Local knowledge and decision-making are key to building a community model that works. Since mid-2024, Respect Victoria has been privileged to learn from, co-design and consult with Ballarat organisations, leaders, survivors and communities to lay the foundations for Respect Ballarat. Together with local and international evidence and learning, this has informed the foundational Respect Ballarat model.
Co-designing a model with community
Respect Ballarat was co-designed in collaboration with local communities and sectors. This process was undertaken in partnership with The Australian Centre for Social Innovation (TACSI), who facilitated a local co-design working group, a community conversations process, and sector roundtables.
The co-design approach aimed to lay the groundwork for Respect Ballarat by unearthing the community’s current experience of gendered violence and prevention, defining guiding principles and a vision for the work going forward, and beginning to identify priority people and places for impact.
TACSI used a framework called ‘Now-Future-How' with the working group and community conversations, to define what Ballarat communities are currently experiencing, the future they want to see, and how change can happen.
Local working group members included representatives from family violence prevention and response organisations, local council, health and education settings, people from culturally and racially marginalised communities, LGBTIQA+ communities, volunteers and community group representatives, and academia.
The process drew on narrative practice to honour the realities of people experiencing, preventing and responding to gendered violence. This meant recognising that:
- prevention does not occur in isolation from the past, nor apart from healing, early intervention or response
- supporting a prevention focus in the big picture is not in isolation to the realities of violence in Ballarat
- community and government must work together recognise, maximise and realise the potential of Ballarat as a community in order to make sense of and act on the big picture of violence.
Community conversations
This process involved facilitated conversations with communities and groups of people in Ballarat to learn about:
- their understanding of gendered violence and prevention,
- community strengths and challenges
- where people learn about respectful relationships
- what they need to feel safe.
Findings from these community conversations are all being applied to the implementation of Respect Ballarat.
“There are people at school who will pick on one individual because they don't conform to their ideas of gender. This group considers themselves "normal" and have a go at anything that doesn't fit in as ‘un-normal.’” - young man
Ballarat Community Health spoke with teenagers and young people in Ballarat, including those who had recently left school, through small group and individual interviews.
Most young people spoke about the value of respectful relationships education in schools, with participants sharing that it wasn’t always consistent, wasn’t repeated enough, and messaging was often challenged at home or in other parts of the community. Participants spoke about the need for role models at home, at school, in sports and arts settings, and in the community. Young people expressed wanting to hear about healthy relationships and what gendered violence can look like from different people and settings in their lives.
Sexism, homophobia and transphobia came up consistently in these discussions, with young people and their peers experiencing these forms of discrimination at school, at home and in the broader community. Young people from culturally and racially marginalised backgrounds spoke about experiencing racism and being subject to racist stereotypes from people of all ages, within schools and in the broader community.
Participants spoke about social media as significant in shaping how they understand gender, identity and relationships. Many spoke about the value of hearing positive messages and stories about healthy relationships, but that they didn’t always know what to believe. They also spoke about the harmful side of the online world – particularly for young men – where creators sharing misogynistic messages are also offering a place to belong. Young men spoke about the pressure they feel to be ‘good men,’ but that they aren’t always sure what that should look like.
“Feeling included and respected makes you feel strong.” - young person
Ballarat and District Aboriginal Cooperative consulted with Aboriginal children and young people aged 6-15 years through their Burron Guli program.
Burron Guli creates conversations with young Aboriginal men and boys to improve their understanding of healthy relationships, with a focus on respect, love, safety and responsibility. Participants learn and talk about culture, family, expressing emotions, resilience, healthy relationships and gender roles.
Young people who participated in the Respect Ballarat consultation spoke about how important staying connected to culture was for them. These young people want more cultural activities at school and in the community, speaking about Marngrook, painting, songs, and dancing. The importance of support from family, friends and community was highlighted, with young people saying that “best friends” and “family” help them feel strong.
Based on these consultations with young people, recommendations for self-determined prevention work via Respect Ballarat include:
- supporting cultural activities to be integrated into school and community life
- framing gender roles through cultural values of mutual respect, equality and caring
- supporting young people to connect with local Elders, cultural educators, artists and community
- ensuring cultural learning is practical, hands-on and community-led
- supporting family-based storytelling and knowledge sharing
- encourage peer leadership, support and mentorship opportunities.
“Many of the things that impact on LGBTIQA+ people are because of gender norms and changing these norms will need to be a whole of community effort, so things won’t get better for us until there is this bigger change.” - community member
Tiny Pride and QHub were supported to speak with LGBTIQA+ community members in Ballarat as through two facilitated forums. Participants shared their thoughts and experiences on healthy relationships, violence prevention, and what is needed in Ballarat to support prevention efforts both for LGBTIQA+ people and in the broader community.
Experiences of homophobia and transphobia in public spaces, in workplaces, in services, and in schools were discussed. Participants spoke about rarely feeling seen or represented in prevention efforts, and that information about healthy relationships and gender roles often doesn’t apply directly to their own experiences. They spoke about the importance of people learning about respectful relationships at all life stages.
Many LGBTIQA+ participants spoke about feeling disconnected from the broader Ballarat community, and have safety concerns about participating in events, sports and other activities. Participants told us they appreciate visual signals that tell them where they are likely to feel safe, like when local businesses and services choose to put rainbow or trans flag stickers in their windows.
Themes consistently emerging from the conversations include:
- Communities are seeking education and support to understand what healthy relationships should look like, and how to identify red flags and violence in LGBTIQA+ relationships – both for themselves and to support others.
- Participants spoke about being more likely to reach out to friends, family or chosen family for support rather than services; many noted that they didn’t know which local services were safe for LGBTIQA+ communities.
- Prevention work should provide tailored support and education for LGBTIQA+ communities, while also challenging transphobia and homophobia in the broader community.
Centre for Multicultural Youth held two community forums and a number of small group interviews with people from culturally and racially marginalised communities in Ballarat. Participants included people from Columbian, Chinese, Filipino, Nuer, South Sudanese, Middle Eastern, French and Sri Lankan backgrounds. They ranged in age from 16-58.
When discussing gendered violence and healthy relationships, most participants pointed to friends, neighbours and community as the people they would reach out to for advice or support. Many people felt let down by systems, including service organisations and police. There was also a lack of awareness of available local services, and whether services could provide culturally safe support.
Workplaces came up consistently in conversations as a place where gendered violence is happens but isn’t addressed until crisis occurs or is ‘swept under the rug.’ Women spoke about specific instances of violence and discrimination in workplaces, and several said that they are fearful of speaking to their employer in case they lose their job or experience retaliation.
Other themes from these conversations include:
- a need for prevention work to be tailored for culturally and racially marginalised communities, including in-language resources and sessions led by or with community members
- local services and first responders need to be supported to provide culturally safe services, including anti-racism training
- education about respect, consent and healthy relationships is needed across the lifespan, with many participants speaking specifically about men needing to self-reflect and take action on prevention.
“I would like services and the community in Ballarat to start by listening, really listening to disabled people, and then acting on what we say…What I want is simple: honesty, respect, and access. Stop wasting our energy with closed doors and token gestures. Give us a community where we don’t have to fight just to belong.” - community member
To support the Respect Ballarat co-design process, gender and disability experts from Women’s Health Grampians and Berry Street engaged women, trans and gender diverse people with disabilities living in the Ballarat region through a community forum, an anonymous survey, and individual interviews.
The project approach and delivery was co-designed from start to finish with women with disabilities. Participants were engaged through a community forum, an anonymous survey, and individual interviews.
Initial findings from this work show that women, trans and gender diverse people with disabilities are experiencing:
- systemic barriers to accessing and receiving appropriate supports in Ballarat
- harmful attitudes and behaviours in community, public spaces and services, often preventing them from seeking further support
- barriers to accessing services and programs that are designed for the whole community in Ballarat.
The findings also show that women, trans and gender diverse people with disabilities want:
- more connection to, safety and access within the broader Ballarat community
- disability awareness training for staff in support services, local government and community organisations
- community-wide approaches to challenge ableism, homophobia and transphobia.
"I've talked to my girlfriend about it, she's experienced some violence and talked to me about it. I didn't know how to respond really. If I understood more I'd understand what to say." - young man.
Community engagement workers from City of Ballarat and Ballarat Community Health spoke with men, both in groups and individual interviews. All men interviewed expressed their concern about gendered violence in Ballarat, and a willingness to take action to prevent it. Participants came to the interviews with different levels of understanding about what drives violence.
Many men spoke about wanting to challenge harmful attitudes and behaviours, but some fear backlash, isolation or saying the ‘wrong thing.’ They also spoke about wanting practical, engaging tools and resources to help them take meaningful action. Several participants spoke about wanting more prevention education and resources built into workplaces, sports clubs and the community environments they already engage with.
The importance of peers as role models came up consistently, and wanting more structured social spaces to connect with other men. Almost all participants spoke about the importance of respectful relationships education in schools starting early. A number of men said that they didn’t know where to go to seek support or resources for themselves or others in relation to gendered violence.
Men from culturally and racially marginalised communities spoke about the importance of working with communities on solutions that will work best for them, and ensuring that diverse voices, expertise and cultural awareness training are prioritised in local services.
Almost every participant spoke about the influence of social media, and the division that is being created by algorithms and influencers. They also spoke about the opportunities to support people to think critically about content they are being served, and to have more positive messages on those platforms.
Community survey
Over June and July 2024, people in Ballarat were invited to share their perspectives, ideas and insights on preventing gendered violence via an online survey platform.
We received 334 submissions, with community members sharing the places where they wanted to see change including homes, education settings, sports clubs, and workplaces.
Many people spoke about the unequal division of household labour, the mental load in intimate partnerships between men and women, and the need for workplaces in Ballarat to support all parents to balance work and caring responsibilities. Many shared their vision for a safe Ballarat as being a place where people call each other ‘out’ or ‘in’ for sexism, street harassment, homophobia, disrespect and violence.
“It’s not a community where people are just surviving – it's one where everyone can thrive, without fear” - community member
Other themes shared included the need for healthy expressions of masculinity and positive male role models. Through the platform, community members called for whole-of-community education on gendered violence, bystander intervention, healthy and equal relationships, and emotional regulation, and information on what supports are available for people who use violence.
“We need real investment. Real workers. Real support. Not just for women, but for families – for the dads out here trying to break the cycle ... and build a safer future.” - community member
Read more about the survey on the Engage Victoria website.
Mapping the local context
Since mid-2024, Respect Victoria has been connecting with local organisations across sectors in Ballarat to understand where prevention and early intervention work is happening and effective, where the gaps are, and where the opportunities are for collective impact.
This work has happened through conversations, network and practitioner meetings, workshops, and knowledge-sharing across sectors. We have spoken with practitioners and leaders working across the family violence continuum, in health, education, justice, community services and community groups, faith-based organisations, and in state and local government.
Some of the specific barriers and enablers to local prevention efforts have been identified as:
- Entrenched systems (organisationally, in policy and in communities) create a conservative culture, one that reinforces forms of oppression and the drivers of violence.
- Social factors including intergenerational trauma, poverty, housing insecurity and the harmful use of alcohol and other drugs compound each other and the cycle of violence but are also key sites for disrupting that cycle.
- Community leadership is an opportunity to challenge the entrenched systems that drive violence, through a shared sense of responsibility to work together to prevent violence. It’s particularly important that men engage with this shared community responsibility.
- Organisational capacity enables prevention work; at the same time, funding arrangements that make organisations compete against each other is a barrier. Doing work in partnership – as in the regional Communities of Respect and Equality (CoRE) Alliance – is a way to overcome this challenge and work together on shared priorities.
- Intersectionality - recognising that peoples’ identities and experiences of violence intersect across gender, sexuality, race, culture, Aboriginality, ability, age etc. - is key to prevention actions that reach everyone in Ballarat. There is an opportunity for organisations led by and dedicated to diverse communities in Ballarat to upskill the local workforce in intersectional violence prevention.
- Education and awareness by community leaders and organisations helps grow local understanding of gendered violence and shared responsibility for prevention.
Work will continue to understand the opportunities and barriers in alignment with Respect Ballarat’s target behaviours and priority people and places.
Working across the family violence continuum
Since the announcement of the saturation model, Respect Victoria has been connecting with Ballarat organisations across the family violence continuum. This includes prevention and response organisations, police, health services, government, victim survivors, and organisations in aligned sectors that deliver early intervention and prevention work with families, individuals and young people.
Support for work across the family violence continuum and partnership between organisations delivering this work is critical to the success of Respect Ballarat. We are working closely with the Central Highlands Integrated Family Violence Committee (CHIFVC) to share knowledge, evidence and collaborate with local response organisations. This work will continue throughout the life of the project and will include measuring any potential impact on service demands or trends.