The City of Casey has welcomed $212,500 in funding from the State Government to help embed gender equality and family violence prevention practices into the many programs and services that Council delivers.
On Thursday 28 April, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Prevention of Family Violence and Minister for Women, Ms Gabrielle Williams MP joined Member for Narre Warren South, Mr Gary Maas MP, City of Casey Chair of Administrators Noelene Duff PSM, City of Casey CEO Glenn Patterson, along with Council officers and community representatives at Bunjil Place to make the announcement.
At the event, Ms Williams announced $3.5 million in funding for 15 Victorian Councils to embed the prevention of family violence and violence against women in their workplaces and in the services they deliver. The Free from Violence Local Government Program 2022-2025 – a State Government funding initiative – is being distributed to support the implementation of The Local Government Guide for Preventing Family Violence and All Forms of Violence Against Women.
At Casey, the funding will support programs soon to be released through Council’s Gender Equality and Prevention of Violence Against Women 10-Year Strategic Plan – ‘A Safe and Equal Casey’. This will include contributing to innovative prevention programs in partnership with Council’s key partners: Women’s Health in the South East (WHISE), Jesuit Social Services The Man Box Program (JSS).
City of Casey Chair of Administrators Noelene Duff PSM commented that City of Casey officers are looking forward to partnering with JSS and WHISE in the implementation of the program, as well as continuing to work with members of the Gender Equality Taskforce, comprised of Casey residents who have significantly contributed to Council’s prevention programs.
“Council has committed to implementing a ten-year plan towards gender equality and the prevention of violence against women, recognising that transformational social change requires long-term commitment and action,” she said.
“Not only are we challenging deeply embedded beliefs, we are also working to change the systems, structures, policies and institutions that reinforce gender inequality.”
City of Casey CEO Glenn Patterson reflected that the City of Casey has had a longstanding commitment to gender equality and family violence prevention and was one of the first Councils in Victoria to implement family violence primary prevention initiatives.
“We thank the State Government for the funding and welcome it in the acknowledgement that there is still much work to be done to prevent family violence and violence against women, and to embed gender equality throughout the municipality,” he said.
“I am confident that as Council works with the community to implement the Free from Violence program, we can take great strides in bringing to fruition the shared vision to create a Victoria free from violence, where all community members experience equality and respect in all their relationships.”
The City of Casey’s Gender Equality and Prevention of Violence Against Women 10-year Strategic plan – ‘A Safe and Equal Casey’ is due to be launched in July 2022.
