Respect Victoria
Respect Victoria’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence 2024 is an initiative about family and gender-based violence. This is a positive message that aims to support Victorian communities to have conversations about ‘respect’ – what it means to us, what it looks like and how to put it into practice, especially around gender equality.
Respect Victoria’s focus is stopping all forms of family violence before it starts by changing the norms, practices and structures that allow it to happen.
In Australia, the statistics show that:
- On average one woman a week is murdered by her current or former partner.
- 1 in 4 women have experienced violence by an intimate partner since the age of 15.
- 1 in 5 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women aged 15 and over has experienced physical violence in a 12-month period.
- Nearly 2 in 5 women with disabilities have experienced violence from a partner, ex-partner or family member.
- 1 in 3 LGBTIQ+ people have experienced violence from a partner, ex-partner or family member.
- 1 in 3 migrant and refugee women living in Australia have experienced family violence.
- 95% of all victims of violence, regardless of gender, experience violence from a male perpetrator.
- In 2018, only 35% of Australians who have witnessed workplace sexual harassment in the previous 5 years took some form of action.
For references and more statistics on violence against women visit Our Watch.
How can you help?
We can all play a role in stopping all forms of family violence before it starts. Join in the call for change by taking three simple steps:
- Think about what respect means to you, and how it shows up in your home, relationships, workplace and community. What needs to change and how can you take action?
- Call out sexism, and other forms of discrimination when you see or hear them, if it's safe to do so. Keep reading for some useful tips on calling it out.
- Set the right example when it comes to gender equality. This might look like encouraging your workplace to take action on equality, talking to the kids in your life about gender stereotypes, or starting a conversation in your sports club or community group.
Visit Respect Victoria for more tips on how you can be involved.
Support Services
If you or someone you know is experiencing family violence, help is available.
If you believe someone is in immediate danger call Triple Zero (000) and ask for the police.
More information can be found on Victoria Police’s family violence page:
https://www.police.vic.gov.au/family-violence
SAFE STEPS - 1800 015 188
A confidential and supportive family violence response line for Victoria. Phone services available 24/7. http://www.safesteps.org.au
ORANGE DOOR - 1800 512 359
Family violence support, services for families, specialised Aboriginal services and men’s services. Access one of the new safety hubs in person at Bendigo (57 View street) or Maryborough (75 Clarendon street).
https://orangedoor.vic.gov.au/
MEN’S REFERRAL SERVICE – 1300 766 491
Men’ s Referral Service provides anonymous and confidential telephone counselling, information and referrals to men to help them take action to stop using violent and controlling behaviour.
https://www.ntv.org.au/
DJIRRA - 1800 105 303
Djirra is a culturally safe place where culture is celebrated, and practical support is available. Call or visit the Djirra Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention and Legal Services website:
https://djirra.org.au/
INTOUCH MULTICULTURAL CENTRE AGAINST FAMILY VIOLENCE - 1800 755 988
A specialist family violence service that works with multicultural women, their families and their Communities. Call or visit the InTouch website:
www.intouch.org.au
1800 RESPECT – 1800 737 732
The national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service. 24/7 phone and online services.
https://www.1800respect.org.au/
KIDS HELPLINE – 1800 55 1800
Kids Helpline is a counselling service for Australian children and young people aged between 5 and 25 years. Phone and online services available 24/7.
https://kidshelpline.com.au/
RAINBOW DOOR - 1800 729 367
Rainbow Door is a free specialist LGBTIQ+ helpline providing information, support and referral to all LGBTIQ+ Victorians, their friends and family during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Call or visit the Rainbow Door website:
https://www.rainbowdoor.org.au/
MENS LINE – 1300 78 99 78
Professional support and information service for Australian men. 24/7 phone and online services.
https://mensline.org.au/
SENIORS RIGHTS VICTORIA - 1300 368 821
Seniors Rights Victoria (SRV) provides information and advice to help prevent elder abuse and safeguard the rights of older people.
https://seniorsrights.org.au/
VICTIMS SUPPORT AGENCY - 1800 819 817
Official Victorian Government Agency helping people in Victoria manage the effects of violent crime, including support through the justice system. There is also a text service on 0427 767 891.
https://www.victimsofcrime.vic.gov.au/victims-support-agency
VICTORIA LEGAL AID - 1300 792 387
Provides assistance with legal problems in areas of criminal law, family law and some civil law matters. An interpreter service in 14 other languages can be provided if needed. More information and an online chat is available on the website:
https://www.legalaid.vic.gov.au/