning, programsand services.

Apply a gender analysis to inform the development, implementation and review of Council policy, programs and services to ensure specific needs are addressed.

Lead: Council

Ongoing • Discussion/ background papers,plans, policies and servicesdemonstrate a gender analysis hasbeen applied.

• Educate staff/ policy makers to applya gender analysis to their work.


Explore opportunities to incorporate a gender component within the Council’s community grant program/s.

Lead: Council

2015-2016 • Grant applications describe theirintended impact on women and girls.

• A preventing violence againstwomen and promotion of genderequity category to be considered inCouncil’s community grantsprogram.


Continue to monitor commitment to Victorian Local Government Women’s Charter.

Lead: Council

Ongoing • Annual review of Council’scommitment to the Charter.


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Priority Action Partners Timeframe Measure Resource implications

6. Explore trainingopportunities tosupport staff inresponding to andunderstanding thecauses of violenceagainst women.

Seek training opportunities regarding gender equity and preventing violence against women such as: • Common Risk Assessment Framework (CRAF)

training.• Bystander training.

Lead: Council

Ongoing • Training opportunities are promotedto relevant teams.

• Professional development isdocumented.

• White Ribbon Working Groupmembers participate in relevanttraining opportunities.

• A gender balance in women andmen’s participation in training isachieved.


7. Implement acommunicationcampaign topromote genderequity and raiseawareness ofviolence againstwomen.

Regularly promote key messages to promote

gender equity and prevent violence against

women including the Brimbank Gender Equity

Statement to raise community awareness

through:

� BERT (Intranet).

� BNews.

� Council website.

� Social media: Facebook and Twitter.

� Local media.

Lead: Council

Ongoing • Events such as White Ribbon Dayand International Women’s Day arepromoted by Council.

• Brimbank Gender Equity Statementis launched across Council.

• Nominate appropriate articles for theEliminating Violence Against Women(EVA) media awards.


Actively promote and support campaigns such as White Ribbon Day and International Women’s Day.

Lead: Council

Ongoing • Events held for White Ribbon Dayand International Women’s Day.

• Promotion of preventing violenceagainst women messages acrossCouncil and in the community.


Display Family Violence Help Cards at Council Customer Service sites and Neighbourhood Houses.

Lead: Council

2014-2015 • Help cards are available at customerservice sites, libraries and allNeighbourhood Houses.


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Appendix 1: Key definitions

This strategy adopts the following definitions:

Family violence: refers to violence between family members and also violence between intimate partners. Victoria’s Family Violence Protection Act (2008) defines family violence as: (a) behaviour by a person towards a family member if that behaviour is physically, sexually, emotionally or economically abusive or is threatening, coercive or in any way controls or dominate the family member causing that family member to fear their safety and wellbeing

17.

Gender: Refers to the socially constructed roles, behaviours and attributes that society considers appropriate for women and men. Unlike the biological characteristics and differences between women and men known as sex, gender roles are socially learnt, differ among cultures and change over time

18.

Gender analysis: A method of assessing differences in the lives of women and men and the impacts that policies, programs and services may have on particular groups of men and women. A gender analysis takes into account the diversity among women and men by considering variables such as socioeconomic status, age, family structure, ability and cultural and linguistic background

19.

Gender equity: Equity is generally regarded as a state of fairness and justness. It requires that the specific needs of particular groups are considered separately and acted upon accordingly. For instance, while all Australians are meant to be equal in regards to their rights and treatment by government and social institutions, their needs, interests and values will differ. Gender will often determine these differences

20.

Gender equality: Gender equality is defined as the absence of discrimination, on the basis of a person’s sex, in opportunities and the allocation of resources or benefits or in access to services. The concept of gender equality has evolved over time: initially, gender equality was concerned with treating everyone the same

21.

Preventing violence against women: There are three levels at which strategies to prevent violence against women can be implemented22

.Primary prevention activities seek to prevent violence before it occurs. They can either be at the population level or targeting high-risk groups. The structural, cultural and societal context in which violence against women occurs is significant to primary prevention work. Strategies do not have a particular focus on violence against women, rather its underlying causes (such as gender inequality).

17 State Government of Victoria. Family Violence Protection Act, 2008.

18 Gender Equity in Local Government Partnership. Ten ways local government can advance gender equity, 2012.

19 ibid.

20 Department of Health, State Government of NSW. Gender Equity in Health, 2000.

21 ibid.

22 VicHealth. Preventing violence before it occurs. A Framework and Background Paper to Guide the Primary Prevention of Violence Against Women in Victoria. 2007.

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Secondary prevention (early intervention) targets those displaying early signs of violence against women. Strategies aim to change behavior or increase the skills of individuals and groups to control such behaviours, before they establish into patterns. Early intervention can target environments in which violence may occur such as sporting clubs and peer groups.

Tertiary (intervention) involves providing support and treatment for women and their children affected by violence. Strategies are implemented after violence has occurred and include referrals to support services such as crisis accommodation and counselling.

Sex disaggregated data: Presenting information separately for females and males, girls and boys in order to identify, understand and respond to issues as experienced by both sexes

23.

Violence Against Women: The 1993 United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women defines violence against women as ‘any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life

24. Violence against women takes many forms and affects all communities,

irrespective of socio-economic class, race or culture.

23 Gender Equity in Local Government Partnership. Ten ways local government can advance gender equity, 2012.

24 United Nations General Assembly. Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women, 1993.

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Appendix 2: Review of the Brimbank Family Violence Prevention Action Plan (2010 – 2013)

Brimbank City Council has actively worked to advance gender equity and prevent violence against women in the municipality. As part its commitment, Council delivered the Brimbank’s Family Violence Prevention Action Plan (2010 – 2013) which outlined a whole-of-Council approach to create a respectful, gender equitable and violence-free community in Brimbank.

Key achievements of the Brimbank Family Violence Prevention Action Plan (2010-2013) are: • Development of a Family and Domestic Violence Clause in Brimbank City Council’s Enterprise Bargaining Agreement and associated policy.• Participated in the development and endorsement of Preventing Violence Together: The Western Region Action Plan to Prevent Violence Against

Women.

• Distributed cards detailing family violence support services for women and men across community facilities in Brimbank.• Established the Brimbank White Ribbon Working Group to lead local White Ribbon campaigns and raise awareness of violence against women.• Endorsed the Victorian Local Government Women’s Charter.• Partner in successful funding applications for the Gender Equitable, Safe and Inclusive Communities and United initiatives to build organisational capacity

to prevent violence against women.• 25 leadership training programs facilitated across the municipality with an average of 60% of participants being female.• Achieving greater representation of women on Council advisory and reference groups to inform local government decision making. For example 14 of 32

members of the Brimbank District Safety Working Group and 19 of 42 Community District Resource members are female.• Council facility upgrades considered gender including renaming the Keilor Basketball Stadium to Keilor Basketball and Netball Stadium, and plans to build

three netball courts.

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Appendix 3. Brimbank Data Profile

Family violence incidents • The recorded rate of family incidents in Brimbank in 2013/14 was 1098.9 per 100,000 population. For the last two years, the rate or family violence

incidents in Brimbank have been lower than both the state and North West Metro Region rates. • Between 2008/09 and 2013/14, the rate of family violence incidents has increased by 49% in Brimbank; by 73% in the North West Metro Region and by

77% in Victoria25

.

Diagram 2. Recorded rate family violence incidents in Brimbank, North West Metropolitan Region and Victoria, 2008/09 to-2013/201426

It is important to note that violence against women is one of the most under-reported crimes, thus data on family violence incidents is considered an under-estimate of actual rates. There are many reasons why victims of family violence may not report the violence to police or seek assistance from support services. Some reasons include fear of repercussions from the perpetrator, fear of losing children to the Department of Human Services Child Protection, financial dependence on intimate partners, lack of confidence in the legal process, lack of alternative accommodation or cultural and religious beliefs

27.

25 Victoria Police. Family Incident Reports 2008/09 – 2012/13.

26 Department of Justice, State Government of Victoria. Measuring Family Violence in Victoria: Victorian Family Violence Database Vol 5: Eleven year trend analysis 1999-2010, 2012.

27 ibid.

2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/122012/13

(Revised)

2013/14

(Prelim)

Brimbank 736.3 759.6 898.2 969.7 996.7 1098.9

North West Metro Region 645.7 688.6 761.7 883.8 1044.6 1119.0

Victoria 637.9 658.5 742.6 896.3 1065.4 1129.2

600

700

800

900

1000

1100

1200

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Women in Brimbank Employment • Compared to other local government areas in the west, women in Brimbank are less likely to be employed- 44% of women compared to 29.3% of men

were not employed.• Women in Brimbank were more likely to report being in part-time employment - 18.9% of women compared to 11.9% of men.• 8.5% of men have an individual weekly income of greater than $1,500, compared to 2.7% of women

28.

Housing • Brimbank residents experience housing stress and affordability problems with 43.2 % of households spending at least 30 % of their household gross

income on rent in 2011.• Women constitute 84.3% of the single parent population in Brimbank.• As women have lower weekly incomes than men, housing stress is likely to have significant impacts for women on lower incomes, particularly single

parent households.

Education • A higher proportion of women (3.5 %) than men in Brimbank did not attend school. A higher proportion of residents in Brimbank did not attend school than

in the western metropolitan region.• 12.2% of women in Brimbank reported their highest year of schooling is year eight or below, which is significantly higher than the western metropolitan

region.• Women in Brimbank were less likely than women in the western metropolitan region to have attained post-school qualifications of a graduate diploma,

bachelor degree or postgraduate degree29

.

Transport and perceptions of safety • Over a quarter (27.6%) of women in Brimbank experienced difficulties in utilising transport in 2011, such as disability access and the costs of public and

private transport.• In 2011, only 22.7% of all females in Brimbank felt ‘safe’ or ‘very safe’ walking alone at night in their local area, compared to 63.9% of males.• Women in Brimbank reported the lowest perceptions of safety for the entire North West Metropolitan region (including feeling safe when walking alone

during the day or night in their local area and feeling safe when being at home alone during the day or night)30

.

28 Women’s Health West. Women in the City of Brimbank, 2013.

29 ibid.

30 ibid.

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Appendix 4. Policy and Legislative Context

Brimbank City Council

• Brimbank Community Plan 2009 – 2030 (updated 2013)• Brimbank Council Plan 2013 - 2017• Brimbank Family Violence Prevention Action Plan 2010 – 2013• Brimbank Social Justice Charter• Community Safety Framework and Action Plan 2012 – 2015• Community Strengthening Policy 2011

Regional

• Preventing Violence Together: the Western Region Action Plan to Prevent Violence Against Women (Updated 2013)

State

• Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008• Victorian Family Violence Protection Act 2008• Victorian Equal Opportunity Act 2010• Victorian’s Women’s Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2010 – 2014• Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Plan 2011 – 2015• Victorian Charter Of Human Rights and Responsibilities 2006• Victoria’s Action Plan to Address Violence against Women and Children – Everyone has a responsibility to act 2012 - 2105• Victorian Local Government’s Women’s Charter.• VicHealth, Preventing Violence Before it Occurs: A framework and background paper to guide the primary prevention of violence against women in

Victoria• Municipal Association of Victoria, Prevention of Violence Against Women Leadership Statement

National

• Signatory to the Convention of the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women• Sex Discrimination Act 1984• The National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010 – 2022• Our Watch• National Women’s Health Policy 2010

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International

• United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights• United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women 1993• United Nations Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women• United Nations Millennium Development Goals and Beyond 2015

Attachment 2

Summary of submissions and responses for the Draft Brimbank City Council’s Plan to Prevent Men’s Violence Against

Women (2015 – 2019)- Towards Gender Equity

No. Submitter Summary of submission Changes to Draft Plan

1 Hobsons

Bay City

Council

• Provides support for the Draft Plan.

• Creating a gender equitable community and addressing the

underlying causes of men’s violence against women is a key priority

for the western region.

• Supports title of plan - ‘specifically naming men’s violence against

women, as opposed to simply violence against women’

• Focusing the Plan on fostering and promoting gender equity is a key

strength.

• Looks forward to further working with Brimbank City Council to

prevent men’s violence against women, and to continue the Western

region’s leadership in this important determinant of wellbeing.

Comments have been noted.

Adjustment to the Plan is not

proposed.

2 Women’s

Health

West

• Congratulates Council for its leadership in the prevention of men’s

violence against women in the municipality of Brimbank – evidenced

by Councils previous work; Brimbank Family Violence Action Plan

(2010-2013) ongoing work as a regional partner in Preventing

Violence Together and development of new Draft Plan.

• Support:

o The recognition that women in Australia continue to

experience significant inequity and disadvantage.

o The title’s inclusion of ‘men’s violence against women’, which

recognises the gendered nature of violence against women

both in Australia and internationally.

o The focus and adoption of strategies that are targeted towards

redressing the key determinants of men’s violence against

women; congruent with good practice in the primary

prevention of men’s violence against women.

o Actions that focus on advancing gender equity in Council as a

workplace, a service-provider and in partnering with

communities.



proposed.

Attachment 2


o Commitment to implementation.

• Recommendations:

o Council include the following the action plan:

� Research and Advocacy - Council’s participation in the 2015

regional United Gender Equity Staff Attitudes Survey,

conducted by the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health

and Society.

� Community Partnerships - Participation in PVT committee

meetings including the Executive Governance Group and the

Implementation Committee.

� Organisational planning, policy and practice - Participation in

PVT key annual regional communication and advocacy

campaigns, such as the PVT Annual Progress Brief and the 16

Days of Activism Against Gender Violence.

o Council review the action plan for consistency and clarity of

language in regards to key gender terms including in the

application of terms ‘gender analysis’ and ‘gender lens’, or

alternatively, including a definition of ‘gender lens’ in the key

definitions if it is to be included in the action plan.

• WHW look forward to continuing our highly valued partnership and

supporting Council in achieving its vision of a gender equitable

municipality where women live free from violence.

Suggestions regarding the inclusion

of actions concerning research and

advocacy, community partnerships

and organisational planning, policy

and practice have been noted and

will be taken into account when

developing Council’s internal

implementation plan.

The Plan has been amended to

ensure consistency and clarity of

language in regards to key gender

terms. The term ‘gender lens’

replaced with ‘gender analysis’ under

Priority 5.

3 Community

member

• Gender discrimination aimed at men.

• No violence is acceptable and that is how it should be portrayed, the

moment you put it on gender basis you cause discrimination.

Comments are noted. Council is in

support of the statement that no

violence is acceptable, a key

message in the Brimbank City

Council Community Plan (2009-

2030) Updated 2013 and the

Brimbank City Council’s Community

Safety Framework and Action Plan

(2012-2015).

The plan has used the existing

strong evidence-base (VicHealth,

Victoria Police; Family Incident

Attachment 2


Reports 2008/09 – 2013/14 data)

that violence against women is a

crime predominately perpetrated by

a current or former male partner

The Plan aims to work towards

gender equity where both females

and males can enjoy equal and

respectful relationships in our

community.


proposed.

4 YMCA • Keen to support any initiatives that reinforce the work that we and

other agencies and stakeholders are doing to increase engagement

with this issue.

• Particularly want to note and applaud:

o The acknowledgement of the gendered nature of men’s

violence against women

o The recognition of the importance of primary prevention

o The strong focus on gender equality as the main pathway to

the long term elimination of men’s violence against women

o The organisational focus of the Priorities for Action

o The reference to evidence based practice and strategies

• Plan aligns well with other work that is being done in the sector and

with the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and Their

Children.

• One key issue missing from the plan, which is the engagement of

men in the process to prevent men’s violence against women. The

evidence is clear and growing that we must engage men and boys in

this work of prevention if we are to see significant momentum and

change. As just one example of the evidence in this area I refer to

the recent report by the University of NSW, Less to Lose, More to

Gain. This omission could be rectified by an additional statement in

the Principles section, and by some further actions to engage men,

particular as part of Priorities for Action numbers 4, 6 and 7.

The principle ‘Empower and actively

engage women in the community’

has been amended to ‘Empower and

actively engage women and men in

the community’.

The following measure has been

added to Priority Number 6 ‘A gender

balance in women and men’s

participation in training is achieved’.

Other comments have been noted,

Priorities 4 and 7 are broad to

Attachment 2


• Thank you for your commitment to preventing men’s violence against

women.

encompass both genders, no change

to the Plan is proposed.

5 ISIS • ‘ISIS is committed to gender equity and contributing to preventing

violence in our community, specifically men’s violence against

women. Being a member on the Western Region PVT partnership

governance group and endorsing many of the PVT United strategies,

it’s great to see that some of these strategies have been threaded

through Brimbank’s plan.

• ISIS Primary Care is pleased to be noted as a partner around

‘working with community organisations to deliver gender equity and

preventing violence against women initiatives in Brimbank’.

• Summary of key points and/or feedback for consideration:

o Priorities for action, under point 6; it could be interesting to

explore how this could be broadened to include community rather

than just staff.

o How does Brimbank plan to address the spectrum of violence such

as elderly (due to the nature of the power differential, the rate of

women perpetrators tends to rise) and other victims? Perhaps

there are other plans that are envisioned to address these issues

that are so prevalent in such a diverse and culturally rich

municipality.

o It’s good to see that the plan acknowledges that some men also

experience violence. It also acknowledges that violence against

women as being one of most under-reported crimes. However,

given that violence is on a continuum, it would be interesting for

Brimbank to consider undertaking research around ‘reporting’ for

violence against men, elders and children, as it is suspected that

too is significantly under-reported, to what degree is the question.

Comments have been noted. Work

with the community is included

under the ‘Community Partnerships’

section of the Action Plan.

This is addressed under the Age

Friendly City Plan 2013 -2017.

Other bodies collect information

regarding reporting e.g. Department

of Justice, VicHealth (2013 National

Community Attitudes towards

Violence Against Women Survey),

and the Australian Bureau of

Statistics (census data, Socio-

Economic Indexes for Areas -

SEIFA). This is not within the role of

Council.

6 HealthWest

Partnership

• Welcomes Brimbank City Council’s commitment to the prevention of

men’s violence against women.

• Welcomes Council’s commitment to address gender inequity as the



proposed.

Attachment 2


root cause of violence against women.

• HealthWest has enjoyed a long, positive working relationship with

Brimbank City Council and we welcome future opportunities to

support the implementation of the Plan.

7 cohealth • Cohealth supports the overall direction and intent of the plan.

• The work of Council, its partners, previous action plans and working

groups demonstrates a long term commitment to prevention of

violence and is to be congratulated.

• Cohealth would agree with the principles statement of the draft plan.

• The name of the plan highlights the importance of tackling men’s

violence towards women and specifically the underlying causes of this

violence, such as gender inequity.

• SECTION: Role of Local Government in enhancing gender equity to

prevent violence against women; cohealth supports the assertions

about local government’s role in primary prevention efforts.

• SECTION: Promoting gender equity; cohealth endorses the

proposition that ending gender-based violence means changing

cultural concepts about masculinity, and that processes used must

actively engage men, including policy makers, parents, spouses or

young boys.

• Specific feedback on sections of the Plan:

o SECTION: Diagram 1 on Page 4 could be added to by explicitly

stating that the focus of this plan is primary prevention. The

continuum of prevention is described in the appendix of the plan,

but could be carried forward to offer part of the context for the

plan and illustrated closer to the front of the document.

o SECTION: Priorities for Action, Aim Number 6 on Page 3 could be

strengthened by using similar prevention language as is used

throughout the rest of the document. Instead of using words like

“respond‟ to the causes of violence against women, this action

could be re-written as: Explore training opportunities for staff to

understand the causes of violence in order to create service

programs that can reduce the incidence of violence against

women.



proposed.

Diagram 1 has been updated to a

social-ecological model. A focus on

primary prevention is clearly stated

in Principles section.

Priority No.6 has been revised to

‘Explore training opportunities to

support staff understanding the

underlying causes of violence against

women’.

Attachment 2


o SECTION: The impact of violence against women on children; this

section could be strengthened by increased clarity. For example a

rephrasing of this section may read as:

� Children’s exposure to violence against women is associated with

a number of mental health, behavioural and learning difficulties in

the short term, and increases the risk of developing mental health

problems later in life (VicHealth, 2011)[3]. The scope of this plan

includes preventing violence against women through promoting

gender equity. Ultimately, children’s health and wellbeing are

protected through the prevention of violence against women.

� Council commits to continue working in partnership with early

childhood service providers in Brimbank to protect children from

the effects of violence against women.

o SECTION: Table of Priorities and Actions; Within the table of

priorities and actions, column one is accidentally titled both

Priorities on page 7 and Objectives from page 7 onwards.

o SECTION: Research and Advocacy; Within the Research and

Advocacy section, there does not appear to be an indicator to

show whether gender equity has been embedded into plans,

policies, programs and services or not (Priority 1, Action 3). A

measure may be the number of plans, policies, programs or

services have been amended or created and show gender equity

has a key consideration.

� Priority 2, Action 1, p7: We are not sure that “where possible”

gives strong enough direction. An alternative could be to make

sex disaggregation the default rather than an option: Ensure

Council data collection is sex disaggregated at all times, unless

good reason is given for it not to be.

� Sex disaggregation is an active process requiring understanding,

commitment, planning and advocacy. Possibly Council could

consider training in sourcing and creating sex disaggregated data

and actively utilizing the Municipal Association of Victoria Gender

Equity tools. This could ensure that the reasons for sex

disaggregation of data are understood.

o SECTION: Community Partnerships; Priority 3, p8:

� It is worth reframing the description of roles to acknowledge that

Phrasing in this section has been

revised.

Table has been adjusted to have

consistent headings.

Indicator has been added ‘Gender

equity is embedded in Council plans,

policies, programs and services’.



proposed.

Attachment 2


the lead on regional Prevention of Violence against Women

(PVAW) plans is Women’s Health West and 14 partner agencies.

� The partner name of WRHC can be replaced by the name

Cohealth and this amendment made throughout the plan where

relevant.

o SECTION: Organizational planning, policy and practice;

� Priority 5, Action 2, p 9: There is a mismatch between the action

and its evaluative measure. A rephrasing of the measure could be

‘The number of grant programs identified that will include a

gender component.’

� Priority 6, Action 1, p10: Should say Family Violence Risk

Assessment or Bystander training.’ While of some value for

improving confidence in responding to family violence, both these

sources of training are alone not directly related to gender equity

awareness or actions. Gender Equity or Gender Analysis training

may be important to source as well as commitments to coverage

of gender equity actions at key staff times such as inductions, role

reviews or performance reviews.

The wording of the action has been

revised and an evaluation measure

has been added.

The name of the training has been

revised. Suggestions regarding the

provision of Gender Equity or Gender

Analysis training have been noted

and will be taken into account when

developing Council’s internal

implementation plan.

8 MAV • Congratulate Brimbank on the Draft Plan.

• Important that Brimbank have named 'men's violence' in the title, as

it is naming the issue we are trying to prevent (as opposed to other

types of violence prevention).

• Pleased the draft Plan uses the existing evidence base, of the WHO,

VicHealth and Our Watch, that at its core, the issue of men’s violence

against women is gender inequality.



proposed.

9 City of

Monash

• Congratulations on developing such an impressive plan to prevent

violence against women.

• The plan is very comprehensive and outlines an impressive array of

inter-linked strategies which will contribute to the prevention of

violence against women.

• Really like the clear language in the title of the plan to name men's

violence against women, which clearly identifies the gendered nature

of the violence. I would suggest that this language be used

As noted the gendered natured of

violence against women is clearly

stated in the title.

Attachment 2


consistently throughout the plan, as the term violence against women

is used much more frequently.

• Priorities for action:

o Priority 5 could be strengthened by also integrating gender equity

into some of these services and practices, as relevant, in addition

to conducting the analysis.

o For priority 6, I would suggest that as well as staff receiving

training on how to respond to violence against women and its

underlying determinants, staff could also receive training and

capacity building and support on how they can prevent violence

against women in their daily work.

o Council’s approach to preventing violence against women and

Diagram 1 –this section could be strengthened by clearly

articulating the link between gender inequality and violence

against women, as this was not explicit.

o Diagram 1 is difficult to interpret, it could be made clearer with

further explanation to illustrate the scope of actions within the

plan, both in terms of what the intersection between gender

equity and preventing violence against women is and also what

actions that promote gender equity or prevent violence against

women fall within or outside the middle of this venn diagram and

the rationale for why they have or haven't been included. Perhaps

the diagram could be moved to another section in the plan where

the relationships between gender inequality and violence against

women is discussed.

o On p5, the determinants of violence against women are clear, but

think the plan would be strengthened by clearly articulating the

ecological model and multi-level approach that underpins the

prevention of violence against women, as described by VicHealth

in their framework to prevent violence against women.

o Role of local government – after the acknowledgement of the

effectiveness of working on multiple strategies to prevent violence

against women, this section could be strengthened by identifying

some of the opportunities for Council to do this, such as

integrating gender equity into policy, planning and practice and

social marketing.



proposed.


Diagram 1 has been updated to a

social-ecological model and has been

moved to a different section.

Social-ecological model has been

included, further changes not

proposed.



proposed.

Attachment 2


o Data - some of the data used throughout the plan is out of date,

with new data available on family violence incidents, the gender

pay gap, the number of women on boards and new date is

available from the recent National Community Attitudes Survey on

Violence against Women.

o On the last page of the plan, the name of the Foundation to

Prevent Violence Against Women and their Children has changed

to Our Watch.

Appendix 3. Brimbank Data Profile

2013-2014 family violence incident

data added to the Plan.

Plan adjusted to reflect name

change.

Attachment 2

Table of key changes for the Draft Brimbank City Council’s Plan to Prevent Men’s Violence Against Women (2015 – 2019) -

Towards Gender Equity

Changes have been made in response to comments received regarding readability and structure.

Page No. Key changes

2 Key themes removed from this section and are now on p5.

3 Section titled ‘Why has Council developed a plan to prevent violence against women?’ was moved from p4.

4 Section titled ‘Principles’ was moved from p3.

4 Updated diagram to social-ecological model and placed in section titled ’Role of Local Government in enhancing

gender equity to prevent violence against women’. Was previously a venn diagram displaying PVAW and gender

equity intersection.

5 Priorities for action moved from p3.

7 New indicator added to Priority 1 - Gender equity is embedded in Council plans, policies, programs and services.

9 New indicator added to Priority 5 - A preventing violence against women and promotion of gender equity category is

included in Council’s community grants program.

10 New indicator added to Priority 6 - A gender balance in women and men’s participation in training is achieved.

12 Appendix 3. Brimbank Data Profile - 2013-2014 family violence incident data added to the plan.

report 10.5 - brimbank city council’s plan to prevent men’s … · 2016-05-18 · attachment 1...

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