No matter who you are, where you are or what you do, your workplace can help to prevent violence against women, and all forms of gendered violence. And this toolkit is created to help you get involved.
This toolkit is for your workplace, organisation or community group – whether you're already connected to family violence work or not – to get involved in ending violence against women, family violence and all forms of gendered violence.
It includes information to help you coordinate meaningful and inclusive events and activities, as well as information you can use to guide your community messaging.
This resource is updated regularly based on your feedback – so share your thoughts with us by emailing contact@respectvictoria.vic.gov.au.
Everyone has the right to be safe, equal and respected
But right now in Australia, that's not the case for many people:
- More than 1 in 3 women have experienced men’s violence.
- Almost 40% of Australians over the age of 16 were exposed to domestic violence between their parents.
- 61% of LGBTIQA+ Australians have experienced intimate partner violence.
- 95% of all victims of violence in Australia (regardless of gender) experience it from a male perpetrator.
Safety is not a given in any community – and neither is respect, but it should be.
This violence is preventable when we all lead with respect and equality wherever we live, learn, work and play.
Is this the 16 Days of Activism toolkit?
In 2026, we have expanded the previous 16 Days of Activism toolkit and 'Respect Is...' assets into this year-round 'It Starts With Respect' toolkit. You can use and adapt these at any time, including during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.
This work is vital 365 days a year. Thank you for helping to create change.
Explore the toolkit
Respect Victoria acknowledges Aboriginal peoples throughout Victoria as the First Peoples and Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands and waterways on which we rely. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present. We proudly acknowledge Aboriginal communities throughout Victoria and their ongoing strength in practising the world’s oldest living cultures.
We acknowledge the significant and ongoing impacts of colonisation and commit to working alongside First Nations communities to effect change. We recognise the ongoing leadership role of these communities in addressing and preventing family violence and violence against women, and will continue to work in collaboration with First Peoples to eliminate these forms of violence from all communities.
This toolkit evolved from the 16 Days of Activism Toolkit, first developed by the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) in 2019, then updated annually in partnership with Safe and Equal and Respect Victoria. We thank everyone who has provided feedback and advice across 16 Days campaigns and beyond.
