Local knowledge and decision-making is key to building a saturation model that creates the conditions where everyone in Ballarat is safe, equal and respected. Respect Victoria is working together with the community, local organisations and services to design the model, to understand what’s needed to prevent violence, what needs to change, and where we can build on what’s working.
Ballarat community saturation model working group
The design of the saturation model is being shaped by a working group of local community members. With the support of Respect Victoria and The Australian Centre for Social Innovation, they will lead a process between March and June 2025 to gather information and expertise from community members, local organisations and services on what’s working and what’s required to prevent gendered violence in Ballarat. This process includes:
- engaging with 'community connectors' to lead conversations with young people, LGBTIQA+ communities, men and multicultural communities in Ballarat to gain insights into the model's development
- roundtable discussions with different sectors and communities to build on existing knowledge and to talk about opportunities to prevent violence across all the places and spaces that people in Ballarat live, work, learn and play
- an online platform for people in Ballarat to share their perspectives, ideas and insights on preventing gendered violence.
Each part of this process will work together, gathering information and expertise to help design the saturation model. It will be complemented by Respect Victoria’s ongoing engagement with local organisations and community members.
The model design process will connect with family and sexual violence response and recovery services in Ballarat. A well-supported system of prevention, early intervention, response and recovery services is essential to effectively drive down rates of gendered violence and help keep people safe.
The saturation model will be an ongoing collaboration with the community of Ballarat; a key goal of the initiative is to support Ballarat to sustain this work beyond Respect Victoria’s initial four-year commitment. While the foundations of the model will be designed and up and running by mid-2025, it will be continuously monitored and evaluated, so that it can shift and adapt to meet the changing needs of the community.
How can I be involved?
To receive regular updates about the development of the saturation model, and ways to be involved in the co-design process, sign up to our mailing list.
Respect Victoria is always interested in speaking to local organisations and advocates in Ballarat. You can get in touch by emailing our team at practice@respectvictoria.vic.gov.au.