Safe and Connected Rural Women
Proto-type
Why Start with Women?
​We know more people now than ever reject gender inequality and have a better understanding of the violence and harmful beliefs that persist in our country. Unfortunately, we also know that violence is not decreasing and that statistically, women are more vulnerable:
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1 in 4 women (23% or 2.3 million) and 1 in 14 men (7.3% or 692,000) have experienced violence by an intimate partner since the age of 15.
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1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men had experienced emotional abuse by a current or previous cohabiting partner since the age of 15.
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1 in 5 women and 1 in 16 men had experienced sexual violence since the age of 15
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In a 2024 federal study by the Department of Premier, there was a call for acceleration of prevention approaches to domestic, family and sexual violence. Communities across our region played a significant role in advocating for this work.
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Talking openly with those most vulnerable, and then the wider community, will help us as a town work out what safe and connected looks like for people living here. It's not an easy conversation, and that is why we have a partner like WRISC working with us.
But once we all have it, it's a conversation
we shouldn't forget (hence the mural) and
one we can build on (hence increasing
awareness of what supports are available,
and the proto-type we'll create). Clunes
Neighbourhood House, who uses Maslow's
Hierarchy of Needs to inform our work in the
community, will include what emerges
into our next strategic plan, ensuring that
safe and connected remains a foundation
in our community for decades to come.
Funded by the 'Strong and Resilient Communities' grant from the Department of Social Services, via the Australian Neighbourhood Centres and Houses Association.
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Boosted significantly by a partnership with WRISC.
Outcomes from the Project
The 'Strong and Resilient Communities' funding from the Department of Social Services via the Australian Neighbourhood Centres and Houses Association will result in:
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A proto-type that helps women in rural areas be safe and connected. This might be a product or service. This might be something that stands alone or links in with other supports and existing offerings that are accessible to people in rural areas. We will trial this proto-type during the project, sharing our findings at the end.
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WRISC have matched this funding, and will be leading art-led conversations with women and children (individually and in group settings) exploring what 'safe and connected' looks for each person involved.
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With the support of Clunes Neighbourhood House, we'll extend these conversations via our affiliations with other local groups, and through a town event during Neighbourhood Houses week, to see what safe and connected looks like for others in the community.
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What will these conversations achieve? They'll bring this topic out into the open in a supported environment. They'll raise awareness of the unique challenges people in rural locations face, existing supports available and norms we can achieve that accelerate prevention within our town. They'll capture people's thoughts and hopes in an art-form that will then be translated into a community mural at Clunes Neighbourhood House. This mural will be a lasting reminder of what safe and connected looks like. Revealing the patterns across each of the conversations, from those most vulnerable to those who thought gendered violence didn't apply to them. ​​
Be a Part of the Conversations
Through our partnership with WRISC (family violence support for women and children) we want to find out what 'safe and connected' looks like for everyone in our community, but we particularly want to start with women and children because we know that statistically, they are the most vulnerable. WRISC will help us wrap support and care around these conversations, particularly if they raise issues for those involved.
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Then WRISC will work with Clunes Neighbourhood House and other groups in Clunes, to extend these conversations to men, boys and the wider community. If you are interested in being involved in this project in any way, please reach out to us.
This project was sparked by the vulnerability's women revealed in conversation while they created art. When this project ends in 6 months' time, the outcomes we deliver will have been inspired by everyone, in a way that shows that gendered violence isn't one gender's problem to solve, it's a solution that only a whole community can achieve. ​​
Phone
03 5333 3666