Sponsored by the Department of Social Services
About the Sponsor
The Department of Social Services provides leadership in Australian Government policy to ensure all Australians are safe in their communities and live free from violence. Through the 12-year National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children 2010–2022 (the National Plan), the department works with other Australian Government agencies, state and territory governments as well as the non-government sector, business and communities, to deliver a significant and sustained reduction in violence against women and their children in Australia.
The National Plan focuses on the main types of violent crimes that have a major impact on women in Australia—domestic and family violence and sexual assault. Research shows there is a strong link between violence against women and their children and how people view the roles of women and men. Through the National Plan, the Government is committed to stopping violence before it happens and supporting local communities to take effective action to reduce domestic and family violence and sexual assault. For more information about the National Plan go to plan4womenssafety.dss.gov.au
Prevention and Community Safety Award
For the Prevention and Community Safety Award, the selection panel is seeking nominations from local governments about projects they are undertaking to prevent and reduce domestic and family violence and/or sexual assault in their communities. Nominations for this award category will be assessed against the following selection criteria:
- the project's relevance to the local community and how it addresses the community's specific needs, composition and diversity
- the local community's engagement with the project including through the establishment and maintenance of cross-community partnerships
- how the project demonstrates innovation and/or best practice
- the positive impacts the project is having on the local community in relation to addressing domestic and family violence and sexual assault
- strategies to maintain these impacts into the future.
Nominations should include information on the project's development and implementation and, where possible, supporting case studies and data to demonstrate outcomes.
For this award, you could enter projects that involve:
- driving sustainable change in community awareness, attitudes and behaviours related to the prevention of domestic and family violence and/or sexual assault
- promoting local cross-community leadership and increasing engagement in prevention and community safety
- providing support for those who are at risk of experiencing or have experienced domestic and family violence or sexual assault
- promoting gender equality and/or creating a culture that prevents and reduces violence against women and their children.