‘We Can Do It’ A Good Samaritan Inn and Women’s Information Support and Housing in the North (WISHIN) partnership

Parade College, Preston & Bundoora campuses. All-boys school. 291 year 10 students at Bundoora; 32 year 10 students at Preston St Monica’s College, Epping. Co-ed school. 315 year 10 students Santa Maria College, Northcote. All-girls school. 140 year 10 students ‘We Can Do It’ Program

PURPOSE: to be the gatekeepers of your unique school and hold together the vision of a respectful community at St Monica’s College WHO ATTENDS: Principal/Deputy, counsellors, year level coordinators, year level teachers, REC/Pastoral Care people, members of ‘We Can Do It’ program FREQUENCY OF MEETINGS: twice a year Reference Team

PURPOSE: to coordinate and collaborate on individualised program content; guest speakers; facilitators for peer training; resources used etc; for your school community. WHO ATTENDS: key representatives such as year level coordinator; year level teacher; counsellor; members of the ‘We Can Do It’ program FREQUENCY OF MEETINGS: minimum of four meetings a year Planning Team

Defining Violence Against Women “...I believe that...violence [against women] is emotional, mental, verbal, financial, social, physical and sexual abuse. It includes jealousy, undermining, put-downs, name- calling, alienation, disrespectfulness and not acknowledging your opinion or what you have to say. It is perpetrated mostly by men, by someone who you thought you could trust, by someone who wants to have power and control over you.”

GLOBAL How are Respectful Communities being built at all levels? 1993: United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women

NATIONAL How are Respectful Communities being built at all levels? February 2011: National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children This plan is a single unified strategy that brings together government efforts to reduce violence against women.

STATE How are Respectful Communities being built at all levels? July 2011: Preventing Violence Against Women in our Community 2010: A Right to Respect: Victoria’s Plan to Prevent Violence against Women : Strong Culture, Strong People, Strong Families: towards a safer future for Indigenous families and communities 10 year plan. 2006: Victorian Charter of Human Rights Act

How are Respectful Communities being built at all levels? NORTHERN METROPOLITAN REGION ‘Building a Respectful Community - Preventing Violence Against Women’ A Strategy for the Prevention of Violence Against Women in Melbourne’s Northern Metropolitan Region VISION: to build a community in the northern region in which violence against women is unacceptable and where communities, cultures and organisations are non-violent and gender equitable; a community in which all relationships are equal, respectful and non-discriminating. GOALS: to create safe communities for women through the promotion of non-violent and non-discriminatory norms; to encourage gender-equitable, safe and inclusive communities and organisations; and to develop equal and respectful relationships between men and women.

Why have we initiated this program in schools?

‘We Can Do It’ Program KEY MESSAGES 1.We are here to resource and support students and teachers in your school 2.We understand that your school is unique 3.Our program is organic and we will collaborate respectfully with your school community over three years Our key message to the students: 4. We value you! We want to share and explore resources to keep you and your friends safe, and in respectful relationships.

“Students are really aware when they haven’t been consulted or respected in the planning process” – Student Leadership Coordinator What are their thoughts, feelings, concerns, interests, ideas Separate boys & girls planning sessions with selected year 10 students The information obtained from these sessions will inform how we move forward St Monica’s College

Ideas for St Monica’s include: – Girls Talk Guys Talk – Be The Hero with students sex-segregated St Monica’s College

Planning session with select group of girls in year 10 What are their thoughts, feelings, concerns, interests, ideas The information obtained from these sessions will inform how we move forward Full day with whole year 10 group planned for later in Term 3 Santa Maria College

Two campuses to work with, the direction being to keep each campus separate if possible Intention to hold student planning sessions at each campus with select year 10 boys Idea for Bundoora campus = Be The Hero Idea for Preston campus = Solving The Jigsaw Parade College

Questions?