Respect Victoria is the dedicated agency for the primary prevention of family violence and violence against women in Victoria. Primary prevention seeks to stop family violence and violence against women from occurring in the first place by addressing their underlying drivers. This requires changing the social conditions that give rise to this violence; reforming the institutions and systems that excuse, justify or promote it; and shifting the power imbalances, social norms, practices and structures that maintain it.
Respect Victoria’s vision is a Victorian community where all people are safe, equal and respected, and live free from family violence and violence against women. As a statutory authority legislated under the Prevention of Family Violence Act 2018, we serve as an independent voice with functions, powers and duties protected by law. We are guided by a set of key principles under this legislation. These include an acknowledgment that everyone should live in a safe and equal society free from violence; that equality and respect should be promoted across the community; that gender equality and respectful relationships should be promoted; and that the prevention of violence contributes to a more equal society.
Our values are:
- Courage: We are bold, brave and fearless.
- Integrity: We are rigorous, evidence-informed and accountable.
- Leadership: We are aspirational, strategic, collaborative and dedicated.
Respect Victoria comprises three directorates: Communications and Community Change; Strategy, Policy & Impact; and People, Governance & Operations. Communications & Community Change delivers and evaluates social marketing campaigns to influence community and social change, and leads and supports community-wide conversations about the prevention of violence against women across social media, in the media, and through events. Flagship initiatives include our Respect Starts With a Conversation campaign, and the Walk Against Family Violence and other activities during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
Strategy, Policy and Impact provides prevention policy and funding advice to government; delivers high-quality research and evidence translation; builds the infrastructure for a more coordinated and sustainable statewide prevention system; develops a Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning system; and delivers work to inform effective practice. Key initiatives include the Three-Yearly Report to Parliament on Progress in Prevention; the Prevention Alliance; Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning system to prevent gender-based violence; along with programs of policy and research work.
People, Governance and Operations delivers People & Culture projects to attract and retain a highly capable, diverse and inclusive workforce that is aligned to Respect Victoria’s organisational purpose; provides finance and corporate services to maximise efficiency and reduce operational risk; and ensures good governance practices to support proper oversight and accountability and enable Board effectiveness. These services enable the business directorates to deliver on our Strategic Plan priorities.
Respect Victoria’s office is based on the lands of the Wurundjeri people in Naarm (Melbourne), and our work is conducted throughout Victoria. We currently have 36 team members, and we are governed by an independent Board of eight Directors. We currently employ two Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander team members (based on data from the 2023 People Matter Survey).