Every woman deserves to be safe at work – that’s why the Victorian Government has allocated $5.5 million for the new Safe Workplaces for Women initiative.
The funding package will support women experiencing workplace gendered violence and sexual harassment, from prevention and education through to legal supports. It acknowledges the disproportionate levels of harassment and discrimination women experience in workplaces, and the need for employers to understand how they can best prevent and respond to these issues.
Victorian Trades Hall Council, the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Working Women’s Centre Victoria will deliver initiatives working across the system to make workplaces safer for women.
Victorian Trades Hall Council and Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry will work with employees and employers to understand their workplace rights and responsibilities and address gendered workplace issues.
Victorian Trades Hall Council will work with women to identify and respond to issues impacting them at work, with a focus on reaching women disproportionately impacted by gendered workplace issues, such as migrant women and women with disabilities.
Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry will deliver training and advice to businesses, with a focus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), on understanding their responsibilities under legislation to prevent and address gendered workplace issues.
Meanwhile, the Commonwealth Government-established Working Women’s Centre Victoria, established in 2024, will strengthen and deepen its regional presence of legal services and support so that more women can access comprehensive help.
The $5.5 million in funding is part of the Strengthening Women’s Safety Package, aimed at addressing gendered violence in Victoria.