Women’s Health West last week launched its Me, You and Us program, aimed at developing healthy relationships. Women’s Health CEO Robyn Gregory, left, volunteers Shukria Alewi, Susan Nguyen, Trinh Tran, Selamawit Tegegn, Nexmije LLugiqi, and Gellibrand MP Nicola Roxon were at the launch. 82156 Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI
By NATALIE GALLENTI
WOMEN across Melbourne’s West will benefit from a program aimed at encouraging healthy relationships among people as a way of reducing violence against women.
Women’s Health West recently secured funds to implement a three-year education program for young females across the west.
Launched last week, Me, You and Us is a multi-faceted program that will train and support 48 young women to become youth ambassadors and spread the word to senior primary school students.
CEO Dr Robyn Gregory said the organisation was delighted with the funding and said it would allow them to strengthen and broaden the prevention of violence against women.
“Over one in three Australian women experience physical violence during their lifetime, and nearly one in five experience some form of sexual assault.
Ms Gregory said Victoria Police crime statistics show women in Melbourne’s West are particularly at risk of violence from their intimate partners, with a rate that is higher than the state average.
“Violence against women is preventable though. 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.
“Our ultimate vision is for all communities, cultures and organisations in the western region to be non-violent, non-discriminatory, gender equitable and promote respectful relationships.”
Lynda Memery, Women’s Health West manager of health promotion research and development, said gender stereotyping continued to be a problem within the community and it is important young women are seen as leaders not followers.
“It’s really long term work, we’re not going to overturn violence overnight, but we might stop gender stereotyping and see a change in attitudes and practices.”
