Corangamite Shire Council is supporting the 16 Days of Activism campaign to end violence against women.
The campaign runs from 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) until 10 December (International Human Rights Day).
Chief Executive Officer Andrew Mason said Corangamite Shire was committed to raising awareness of family violence and building staff and community knowledge around the steps to ending violence against women.
“The theme this year is Respect Women: Call It Out,” Mr Mason said.
“It encourages us all to reflect and call out any form of sexism, disrespect and sexual harassment towards women.”
As part of the campaign, the 16 Days of Activism flag has been raised on the community flagpole at the Camperdown Court House.
Orange re-usable shopping bags with family violence support information will be supplied free to IGA customers and reusable coffee cups and pizza box stickers will be distributed locally. This initiative was developed via the Child and Family Alliance for Colac Otway and Corangamite.
A staff induction film developed in conjunction with Moyne and Glenelg Shire Councils, Warrnambool City Council and family violence agencies Orange Door, Emma House, Brophy Family and Youth Services, Gunditjmara and Windamara Aboriginal Cooperatives will be launched on Monday 5 December to Shire staff.
Mr Mason said the short film involves women with lived experience speaking about the impacts of family violence and the local supports they were able to access.
“Alongside the film launch, staff will participate in online family violence awareness training run by Emma House,” he said.
“Anything we can do as an organisation and leader in our community to encourage a deeper understanding of family violence is incredibly meaningful and worthwhile,” Mr Mason said.