Change the Story

Book excerpt: Our Watch partnered with Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety (ANROWS) and the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth) to create Change the story: A shared framework for the primary prevention of violence against women and their children in Australia.The framework draws upon the latest international evidence and consultations with over 400 stakeholders across Australia to explore what drives violence against women and what works to prevent it. It demonstrates that, while violence against women has no single cause, it is strongly associated with particular dimensions of gender inequality, in both public life and personal relationships. It asserts that an Australia where women and their children live free from violence is an achievable long-term goal, but one that can only be realised by addressing the drivers of this violence, which are deeply entrenched in our social and cultural norms structures and practices, across our communities and in our daily lives.Change the story details the key elements required to create a strategic, collaborative and consistent national approach to preventing violence against women. The framework:* outlines 10 essential and supporting actions to prevent violence against women by addressing its gendered drivers and reinforcing factors* provides evidence-based guidance to government, the private sector, civil society and communities on how to lead, coordinate, resource and support effective prevention effort across Australia* aims to inform and support the development of policy and legislation, prevention programs, strategies and initiatives of all kinds, and advocacy.The framework demonstrates how, by working together, governments, organisations, communities and individuals can create a safer Australia built upon respect and equality.It offers a path towards this ultimate goal of social transformation, providing the necessary evidence, rationale and guidance to drive and support a significant and sustained nation-wide effort to prevent violence against women and their children.