![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2024\/12\/IMG_3587_87563.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
“It’s a violence prevention issue we can’t afford to ignore,” she said.<\/p>\n
“It’s something that’s not discussed frequently in public conversations but it’s increasingly playing a role in young people in their development and understanding around sexuality and relationships.<\/p>\n
“It’s great working together with people who are looking at different aspects of the issue of gendered violence and painting a picture of the breadth of the issues and what we need to address.”<\/p>\n
Committee for Ballarat CEO, Michael Poulton, was the forum’s MC. He said it’s important for men to step forward as allies against the issue.<\/p>\n
“Sadly, women feel less safe in our community than men,” he said. “Much of that is a male problem. We’re the ones that need to change.<\/p>\n
“Our belief, from Committee of Ballarat, is male leaders need to step up and ensure we promote respectful relationships, and equality in the workplace.<\/p>\n
“What’s important is we take the learnings from this and socialise those learnings ourselves and how we can then influence that within our own communities.”<\/p>\n
Ms Hendron estimated more than 60 per cent of attendees at the forum were male.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
CLOSE to two hundred people across health, social service, community, and cultural industries came together this week to partner against gendered violence. As part of the City of Ballarat’s 16 Days of Activism campaign, local and state leaders met on Monday at the Mercure Ballarat to discuss how to tackle violence against women. A collaboration […]<\/p>\n