Respect Victoria is working alongside local organisations, government and practitioners to support decision-making, delivery and shared learning locally and statewide. This work is guided by the overarching principles and priorities of Respect Ballarat.
Respect Ballarat Local Advisory Group
The Local Advisory Group is co-chaired by Respect Victoria and Women’s Health Grampians and brings together leaders from local organisations. The group has strategic oversight of Respect Ballarat and is responsible for:
- Driving community uptake and embedding local leadership
- Identifying project opportunities, risks and mitigations
- Working on sustainability and systems change
- Advocating for and representing the model across sectors and media.
This group includes two dedicated community positions for people with lived experience of gendered violence.
Respect Ballarat Local Impact Group
The implementation group is comprised of on-the-ground local practitioners who are delivering prevention projects supported by or aligned to Respect Ballarat. They are working together to support the delivery of the model, share skills and knowledge, share problem-solving and risk mitigation, and provide peer to peer support as this work rolls out.
Respect Victoria is supporting practitioners in this group to build capacity and understanding across sectors and disciplines, to track initiatives and document impact, and to strengthen relationships across sectors and organisations.
Respect Victoria’s role
Respect Victoria is committed to partnering with local organisations to support oversight and sustainability of Respect Ballarat. This includes co-chairing the Local Advisory Group and Local Impact Group, as well as providing regular updates and information to local government and sector committees.
We also provide updates and advice to the Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence, local Members of Parliament and other relevant government Ministers. This supports a systems-level approach, ensuring the sharing of promising practice, and building on evidence for the model.
Respect Ballarat Fund
The Respect Ballarat Fund is a philanthropic fund held by the Ballarat Foundation that provides an opportunity for long-term, locally led sustainable prevention work. The fund will support philanthropic partners to enable systemic, community-wide change in Ballarat and help to develop a national blueprint for preventing gendered violence.
Find out more at the Ballarat Foundation website.
Respect Ballarat Local Advisory Group
This group has strategic oversight of Respect Ballarat and is responsible for:
- driving community uptake and embedding local leadership
- identifying project opportunities and risks and mitigations
- monitoring impact and evaluation across the life of the model to support iterations
- working on sustainability and systems change
- advocating for and representing the model across sectors and media.
The group is co-chaired by Respect Victoria and Women’s Health Grampians. Membership for the foundational model in 2025-26 will be drawn from local organisations. It includes two dedicated community positions for people with lived experience of gendered violence.
Respect Ballarat Impact Group
The implementation group is comprised of on-the-ground local practitioners who are delivering prevention projects supported by or aligned to Respect Ballarat. They are responsible for:
- supporting the delivery of the model
- problem-solving and risk mitigation
- system and sector strengthening
- supporting capability-building
- reviewing design and project recommendations
- tracking interventions and activities
- leading or supporting communities of practice throughout the life of the work.
They may also provide project guidance and peer support. This group will be established following funding announcements in early 2026, with further information provided closer to the date.
Statewide Expert Advisory Group
The statewide expert advisory committee:
- shares learnings from the model across the state
- builds the profile of Respect Ballarat
- provides high-level independent prevention advice
- ensures alignment with statewide prevention strategy, evidence and policy
- builds the evidence base for the model
- supports knowledge translation for replication in other communities.
The group meets quarterly and is chaired by Respect Victoria. Membership will be drawn from organisations and stakeholders leading prevention and early intervention work across the state.
Respect Victoria’s role in governance
Respect Victoria will establish the three governance groups with support from local organisations and key stakeholders. We will also provide learnings and insight to and seek advice from:
- the Family Violence Reform Policy Steering Committee
- the Central Highlands Local Site Executive (LSEC) Committee
- the Prevention Sector Statewide Alliance
- the Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence
- local Members of Parliament
- the Ballarat Communities of Respect and Equality (CoRE) Alliance led by Women’s Health Grampians.
This supports a systems-level approach, ensuring the sharing of promising practice, and building on evidence for the model.