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As a first step, we (Council) made a Statement of Commitment to prevent violence against women and their children (adopted in July 2023).
Since July 2023, we have progressed several Toolkit initiatives, including the establishment of an internal Working Group dedicated to driving engagement across the organisation in prevention and gender equality activities.
The first major Toolkit initiative, driven by the Working Group, was our first-time participation in the UN Women’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. For the 2023 campaign, we partnered with the ZONTA Club of Adelaide Hills to deliver a range of activities including:
• Illuminating our Coventry Library orange (25 Nov 2023) *Orange is the official colour for the global 16 Days campaign
• Displaying ‘orange ladies’ in the Coventry Library along with educational materials about DFV and services
• At the Council Meeting (28 Nov 2023), Council Members wore orange ribbons to call for the elimination of violence against women
• Working Group members organised morning tea across Council worksites
• Council staff donated Christmas gifts for women staying in domestic violence shelters
• Attending and promoting the Twilight Vigil organised by the ZONTA Club (30 Nov 2023), to remember all women who lost their lives because of domestic violence.
In January 2024, we engaged the Our Watch Institute (OWI) to provide expert assistance in implementing Stage 2 of the Toolkit. In February 2024 the OWI delivered executive training with our CEO and leadership team on ‘leading the change to end violence against women.’ Other initiatives in progress with OWI include a Gender Equity Audit to inform the development of a Gender Equity Action Plan.
Additional elements of this project include creating a new workplace policy and procedure for Council's people leaders to respond to employee disclosures of DFV, in consultation with Women's Safety Services SA.
Adelaide Hills Council will continue to work with its partners to address and increase workforce and community awareness of the underlying drivers of DFV.