Share your stories of times when you felt unsafe and learn how to support someone experiencing family violence or sexual harassment to help make the city safer for all.
Exceptional people are working hard to deliver projects that prevent violence against women, shine a light on street harassment, and better equip businesses to protect patrons and staff across the municipality.
We’re right behind this important work and have funded some exciting new projects.
It’s Not A Compliment will deliver Your Stories Matter, a two-year project that empowers people to share stories of street harassment. Data gathered will inform our strategic planning to create safer streets for all.
AMES will provide Prevention of Violence Against Women training in partnership with the Drill Hall Residents Association, to create community champions across multicultural neighbourhoods.
The Eastern Domestic Violence Service will deliver HaiR-3Rs training to help workers at salons, spas and clinics recognise and respond to disclosures of family violence and refer people to specialist services.
Leadership Education Advancement and Development for Asian Australians will run sessions and create short films to help young women have a safer experience in the city, acknowledging the increased racism experienced by Asian communities during COVID-19.
We’re also inviting businesses that operate after dark to sign up to a night safety charter and access resources and training to better equip staff and security to respond to sexual harassment through Project Night Justice.
These projects are just some of the ways we’re seeking to facilitate safe and equal participation in economic, social and civic life across the municipality, as outlined in our Women’s Safety and Empowerment Action Plan.
We’re also offering free period products, upgrading sports facilities, empowering young leaders and pursuing greater equality in naming public places and events, with a particular focus on Aboriginal, immigrant and refugee women.
Aakanksha Manjunath
Aakanksha Manjunath
It’s Not a Compliment
Every time someone recognises the power of sharing their story, we are all one step closer to addressing street harassment in our communities and beyond. Add your story to the map through Your Stories Matter.
Read more about It’s Not a Compliment and Your Stories Matter.
Zowie Evans
Zowie Evans
HaiR-3Rs Ambassador
The salon space offers an intimate community where we as hairdressers get to know each of our guests on a personal level. It’s highly likely that a guest will divulge information to us, so we need to know how to approach conversations around family violence safely.
Geremy Lucas
Geremy Lucas
Spice Market (Project Night Justice participant)
People by nature want to feel safe and secure. Creating sustainable, memorable experiences in Melbourne nightlife is our goal, and this cannot happen if patron safety and equality are not front of mind.
Read more about Project Night Justice.
Wendy Lobwein
Wendy Lobwein
AMES
We’re looking for people who want to make change in their community. The Prevention of Violence Against Women training will focus on what we can do as individuals, families and small communities to shift some of these negative attitudes and behaviours.
Read more about the AMES training.
To find out more about the City of Melbourne’s work in this space, visit Creating communities of equality and respect.
