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Our Equal Local Government

A Gippsland Women's Health project focusing on building the capacity of local government leaders, to drive change and respond to work-related gendered violence including sexual harassment.

 
Logo for the Our equeal local government project.

Project overview

The project is being led by Gippsland Women's Health in collaboration with One Gippsland Collective members including the six local governments: Baw Baw Shire Council, Bass Coast Shire Council, South Gippsland Shire Council, Latrobe City Council, Wellington Shire Council and East Gippsland Shire Council, as well as Federation University, TAFE Gippsland and Gippsland Centre Against Sexual Assault (GCASA).

The Our Equal Local Government Project aims to address local government as an industry with a specific focus on front-line, community and personal services staff.

Statistically there are more women employed in these roles, and the hierarchical structure in local government can lead to an increased risk of gendered violence including sexual harassment.

Project deliverables

Gippsland Women's Health aims to strengthen and support local government structures to reduce work-related gendered violence including sexual harassment by:

  • Building local Government capability through targeted training and resources to recognise, respond and prevent work-related gendered violence including sexual harassment.
  • Sharing resources and learnings through knowledge translation that enable a workplace culture free from work-related gendered violence including sexual harassment.
  • Maximising impact through partnership and co-design processes to develop resources and learning and development opportunities that future industry can use.
  • Review and update local government work-related gendered violence and sexual harassment policies and procedures, including guidance on best practice and integration of policies into existing organisational systems.
  • Creating sustainable systems and system level change to prevent and respond to work-related gendered violence including sexual harassment.

Project lead

Gippsland Women's Health  

Shaped for equality and respect.

Project partners

Gippsland Centre against Sexual Assault (GCASA)  

A vision for a world free from sexual assault, harm, and violence.

TAFE Gippsland  

Federation University Australia  

Regional Victoria's largest education institution.

Related information

Gendered violence  

How to prevent and manage risks from gendered-violence.

Work-related gendered violence including sexual harassment  

Information for employers about preventing and responding to work-related gendered violence, including work-related sexual harassment.