World First Framework to Prevent Domestic Violence

Australia has become the first country to deliver a consistent and integrated national approach to the prevention of violence against women and children, a national launch event in Canberra has been told.

Our Watch, the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth) and Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS) have launched Change the story: A shared framework for the primary prevention of violence against women and their children in Australia.

The consortium of Not for Profits said Change the story brought together the latest international evidence on what drives violence against women and what works to prevent it.  

The framework represents more than 400 diverse stakeholder groups from around the country, explained Our Watch Chair, Natasha Stott Despoja.

“This is a watershed moment,” Stott Despoja said.

“With Change the Story we are better placed than ever before to end violence against women and children in Australia.

“As we have seen with other major social changes, such as smoking prevention and the wearing of seat-belts, we need governmental, organisational and systematic change across the community.”

ANROWS CEO, Heather Nancarrow, said that throughout the extensive research and consultations phase one major theme stood out.

“Gender influences patterns of violence victimisation and perpetration more than any other variable, according to our recent analysis of data from the 2012 ABS Personal Safety Survey,” Nancarrow said.

“This Framework will help to change the story on gender inequality and violence against women. Building communities that are safe, respectful and free from violence requires effective, and evidence-based, primary prevention strategies.

“The Framework and related video, show that to change the story that ends in violence against women, we must begin with gender equality and respect. Both bring together extensive research indicating that, for survivors and perpetrators, violence against women is the conclusion often reached after a life story informed by gender inequality.”

VicHealth CEO, Jerril Rechter, said the framework extended to a national level, building on previous work undertaken in Victoria.

Rechter said VicHealth’s 2007 prevention framework helped drive activity across research, policy and programs.

“State and Territory Governments and their communities are now ready to move to the next stage of prevention,” Rechter said.

“Our research shows that too many people still think violence against women occurs because of individual stress or anger management issues, or that men can’t control themselves.

“But the fact is we need to focus on gender equality and respectful relationships if we want to make a difference.

“Across sectors like sports, business, media and advertising, education and all levels of government, everyone has a reinforcing role to play in changing the story that ends in violence against women.”

Change the story: A shared framework for the primary prevention of violence against women in Australia is an initiative under the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-2022.