Respect and Equity: Preventing Violence Against Women, Building Organisational Capacity

The project, Building the capacity of organisations in the western region to prevent violence against women: A guide to health promotion action, run by Women's Health West in partnership with the PCPs during 2007/2008, has moved into a new phase and its title has altered to reflect this.

In response to the evaluation of the first phase, the project worker is currently undertaking research into effective strategies for prevention of violence against women to become a priority at every level of local government and community health organisations - CEO, Managers, health promotion and other workers - in the west. The Project Management Group will then identify strategies to implement in partnership with organisations.

The project worker is also continuing to provide support to participants from phase one to implement their projects, including Doutta Galla Community Health Service, Western Region Health Centre, ISIS Primary Care, Moonee Valley City Council and Hobsons Bay City Council.

An extensive evaluation of the project was undertaken by Emily Gassner (Melbourne University). Key themes emerging from this include: the effectiveness of the Action Research Group process in capacity building, time, support, knowledge, and the use of experts. The completed report is available from Kirsten Campbell, Women's Health West.

Fact Sheets examining key themes of planning health promotion based violence prevention projects have been completed and disseminated. Please also contact Kirsten to obtain copies.

A paper was presented at the Margins to Mainstream conference in September on the 'Building the capacity…' project, and another paper has been accepted for the AHPA conference in 2008.

For more information about this project call Kirsten on 9689 9588 or email kirsten@whwest.org.au