We are currently funded by the Victorian Government to build on our leadership and capacity-building role. We support councils to deliver, partner and lead gender equality and preventing violence against women (PVAW) work in their communities, and raise the profile of the local government sector’s work in this space.

Current priorities

Promoting gender equality, PVAW, and encouraging greater participation of women in local government are key policy areas for the MAV. Councils work to achieve gender equality through a diverse range of gender equity strategies and actions.

We support councils and the work they do in their communities by disseminating resources and tools, and providing forums for discussion and networking.  We also seek to engage councils new to this work by helping them to access the best information and adapt models that have been successful elsewhere.

Current projects

• 16 Days Campaign
• Local government grants programs
• Promising practice portal
• Women in local government
• Victorian local government women’s charter

Submissions

We develop and form a collective local government sector view on issues around gender equality and the prevention of violence against women.  These include:

• MAV Submission to Safe and Strong Refresh 2021 (PDF - 354KB)
• Victorian Government's Gender Equality Strategy Consultation (Word - 228KB)
• Royal Commission into Family Violence (Word - 1.66MB)

To access all our gender equality and prevention of violence against women-related submissions, visit the MAV submissions page.

Committees, reference groups and networks

MAV GE, PVAW and GBV Network

The MAV Gender Equality and Preventing Violence Against Women and all forms of Gender-Based Violence Network, formed in 2010, is an inclusive group of local government representatives (primarily officers) and key community partners.

Members meet quarterly and work together to progress the task of leading communities in the promotion of gender equality and the prevention of violence against women all all forms of gender-based violence.

Information about the meeting dates, Terms of Reference, and past network presentations can be found on the Network page.

Resources

We have produced resources for council use on gender equality and the prevention of violence against women to inform your work, to showcase local government sector leadership, and to build on and advance existing sector work.

MAV-produced resources

• Gender Equality and Preventing Violence Against Women Survey of Victorian Councils
  • MAV GEPVAW Survey 2018-19 Full Report (PDF - 1.4MB)
  • MAV GEPVAW Survey 2018-19 Summary Report (PDF - 272KB)
  • MAV GEPVAW Survey Questions 2018-19 (PDF - 667KB)
  • MAV Survey Report - May 2018 (PDF - 748KB)
  • MAV Survey Questions 2017 (PDF - 220KB)

• MAV Preventing Violence Against Women Leadership Statement
  • MAV Leadership Statement - May 2012 (PDF - 108KB)
  • MAV Leadership Statement - May 2012 (Word - 322KB)
• Prevention of Violence Against Women booklets 2013 and 2017
  • Prevention of Violence Against Women Booklet - 2017 (PDF - 1.45MB)
  • Prevention of Violence Against Women Booklet - 2017 (Word - 1.81MB)
  • Prevention of Violence Against Women Booklet - 2013 (PDF - 3.30MB)
  • Prevention of Violence Against Women Booklet - 2013 (Word - 982KB)

Evaluation of the role of local government in preventing violence against women

In 2017, the MAV commissioned the Nous Group to undertake an evaluation report on the role of local government in preventing violence against women and promoting gender equality. The report highlights the influence of local government in driving the social change necessary to achieve a society free from violence against women, and emphasises the need for ongoing support and collaboration.

• Evaluation of the role of local government in preventing violence against woman full report - June 2017 (PDF - 5.75MB)
• Evaluation of the role of local government in preventing violence against woman summary - June 2017 (PDF - 918KB)

Other resources

• Preventing violence against women information sheets

Council-produced resources and Supporting research and resources are also available.

Please visit our Promising Practice Portal for additional examples of council practices, projects and plans that have been developed.

You can access gender equality and PVAW-related presentations from past events and MAV PVAW Network meetings.

Further information

• Women in local government
• Local Government Preventing Violence Against Women Network
• Local government grants program
• Promising practice portal
• Council-produced resources
• Supporting research and resources
• Victorian local government women's charter

Engage with us

e-News

We maintain an email distribution list for the local government sector and our partners interested in gender equality and the prevention of violence against women. The e-network regularly disseminates information on new resources, upcoming forums, events, news, and funding opportunities.

• View E-news Updates and subscribe - PVAW & Gender Equality

Human Services Bulletin

We also provide updates on gender equality and preventing violence against women in the Human Services Bulletin which is produced monthly and distributed to council human services directors.

MAV contact

For more information about our gender equality and prevention of violence against women policy work, please email: humanservices@mav.asn.au