Equal, respectful and safe

Preventing violence against women and family violence.

If you or someone you know is experiencing or afraid of family and domestic violence, contact Safe Steps on 1800 015 188. If in immediate danger call 000 and ask for the Police.

The City of Stonnington is committed to creating a fair, equal and safe community including taking action to reduce violence against women and family violence. Creating a respectful and safe community is a priority.

Family violence

  • The most frequent type of abuse/violence reported was verbal abuse followed by emotional abuse and physical abuse.
  • In 2020, the number of family violence incidents reported to police increased by 24% to 1040.
  • In 70% of family violence cases in Stonnington, females were affected. Those aged 25–34 are the largest age group affected.
  • Groups experiencing higher rates of violence including women with disabilities, Aboriginal women, immigrant and refugee women, women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, pregnant women and new mothers.
  • Family violence is the leading driver of homelessness for women.

Gender and health

  • Women in Stonnington are more likely to have a university degree, be employed part time, earn below the minimum wage, do almost 4 times more unpaid domestic labour, provide unpaid disability support, be less active and be an occasional smoker.
  • Men in Stonnington are more likely to leave school before year 11, be employed full time, earn above the minimum wage, be overweight, consume more than 2 alcoholic drinks on average per day, be admitted to hospital due to alcohol, meet physical activity guidelines, eat take away food, smoke daily and experience more harm caused by crime.
  • Women feel 60–80 per cent less safe than men to walk alone in their neighbourhood.
  • In 2020, approximately 3 out of every 4 suicides were males. For both males and females, those aged 25-34 years were the largest age group for suicides. Women are more likely to self-harm.
  • Hospital admissions for falls is higher in Stonnington than Greater Melbourne and Victoria, and is significantly higher for females than males.
  • Stonnington has a higher rate of hospital admissions due to injury or poisoning with more males than females admitted.

View our gender issues and the impact on health(PDF, 166KB) information.

 

16 Days of Activism

Each year, Stonnington proudly supports the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, a global campaign dedicated to raising awareness about the impact of violence, particularly on women.

Elder Abuse

Elder abuse is any act that causes harm to an older person, carried out by someone they know and trust. The abuser may be a son or daughter, grandchild, partner, other family member, friend or neighbour.

Helpful contacts

Need support and help? You have the right to feel safe in your family and home. It is ok to ask someone for help. Family violence can stop.

Promoting Respect and Equity Together

The City of Stonnington is a signatory to Promoting Respect and Equity Together 2021 - 2025, a regional strategy developed by Women's Health in the South-East (WHISE) for collective action across Southern Metropolitan Melbourne.

Are you safe at home? Is someone you know unsafe?

Visit Are you safe at home for family violence information and support for victim survivors and their family and friends, including key information translated in 15 community languages and Easy English.

Related resources

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