YOUNG women will be leading the fight to stamp out violence against women in the inner-west as part of a new three-year program.
Women’s Health West (WHW) has secured almost $400,000 in federal funding to deliver Me, You and Us – a ‘respectful relationships’ education program for young women in the west.
The program will train and support 48 women aged 18-24 to become ‘youth ambassadors’ in preventing violence against women.
WHW chief executive Robyn Gregory said more than one in three Australian women experienced physical violence in their lifetime and nearly one in five was a victim of sexual assault.
“Victoria Police crime data shows that women in the western region of Melbourne are particularly at risk of violence from their intimate partners, with a rate that’s higher than the state average,” Dr Gregory said.
“By responding to the causes of violence against women, such as disrespectful relationships and unequal power relations between women and men, it is possible to change the underlying factors that cause violence and stop it from happening.”
The project will deliver ‘respectful relationships’ education across youth organisations and to senior primary school students.
Gellibrand MP Nicola Roxon said the $393,876 program was part of a $9.1million Respectful Relationships initiative.
Ms Roxon said the program would be complemented by new laws cracking down on forced marriage, forced labour and slavery, and changes to the Family Law Act to better protect children exposed to family violence.
