Greater Shepparton City Council in partnership with Women’s Health Goulburn North East will be hosting ‘Conversations in the Chair’ next month.
‘Conversations in the Chair’ is an information session for hairdressers, beauty therapists and others in the personal service industry interested in increasing their awareness of gender-based violence in the community and how to best support clients who may disclose family violence issues.
Violence against women and family violence is a significant public health issue with serious social, economic and health consequences for women, their families and communities. Engaging the whole community in prevention and giving community members’ skills for respectful relationships have a proven effect on stopping violence before it starts.
Mayor, Councillor Kim O’Keeffe said local government have an important role to play in modelling a culture of gender equality by creating safe public environments, developing community facilities and providing health and community services.
“Council are required to focus its efforts on measures to prevent family violence and respond to the needs of victim survivors of family violence within our local community as part of its Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan,” she said.
“The Greater Shepparton Public Health and Wellbeing Advisory Committee (PHWAC) have identified the elimination of all forms of violence and discrimination as a priority area of concern and is included in the Greater Shepparton Public Health Strategic Plan 2018 -2028.
“I encourage anyone in the personal service industry to come along to the event and learn more about the role they might play in supporting their clients.”
Women’s Health Goulburn North East gender equity trainer Rachael Mackay said the sessions were designed to equip personal service practitioners with the skills to feel comfortable responding to and supporting people who disclosed family violence issues.
“We know that people feel really comfortable with, and really trust, their hairdressers and other personal service practitioners working in these sorts of settings, and that they can sometimes disclose very personal information,” she said.
“It’s important to us to give those practitioners good support to ensure they feel comfortable to provide help, and that they also take care of themselves in what can sometimes be confronting situations.”
Conversations in the Chair is a free event. Bookings are essential and the session will be strictly limited to 25 participants.
Date: Monday 6 June, 2022
Time: 11.00am – 12.30pm
Venue: Munch and Crunch Room, Kids Town, Shepparton
Bookings: Via Eventbrite
