News

Local government violence prevention plans need more Government support

Media Release, Tuesday 7 July 2009

With growing concern about violence and insecurity in homes and public spaces, improved local government based violence prevention plans are more in need than ever before, according to the final results from a new University of Melbourne study.

The ARC Linkage grant funded-report found that just 17 of Melbourne’s 31 metropolitan councils, and only one local government in regional Victoria had ‘violence’ or ‘family violence’ prevention as a priority in their Municipal Public Health Plans or Community Safety Strategies.

“Many local councils are doing great work on violence prevention planning but they need more support from the State and Commonwealth governments to improve the prevention of violence fear of violence, a state government priority”, says Dr Carolyn Whitzman, the lead investigator for the ‘Gender, Local Governance and Violence Prevention’ (GLOVE) Project.

“While the figures above make sobering reading, we’re aware that things are improving: at time of writing, 14 local governments were are either starting or completing gender-specific violence prevention initiatives.”

Dr Whitzman says the project specifically sought out the few successful local government-community partnerships working to prevent violence against women to find out what makes them work. “We found that effective partnership between state and local governments and community organisations was key, as was outlining clear responsibilities for programs and having good local data on the incidence of violence.

“The state government supports to local initiatives have changed considerably in the past three years, from a rather gender neutral support for ‘community safety strategies’ to a more concrete and evidence-based framework for preventing violence against women.

“This research report supports the current development of new state and national plans, but would specifically like to see clear policy supports, evaluation strategies, and dissemination of best practice from the State government.”

Dr Whitzman highlighted Maribyrnong as one council the report investigated who had done a lot of work in the area of violence planning and was close to best practice. “Maribyrnong Council’s ‘Preventing Violence Against Women Action Plan’ works well to address the determinants of violence across all core business of council, from maternal and child health services to aged and diversity services.”

“They’ve maintained regular media campaigns and training opportunities for staff and community organizations, audited all council-owned parks and community centres and created a new category of violence prevention in community grants.”

The final report comes after the release of a series of fact sheets outlining the links between violence in private and public spaces. Dr Whitzman says that while the project is not a one stop shop for councils seeking an integrated plan, “…we think it can help deliver support to councils who need it, and provide the government with a meaningful framework to build on and an integrated approach to violence prevention in both the public and private space.”

Journalists please note: Broadcast quality audio and video of Dr Whitzman discussing the GLOVE project will be available from 9.30am this morning at newsroom.melbourne.edu/studio/ep-38.

More information about the GLOVE project can be found at www.abp.unimelb.edu.au/research/funded/glove/.