Shining a light on gender-based violence in West Wimmera

Published on 13 December 2024

West Wimmera Shire Council has hosted two impactful events in Kaniva and Edenhope as part of the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign.

The events brought the community together to raise awareness and discuss ways to create safe, equal, and respectful communities.

Guest speakers Angela Murphy, from Ballarat and Grampians Community Legal Service, and Melissa Morris, from Women’s Health Grampians, delivered compelling presentations addressing local challenges and solutions to gender-based violence.

Ms Morris highlighted the importance of the 16 Days of Activism campaign, emphasising how communities like West Wimmera can lead the way in fostering respect and equality.

She shared statistics from the Victorian Crime Statistics Agency, which showed that in 2023-24, there were 64 family violence incidents in West Wimmera – more than one report each week.

This figure is a 52% increase from 2022-23, when there were 42 incidents reported.

Overall, the rate of family violence incidents per 100,000 population in the shire is 1634.5, significantly higher than the state average.

Ms Morris said these figures only represented the number of incidents that were reported to police, but most incidents go unreported.

She urged residents to take action, become active bystanders, and call out inappropriate behaviour when they saw it.

“The more we know, the more we can do,” she said.

She also spoke about support services available in the region, such as The Orange Door, which has an office in Horsham and a virtual outpost in Edenhope.

Ms Murphy provided insights into the legal support available for individuals experiencing or at risk of family violence, homelessness, and isolation in rural and remote areas.

Council Chief Executive Officer David Bezuidenhout said the events were an opportunity to shine a light on the urgent need to address family violence in regional areas.

“Coming together to have these conversations is an essential step in building safer and more respectful communities,” he said.

“The alarming rise in reported family violence incidents across our region is a call to action for all of us.”

Attendees engaged in discussions on practical ways to support those affected by family violence and foster a culture of respect and inclusion.

West Wimmera Shire Council is committed to continuing its work to raise awareness and address gender-based violence, encouraging everyone in the community to play their part.

The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is an international campaign led annually by UN Women. It runs from November 25 to December 10, aiming to prevent and end violence against women and girls worldwide.