Prevention of Violence Against
Women in Emergencies
ACTION PLAN
1 July 2015 – 30 June 2016
Macedon Ranges Shire Council, PVAW in Emergencies Action Plan 2015-16
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Prevention of Violence Against Women in Emergencies
ACTION PLAN
1 July 2015 – 30 June 2016
Background
Women and men experience disasters differently. Gendered roles such as caring for children or
knowing how to operate a water pump or chainsaw affect how women and men experience and
recover from natural disasters. Gender often shapes how people perceive what is risky, who
makes decisions and how we get or seek support or help following an emergency event.
Australia specific research into the effect gender differences has on how individuals and
communities prepare for, respond to and recover from disaster is sparse. However from what
research exists in Australia and internationally a few general conclusions can be drawn:
1. Violence against women has been found to increase at times of disaster. There was
four times as much intimate partner violence reported in the US following Hurricane Katrina1.
New Zealand police reported a 53% increase in call-outs to domestic violence incidents over
the weekend of the Christchurch earthquake in 20102. Research after the Black Saturday
fires tells a similar story3. This can occur both for residents who have been affected by the
emergency event and for the families of volunteers and employees in the response agencies.
2. Rigid gender norms can contribute to family violence. Natural disasters tend to be a
time when men and women have very strong gendered roles that they ‘play’ within their
family and their community. Examples of damaging gender norms include an expectation
that so-called ‘real’ men avoid publicly showing emotion under stress but keep it behind
closed doors, or that women maintain family harmony at all costs, even if it means accepting
occasional violence. The evidence shows that men are more likely to die in floods and
bushfires than women and that men strongly influence family decisions to stay and defend
homes during bushfires, sometimes with tragic results. Men are often expected to (or they
feel expected to) physically stay and fight against bushfires, be strong, be tough, not cry, be
‘heroic’. Men are also less likely to access support to deal with trauma. Women are often
expected to (or they feel expected to) look after children, provide food for their family and the
community, and emotionally look after their whole family.
3. Gender inequality can also contribute to family violence. Men in a household often have
greater knowledge of formal emergency procedures than women, while women often face
exclusions or have limited participation in many forums related to emergency planning and
recovery. Research shows that women experience more economic vulnerability post-
1
Anastario, M., Shehab, N., & Lawry, L. (2009). Increased Gender-based Violence Among Women Internally Displaced in Mississippi
Two Years Post-Hurricane Katrina. Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness, 3(1), 18-26 referenced in Women’s Health Goulburn
North East (2011) The Way He Tells It: Relationships after Black Saturday, p3.
2
Women’s Health Goulburn North East (2011) The Way He Tells It: Relationships after Black Saturday, p3
3
Women’s Health Goulburn North East (2011) The Way He Tells It: Relationships after Black Saturday
www.whealth.com.au/documents/publications/whp-TheWayHeTellsIt.pdf
Macedon Ranges Shire Council, PVAW in Emergencies Action Plan 2015-16
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disaster than men4. Emergency management services (such as SES, CFA and Police) and
Municipal Emergency Management Planning Committees remain very male-dominated, both
in numbers and within their culture. Given this, it is largely men who decide how a
community prevents, prepares for, responds to and recovers from disaster. If it is largely
men in a community that are making decisions, it means that a large portion of the
community – women - do not have equal participation or voice.
4. Making excuses for family violence after a disaster. There is a tendency for family
violence to become more acceptable in a community post-disaster because many people put
it down to ‘stress’ or ‘frustration’ or ‘trauma.’ Recent surveys of community attitudes to
violence against women found that a significant proportion of Australians believed domestic
violence can be excused if it results from temporary anger or results in genuine regret5,6,7.
Such violence may even be seen as legitimate and excused because this is ‘the way men
behave’. After a disaster, all kinds of behaviour are excused as existing social structures and
norms are put on hold while a community recovers8.
Not all gender differences lead to negative outcomes, or an underuse of skills. However, strategies
to create positive change in how men and women experience emergencies has the potential to
impact significantly on gendered issues in emergencies such as family violence and risk taking
behaviour. These strategies can include:

Identify where different approaches may be needed with men and with women to achieve the
desired outcomes.

Develop knowledge and understanding of gender differences in how emergencies are
experienced.

Develop knowledge of how to incorporate gender into decision-making, policy development
and service delivery.

Create better gender balance in the emergency management sector to reduce the historical
and cultural domination of the sector by men.
Encourage and support the collection and use of sex and age disaggregated data (SADD) by
agencies following emergencies.

The collection and use of SADD will enable better research and informed decision making by
relevant authorities. Lack of data is universally acknowledged as hindering the engagement of
policy makers in addressing what is a long standing, but poorly documented problem. The need
4
Municipal Association of Victoria (2015) Gender and emergency management strategy, www.mav.asn.au/policy-services/emergencymanagement/Pages/gender-emergency-management.aspx
5
Results from temporary anger - 23% of community; Results in genuine regret – 24% of community in Taylor N & Mouzos M (2006)
Community attitudes to violence against women survey 2006: A full technical report. Australian Institute of Criminology, Canberra,
p.67 www.aic.gov.au/publications/previous%20series/publicationsarchive/2000s/community%20attitudes%20to%20violence%20against%20women%20survey.html
6
Results from temporary anger - 18% of community; Results in genuine regret – 22% of community in VicHealth (2009) National Survey
on Community Attitudes to Violence Against Women, p.41 www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/search/national-community-attitudes-towards-violence-
7
Results from temporary anger - 22% of community; Results in genuine regret – 21% of community in VicHealth (2013) National Survey
on Community Attitudes to Violence Against Women, p.4 www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/ncas
8
Women’s Health Goulburn North East (2011) The Way He Tells It: Relationships after Black Saturday
against-women-survey-2009
Macedon Ranges Shire Council, PVAW in Emergencies Action Plan 2015-16
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for data, to inform evidence driven response, surfaces at all stages in the humanitarian response
programming system.9
The role of local government
Local Government has a critical role in creating and supporting environments that enable everyone
in our community to achieve optimal health and wellbeing. This role is legislated under the Public
Health and Wellbeing Act (2008) Section 24. The Local Government Act 1989 (3c) (3d) mandates
Councils to act as representative, informed and responsible decision makers in the interests of
their communities. Councils are also bound by legislation such as the Victorian Equal Opportunity
Act 2010 and the Commonwealth Sex Discrimination Act 1984 which aim to eliminate
discrimination and sexual harassment and promote greater equity in our community. Finally,
compliance with the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 requires
Councils to uphold human rights - including the rights of women and children - as an essential
component of a democratic, equitable and inclusive society.
Macedon Ranges Shire Council recognises that violence against women harms the entire family
and community. While it is clear that local government cannot solve the issue of violence against
women in emergencies, as a large employer and through its role in delivering close to 100
services in the community, Council engages with many individuals, families and organisations.
Council is ideally placed to make a substantial difference in gender equity through integrating
consideration of gender into decision-making, policy development and service delivery. Local
Government can also play key roles in developing partnerships, facilitating community discussion
and advocacy to influence how gender and emergency management interact, which can positively
affect the protection and recovery of communities and individuals during and after a disaster.
Whilst we acknowledge men can experience family violence, the focus of this plan is on men’s
violence against women in the context of intimate partner relationships during and after
emergencies.
Previous involvement in PVAW by Macedon Ranges Shire Council
Macedon Ranges Shire Council was an active partner in the three year Central Victorian Prevention
of Violence Against Women project, funded by the State Government. Although the funded project
officially ended in December 2014, Council continues to take a leadership role in preventing violence
against women and building on the following project achievements:
 Media Advocacy Project. The Central Victorian Prevention of Violence Against Women
project in partnership with the Centre for Non-Violence in Bendigo developed an initiative that
has seen local women who have experienced family violence trained as media advocates.
Media advocates are consulted in a range of media advocacy initiatives regionally. However,
regional and rural media advocates face considerable vulnerability and cannot always present
publicly due to ongoing safety and risk concerns. A number of women from Macedon Ranges
9
Feinstein International Center, Tufts University, (2011). Sex and Age Matter: Improving Humanitarian Response in Emergencies.
Macedon Ranges Shire Council, PVAW in Emergencies Action Plan 2015-16
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are participating in the training and continue to play an active role in media advocacy and
community education within the region.
 White Ribbon Day. Council takes a lead role in organising community and organisational
activities for White Ribbon Day and the following 16 Days of Action. Partnership activities are
undertaken with other agencies and networks such as Victoria Police, Cobaw Community
Health, Kyneton District Health and the Local Safety Committee.
 PVAW Training for Staff. Council has now joined the Loddon Mallee Takes A Stand, which is
a program focussed on changing attitudes to sexism and gender equity in the workplace. This
initiative is delivered by Women’s Health Loddon Mallee (which auspices the State
Government-funded program). The Bystander Training has been delivered to 130 staff and
offered to Councillors.
Council’s Manager Community Safety completed the VicHealth Prevention of Violence against
Women short course in November 2013 and has also completed Critical Risk Assessment
Framework training provided by Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria. In addition, 18
staff from Council’s Assets and Operations Directorate participated in an Identifying Family
Violence and Mitigating Risk workshop conducted by Domestic Violence Resource Centre
Victoria in October 2013.
 The Macedon Ranges Shire Council Prevention of Violence Against Women Statement
of Commitment adopted in March 2015 sets out how Council will work to prevent violence
against women. The Statement recognises the enormous health and social impacts of
violence against women. The Statement aligns with Council’s goal to create safe communities
and demonstrates local support for the national vision of an Australia where women and their
children live free from violence.
 Family Violence Clause in EBA. In 2013 Macedon Ranges Shire Council included a Family
Violence clause in the Enterprise Agreement that provides paid leave to staff who need time
off for family violence reasons. Fair Work Australia Commission approved the inclusion of this
clause.
 Gender Review of the Macedon Ranges Municipal Emergency Management Plan
(MEMP). In 2014, Council reviewed the MEMP using a gender lens. As a result of the review
the MEMP was updated to include more gender equitable language and information on gender
considerations in emergency management.
 The Elephant in the Room. The Elephant in the Room is a colourful fibreglass elephant that
aims to encourage people to talk about the often hidden issue of family violence. Council has
hosted the Elephant at various venues through Macedon Ranges including libraries, recreation
facilities and community halls in 2014 and 2015.
PVAW Networks that MRSC participates in:
 The Family Violence Subcommittee of the Local Safety Committee. This subcommittee
focuses on identifying multi-organisation approaches to preventing family violence and has
included White Ribbon activities and more recently, planning to develop a separate
Macedon Ranges Shire Council, PVAW in Emergencies Action Plan 2015-16
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meeting/waiting space for women at the Kyneton Courthouse so that they are not face-to-face
with perpetrators in the grounds at the front of the courthouse.
 Macedon Ranges Municipal Emergency Management PVAW Subcommittee of the
Municipal Emergency Management Planning Committee. This subcommittee was
established in 2013 to explore how agencies involved in emergency planning, response and
recovery can incorporate gender considerations into the work that they do. The aim is to raise
awareness and reduce the incidence of violence against women and their children during and
after significant emergency incidents. The PVAW information brochure developed by the
group has been distributed at community recovery meetings and events following the February
2014 fires across the shire. Gender in Emergency Management training sessions for
emergency services and emergency recovery volunteers run in October 2014 were a result of
the group’s work.
 Gender in Emergency Management Advisory Group (GEM). This group provides advice to
the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) in relation to the MAV Gender and Emergency
Management Strategy, which aims to reduce the negative consequences of gender-blind
practices by Councils and their partners in emergency planning and management. The
development of this group is closely linked to the 2012 MAV Prevention of Violence Against
Women Leadership Statement.
 North West Region Violence Prevention Advisory Group (VPAG). This group was
established in 2014 and provides strategic direction and leadership to the North West
Regional CFA to adopt cultures of non-violence and gender equity.
What can we do?
Macedon Ranges Shire Council is a leader in developing local approaches to prevention of
violence against women in emergencies. No other municipal plan exists in Victoria to our
knowledge. This means that little evidence exists about successful strategies for local action.
Our aim is to prevent violence before it occurs in the context of emergencies. This could be in
relation to residents who are directly or indirectly impacted by an emergency, or it could relate to
volunteers and staff (or their partners) who work in emergency response, relief and recovery.
Best practice strategies to prevent violence against women seek to address the underlying causes
of violence against women such as gender inequality; beliefs in rigid gender roles and stereotypes;
and behaviours that contribute to, or condone, violence such as sexist jokes, victim blaming or
underplaying the seriousness of violence against women.
The Macedon Ranges Action Plan to Prevent Violence Against Women in Emergencies will
identify, trial and assess a range of strategies and activities in partnership with other agencies and
networks over a 12-month period to build a culture of preventing violence before it occurs. The
focus is on activities that will be achievable and measurable and appropriate for the level of
maturity and capacity of the developing partnerships in what is a largely unchartered arena where
violence prevention and emergency management intersect.
Macedon Ranges Shire Council, PVAW in Emergencies Action Plan 2015-16
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This plan looks at strategies for incorporating prevention of violence against women into
emergency management by looking at actions that relate to the widely used phases for emergency
management planning:

Before an emergency

During an emergency

After an emergency
This document will guide partnership planning and activities.
Implementation of the Plan
The Macedon Ranges Municipal Emergency Management Planning Committee (MEMPC)
Prevention of Violence Against Women in Emergencies sub-committee will oversee and guide
implementation of the plan and report outcomes to the MEMPC.
Annually, the agencies that work together to deliver the action plan will review outcomes and
develop a new annual plan for the coming year. We anticipate that reviewing and renewing the
plan each year will enable approaches to be assessed and refined, new evidence and research to
be factored into planning and new partnerships and alliances to be built and activated.
Priority Areas:




Advocacy
Culture change in emergency related organisations
Engagement and Recognition of women in volunteer emergency services organisations
Building resilience and capacity of communities
Some overriding principals/aims:

Actions will be identified that relate to the three areas of Before, During and After
emergencies.

The plan aims to build partnership or multi-agency approaches to prevention of violence
against women.

A range of agencies will take responsibility for leading actions.

The plan will be reviewed and renewed every 12 months.

Some larger initiatives may be multi-year activities and include planning and
implementation phases.

Give consideration to the impact that family violence has on boys and girls and identify
actions that address that.
Consultation partners:


Macedon Ranges MEMPC
Macedon Ranges Emergency Recovery Committee
Macedon Ranges Shire Council, PVAW in Emergencies Action Plan 2015-16
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Macedon Ranges PVAW Action Plan 2015/16
Costing
1. BEFORE
1.1 Priority Area – Advocacy
Action
Lead Agency
1.1.1 Advocate to existing providers for improved and
flexible access to services and support for people
experiencing family violence during and after
emergencies in the Macedon Ranges.
1.1.2
1.1.3
1.1.4
Representation from Macedon Ranges on – or
connection to - strategic networks that can influence
approaches to preventing violence against women
in emergencies including:
- MAV’s state-wide Gender and Emergency
Advisory Group
- CFA’s North West Region Violence Prevention
Advisory Group
- Loddon Family Violence Advisory Committee
- Victorian Government Gender and Disaster
Taskforce
- Women’s Health Goulburn North East.
This Action Plan is noted and considered in regional
PVAW plans including:
- the Loddon Mallee Regional PVAW Action Plan
- Loddon Family Advisory Committee Strategic
Plan.
Promotion of MRSC’s Organisational Statement of
Commitment to ending violence against women and
this Action Plan and support for other local
organisations to develop something similar.
MRSC
MRSC
MRSC
MRSC
Macedon Ranges Shire Council, PVAW in Emergencies Action Plan 2015-16
Partner
Agencies
Timeline
Measure
PCP
CNV
June
2016
- Presentation to Integrated Family
Violence Consortium
- More accessible service
- Access to Melbourne based
services if women need this (e.g.:
commuters to Melbourne for work).
CFA, CNV
Dec
2015
Regular attendance at meetings at
which Macedon Ranges has
representation with reporting back
to sub-committee meetings.
Oct 2015
Noted in plans.
Sept
2015
Shire Newsletter
Internal promotion to include:
- article in staff newsletter
- embedded in new staff induction
- staff meetings.
WHLM,
CVN
8
1. BEFORE
1.2 Priority Area – Culture change in emergency related organisations
Action
1.2.1
Identify one or more local emergency management
sector PVAW champions – e.g.: a local white ribbon
ambassador from EM sector and have them
complete “challenging sexism” training (subject to
funding availability.
Lead Agency
Partner
Agencies
Timeline
Measure
CFA, MRSC,
WHLM
MRSC,
Victoria
Police,
WHLM,
NTV
June
2016
At least one local volunteer
identified as a community
champion and completed training.
1.3 Priority Area – Engagement and recognition of women in volunteer emergency services organisations
Partner
Action
Lead Agency
Timeline Measure
Agencies
1.3.1 Support CFA in the delivery of their Brigade
Evidence that the sub-committee is
Sustainability project in the Macedon Ranges.
involved in the planning, promotion
June
CFA
MRSC
and delivery of the project in the
2016
Macedon Ranges.
1.3.2
Annual IWD and White Ribbon Days events to
recognise and encourage women’s involvement in
emergency management.
CFA
MRSC,
CCH
Nov
2015 &
Mar
2016
At least one event held in Macedon
Ranges.
$2,000
1.4 Priority Area – Build resilience and capacity of communities
Action
1.4.1
1.4.2
Undertake literature review to identify any practical
recommendations, strategies, actions or processes
to assist in preventing family violence in
emergencies.
Lead Agency
Partner
Agencies
MRSC
Map services and access points for MRSC residents
PCP
affected by family violence.
Macedon Ranges Shire Council, PVAW in Emergencies Action Plan 2015-16
Timeline
Measure
PCP,
potential
university
involvement
June
2016
Literature review undertaken and
any actions that could be
considered for future action plans
identified.
CNV, CCH,
IFVC
Nov
2015
Services and access points
mapped and documented.
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1.4.3
Promotion of resource - Breaking the Silence family
violence services for MRSC residents.
MRSC
1.4.4
Develop a plan for a community symposium to
engage local residents and agencies in the issue of
family violence in emergencies and how it can be
prevented.
MRSC
CNV, PCP,
CCH
EM
agencies,
VCC, Red
Cross, CNV
WHLM,
CCH
June
2016
- Folding card distributed to various
places around the shire including
GP clinics and libraries
- Provide cards to first responders
for distribution where they think a
person might be at risk of violence
(Victoria Police, CFA, etc.).
June
2016
Plan developed for community
event.
$3,000
(primarily
cost of
printing of
cards.
Approx.
$1400 per 5K
cards )
2. DURING
2.1 Priority Area – Advocacy
Action
2.1.1
2.1.2
Advocate for action to increase understanding of
local emergency response agencies about violence
against women during and after emergencies by:
- Training their leadership staff (Captains, etc.) in
recognising and responding to family violence in
emergencies. (Identifying Family Violence Training)
- Information sessions and or bystander/challenging
sexism training for other staff/volunteers of
emergency response agencies.
Engage with state level Fire Ready Program
coordinators to include a section in training that
addresses what will happen when the “leader” of the
plan, or other members who have a pivotal role in
the plan are not home when the emergency occurs.
Lead Agency
Partner
Agencies
Timeline
Measure
MRSC
CNV, CCH,
WHLM,
NTV,
Emergency
Services
Agencies
June
2016
At least one training session
provided for local emergency
services staff and/or volunteers.
MRSC/CFA
Macedon Ranges Shire Council, PVAW in Emergencies Action Plan 2015-16
Oct 2015
$5,000
Fire Ready program includes a
section that discusses this.
Long-term measure – material that
supports the program incorporates
action that addresses this.
10
2. DURING
2.2 Priority Area – Culture change in emergency related organisations
Action
Lead Agency
Partner
Agencies
Timeline
Measure
2.3 Priority Area – Engagement and recognition of women in volunteer emergency services organisations
Partner
Action
Lead Agency
Timeline Measure
Agencies
2.3.1 Support and promote emergency response agency
initiatives to train women in emergency
June
Training delivered with multi
management roles – e.g.: women only
CFA
MRSC
2016
agency support.
training/recruitment days.
$1,000
2.4 Priority Area – Build resilience and capacity of communities
Action
2.4.1
2.4.2
Review Emergency Relief Centre (ERC) handbook
to ensure women and children’s safety is
considered and investigate the development of a
Relief Centre family violence protocol with the
Integrated Family Violence Consortium.
Build skills of women to respond to emergencies
using the arts – e.g.: Ladies Chainsaw Club in
which a group of women are skilled up in the safe
use of chainsaws, generator, fire pump and ute tie
down, and use these skills to carve a sculpture for
themselves – combined with high tea. (Subject to
funding being obtained).
Lead Agency
Partner
Agencies
Timeline
Measure
MRSC
IFVC
June
2016
Development of a family violence
protocol in ERC plans.
Arts Victoria
Macedon Ranges Shire Council, PVAW in Emergencies Action Plan 2015-16
MRSC,
SES (?)
June
2016
Engage with the SES to determine
their potential involvement.
Workshop (series) held.
$9,500
(8 X
participants
per course.
Initial course
would incur
set up costs future
courses wld
be cheaper)
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3. AFTER
3.1 Priority Area – Advocacy
Action
3.1.1
Consider women and children’s safety and support
of residents who may be experiencing family
violence in the upcoming review of two MR
Recovery sub plans (accommodation sub plan and
animal management sub plan).
Lead Agency
Partner
Agencies
Timeline
Measure
MRSC
Recovery
Committee
member
agencies,
CNV,
WHLM
Nov
2015
Safety and support actions/plans
included in revised plans.
Lead Agency
Partner
Agencies
Timeline
Measure
MRSC
Recovery
Committee
member
agencies,
CNV,
WHLM
Nov
2015
Safety and support actions/plans
included in new plan.
3.2 Priority Area – Culture change in emergency related organisations
Action
3.2.1
Consider women and children’s safety and support
for residents experiencing family violence in the
operation of recovery centres and involvement of
support agencies in the Recovery Centre sub plan
that will be developed.
3.3 Priority Area – Engagement and recognition of women in volunteer emergency services organisations
Partner
Action
Lead Agency
Timeline Measure
Agencies
3.3.1
Consider how to encourage local emergency
response agencies to consider gender appropriate
debriefing and support processes.
MRSC/CFA/
Vic Police
Macedon Ranges Shire Council, PVAW in Emergencies Action Plan 2015-16
MRSC
June
2016
Strategies or actions identified and
acted on.
12
3. AFTER
3.4 Priority Area – Build resilience and capacity of communities
Action
3.4.1
3.4.2
3.4.3
Lead Agency
Breaking the Silence card included in outreach
information packs and available following single
incident events.
Ensure staff and volunteers who may be involved in
outreach to affected communities are trained in
recognising and responding to family violence.
Facilitate planning with Macedon Ranges
Community services and Youth Development staff
on best practice for identifying and supporting
residents experiencing family violence after an
emergency. This could include training on
responding to disclosures of sexual assault.
MRSC
Red
Cross/VCC
MRSC
Partner
Agencies
VCC/Red
Cross
CNV, CCH
Timeline
Aug
2015
MRSC
CNV, CCH
CNV, CCH,
CASA
Dec
2015
Measure
Resource included as standard
item in all outreach packs and is
documented in Outreach Plan.
Response agencies have the BTS
card in all response vehicles and
are aware of what it is for and
when it should be distributed.
Training undertaken by volunteers.
$3,000
Community Services staff (M&CH
Nurses, HACC workers,
Kindergarten teachers) trained in
responding to disclosures.
$3,000
Acronyms
CASA
CCH
CFA
CNV
CRAF
IFVN
IWD
Centre Against Sexual Assault
Cobaw Community Health
Country Fire Authority
Centre for Non Violence (Bendigo)
Critical Risk Assessment Framework
Integrated Family Violence Network (Loddon)
International Women’s Day
MRSC Macedon Ranges Shire Council
NTV
No To Violence (Male Family Violence Prevention Association)
PCP
Primary Care Partnership
SES
State Emergency Service
VCC
Victorian Council of Churches
WHLM Women’s Health Loddon Mallee
WHGNE Women’s Health Goulburn North East
Macedon Ranges Shire Council, PVAW in Emergencies Action Plan 2015-16
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