Bendigo learns from Ballarat’s respect model

A Respect Bendigo Forum was held in Ironbark last Thursday where members of the Respect Ballarat project presented on their work to reduce rates of gendered violence.

Hosted by Gender Equity Coalition Greater Bendigo, the forum featured Respect Ballarat lead Emma Mahony and Respect Victoria CEO Helen Bolton as speakers, who discussed the community action undertaken in Ballarat since Samantha Murphy, Rebecca Young and Hannah McGuire were killed in 2024.

More than 90 health workers, emergency services representatives and residents were in attendance, and coalition chair Mandy Hutchinson said “you could have heard a pin drop” when Bolton spoke.

“The response to the event was fantastic,” Hutchinson said.

“Here in Bendigo our hearts have gone out to the Ballarat community, and especially the victims of those gendered crimes and their loved ones.

“The names Samantha Murphy, Rebecca Young and Hannah McGuire will never be forgotten, but we are heartened and mobilised by the Ballarat community’s response to their deaths.”

Respect Victoria director of communications and community change Jacquie O’Brien said the Bendigo audience was highly engaged.

“We were invited to talk about the work done by Respect Ballarat, what we had learnt and what makes a successful model,” she said.

“It was a very successful day and showed how ready the Bendigo community is to work towards reducing gendered violence.

“Everyone was connected and ready to concentrate on finding a successful model for Bendigo.

“It was one of the most motivated rooms I have encountered, filled with strong will and the desire to collaborate to achieve what needs to be done.”

Hutchinson said a lot of what Respect Ballarat has done can be adapted and implemented in the Bendigo community.

“We had representatives from education, sporting clubs, health providers, justice and mining in the room, as well as local champions of gender equity at the event,” said Hutchinson.

“Everyday people can all play a part in making our community safe for people of all genders, both in public and in private spaces.

“We need to have conversations; we need to listen and respect.

“Everyone deserves to be respected. Learning from what has happened and how they have responded has shown us we are ready to take the next steps and can utilise what we already have.

“We have the architecture to build on. We need to give people practical tips and the skills they need to listen in their neighbourhoods.

“I feel hopeful, really hopeful, that we can go forward and make our community safe for people of all genders, both in public and in private spaces.”