Published on Wednesday, 28 August 2019 at 4:20:16 PM
Prevention of family violence is a top priority for the City of Greater Geraldton after recently getting on board to implement Desert Blue Connect’s Community, Respect and Equality (CRE) Agreement.
The local project aims to inspire, innovate and connect individuals, community leaders, organisation, business and government to work together on creative and sustainable strategies for the prevention of family violence in our community.
City of Greater Geraldton CEO Ross McKim said family violence was a key social and health issue, and prevention was vital.
“By adopting this initiative, we have made a pledge to take action to prevent family violence,” he said.
“The CRE values and codes of behaviours have been endorsed internally at the City and we believe it is important for us to generate awareness around the issue and this campaign.
“As part of the City’s Enterprise Agreement, there is a Family Violence Leave Clause which is above the national employment standards and includes five paid days of leave.”
Since signing the agreement the City has been approached by the University of WA (UWA) to host five students who are currently studying a Masters of Strategic Communication.
The aim for UWA and their students is to develop tangible actions that will help make City staff more aware of family violence. Students are currently working with the City and recently held their first virtual consultancy meeting in order to complete a communications model to implement at the City for the CRE Agreement.
Russell Pratt, the CEO of Desert Blue Connect and member of the CRE Reference Group, described the CRE Agreement as an option for organisations and business to be involved in earlier intervention to prevent family violence.
“The CRE Agreement is a support for employers to take on a role in prevention. They can work to support employees who are experiencing family violence by providing assistance and referral when they see something is not right,” he said.
“They can also take actions to prevent sexual harassment and promote gender equality in the workplace and generally create a culture where employees are confident to call out disrespect, sexism, harassment or violence.”
The City will promote the initiative through a number of different communications and other methods with the help from the UWA students.
For more information about the Community, Respect and Equality Agreement, visit www.communityrespectandequality.com.au
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