Communities to benefit from councils’ Guide to Prevent Family Violence
This week the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV), in partnership with the Victorian Government has released The local government guide for preventing family violence and all forms of violence against women. This Guide will support councils to further progress their important contribution to preventing family violence and all forms of violence against women in Victorian communities.
The Guide is designed to support local government to take a holistic approach to prevent family violence by focusing on councils as service providers, workplaces, community connectors, and community leaders.
The MAV is excited to work with all 79 councils to encourage implementation of the Guide across the sector and providing dedicated support to the 15 councils currently funded by the State Government’s Free from Violence Local Government Program until 2025 to implement the Guide.
Upon this week’s release of the Guide, the Minister for Prevention of Family Violence, Ros Spence said “Local governments play a pivotal role in their communities, engaging with people of all backgrounds, in many places and at all stages of life, making them ideal partners in our work to prevent family violence and violence against women. The new guide provides a roadmap to support them in this work."
With the official launch of the Guide, MAV President Cr David Clark agreed saying that Victorian councils have an unrivalled capacity to reach into and across communities on the issue of family violence prevention.
“Councils are working alongside sports clubs, businesses and community groups to drive real, sustainable change and we’re thrilled the Guide will continue to support and extend this critical work” Cr Clark explained.
“The state government is to be commended for this significant injection of resourcing, it’s a great example of supporting local government’s ability to lead initiatives and partnerships to improve outcomes in their communities”.
“The MAV looks forward to supporting councils in the diverse and substantial projects and programs that will result from the implementation of the Guide.”
The local government guide for preventing family violence and all forms of violence against women can be accessed at www.mav.asn.au/PFVGuide