Case Study: Latrobe City Council

Engaging Men as Allies: Community Men’s Breakfast for Gender Equality

Why it is important

Engaging men in respectful, community-led conversations is critical to preventing violence against women and building shared responsibility for gender equality at a local level.

Latrobe City Council supported the Gippsland Male Champions for Change group to build the capacity of men across community, business, and government to lead on gender equality and prevent violence against women. This work responds to the need to actively engage men as allies and leaders within their spheres of influence and is part of a broader, ongoing effort to strengthen men’s engagement in prevention across Gippsland.

As part of the 2025 International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, Council hosted the Men Stepping Up for a Safer Gippsland breakfast. The invite-only event brought together 50 male leaders with influence across workplaces, sporting clubs, and community settings. It featured a keynote from Detective Senior Sergeant Rod Finlay. Victoria Police’s Latrobe Family Violence Unit, with a panel of Champions for Change members including Justin Fallu (TAFE Gippsland), Michael Taplin (community leader), and Liam Bantock (Latrobe City Council), reflecting on gender equality leadership in their professional and community contexts.

The event took a ‘call in’ approach, building knowledge, reflection, and practical skills. It included a targeted call to action for participants to undertake further training, with 10 men completing a Leading for Gender Equity workshop delivered by Gippsland Women’s Health. Participants reported increased confidence to challenge attitudes and take action within their workplaces and communities.

As panel member Liam Bantock reflected, “Men need to step up and be part of preventing violence against women because it is our friends, teammates and colleagues who are choosing to use violence. As leaders in our community, we have the power to influence positive change at the individual, workplace and sporting club level.”

This demonstrates early momentum, with a key lesson being the importance of structured pathways from awareness to action.

Call to action

Create clear pathways for men to move from awareness to action by embedding training opportunities into engagement activities and taking a ‘call in’ approach that builds knowledge, skills, and accountability for gender equality leadership.