This chapter outlines where progress has been made, where there are challenges and opportunities for action, and recommendations to increase progress and impact. The themes outlined in this chapter have been identified and verified through interviews with report participants, consultations, reports and evaluations, and sensemaking workshops with stakeholders. The themes are:
- prevention investment
- enabling policy and legislation
- strengthening the prevention system
- growing and supporting the workforce
- building evidence and data
- recognising and enabling community-led and specialist prevention
- community awareness, understanding and behaviour change
- evolving prevention practice and approaches.
Progress, challenges and recommendations
Preventing family violence, gendered violence and all forms of violence against women requires a transformational, long-term approach. Change requires unwavering commitment from governments, communities and businesses. While a whole-of-community approach to prevention is crucial, government has unique levers that can further primary prevention efforts.
In this chapter, the progress and challenges outlined will speak to several areas of the Statewide Theory of Change. The findings presented in this chapter have been drawn from interviews with report participants, sector consultations, analysis of reports and evaluations, and sensemaking workshops with stakeholders. Case studies are included to provide more details of established and promising prevention efforts.
Recommendations in this chapter flow from what we know about progress to date, and opportunities for action, and are aimed at safeguarding progress so that the momentum for change is not lost. By building on what works, strengthening and safeguarding essential prevention infrastructure, and courageously addressing persistent and emerging challenges, Victoria can continue to set the standard for what a whole-of-society approach to preventing violence looks like. Centring the people experiencing violence in this work and ensuring accountability to them demands renewed focus and sustained investment. It is a necessary and urgent commitment to move us closer to a Victoria where everyone is safe, equal and respected.
While Respect Victoria makes these recommendations to the Victorian Government, we hope they also provide useful guidance for all organisations working in prevention, and we stand ready to support, and where appropriate lead, their implementation.