Efforts to prevent violence are more likely to be effective and to achieve lasting change when they are part of broader prevention and gender equality activities.
These are just a few ideas and tools to help you get started.
Host an event or activation
Organise an event that engages your community and encourages lasting change.
See how to create meaningful prevention events.
Don’t forget to tag us in your social posts so we can see what you’re up to, and share with our communities!
Share the message on social media
Whether you’re an individual or representing an organisation, social media is a powerful way to share messages about respect and equality.
Check the tips for using our social media assets and learn how to deal with any backlash.
Bring Respect Is... to your community
Use the downloadable assets to raise awareness. Share posters with local businesses like medical centres, supermarkets, chemists and petrol stations, and organisations like sports clubs and community centres and ask them to join you in spreading the word in your community.
Encourage conversation
Conversations are a meaningful way of exploring important issues. Recognise that conversations happen in different ways.
Connect with Elders, faith leaders, employers, schools, and other leaders in your community and encourage them to lead these discussions too. It might feel awkward to start these conversations. That’s okay! Without talking about it, nothing will change. Use the information from the resources in this toolkit to help inform and guide your conversations.
Encourage advocacy and allyship
Increasing the number of people in your community who will advocate for equality and violence prevention in a variety of settings is essential for reinforcing broad social change. Leaders and influencers in workplaces, community groups, sports places and services have immense potential for shaping attitudes.
Learn more:
- Advice on how to secure support from leadership – Our Watch
- Promote gender equality to sports leaders – Our Watch
- Building Youth Leadership in Violence Prevention – FVREE
- Men as Allies: supporting women and girls in community sport – Change Our Game
Attend, deliver or organise professional development
Keep up to date with training and professional development workshops for individuals and workplaces.
Learn more:
- Training and Events – Safe and Equal
- Prevention in Action – Our Watch
- Partners in Prevention Network
- Women’s Health Victoria
- No To Violence
- Prevention of Violence Against Women and Promotion of Gender Equality eNews – MAV
Connect and collaborate with others
Organisations and groups across Victoria are working toward the same goal: preventing men’s use of violence. Reach out to people in similar roles or settings and share insights on what is working well and what you’re learning from your challenges. Ask questions and learn from each other. Engage with the women’s health service in your region and see where you can align with their regional primary prevention strategy. Tell them what you're doing for the 16 Days of Activism, and how your activities went! There’s a lot of knowledge to be shared across our communities.