By NATALIE GALLENTI
MELTON City Council last week took another positive leap in keeping women and children safe within the community.
At last week’s ordinary council meeting, councillors unanimously adopted the Preventing Violence Against Women and their Children Strategy 2013-16.
In moving the strategy, Councillor Kathy Majdlik said the council was at the “forefront” and a “leader” in this field.
In a report presented to the council, it was revealed that Australian Bureau of Statistics research suggests that one in three women have experienced physical violence in Australia.
The report also states that VicHealth has attributed intimate partner violence as the leading contributor to death, disability and ill health in Victoria for women aged between 15 and 44 years old.
Data also revealed that in the last year, reports of family violence have increased by 40 per cent in the City of Melton, in line with the increase across Victoria.
The report states that “though this (increase) demonstrates the community better understands the issue of family violence and have confidence in police response, which is encouraging, the lever of family violence in our community presents an ongoing concern”.
The Melton City Council Preventing Violence Against Women and their Children Strategy 2013-16 proposes a new framework for action to facilitate an action-based approach to preventing family violence and is guided by four preventative strategies including strong partnerships, services creating supportive environments, council as a violence prevention leader and an informed and vocal community.
