Our Equal Local Government Campaign 2025

The Our Equal Local Government (OELG) project is a partnership between Gippsland Women’s Health and the local government areas (LGAs) across Gippsland. The goal of the project is to raise awareness of and reduce work-related gendered violence. To support this, all six councils signed off on a statement outlining their vision:

“Gippsland’s local government councils stand united in our commitment to gender equality. Together, we will lead, build strong partnerships, and promote equality, creating safe workplaces and communities. Through our collective eƯorts, we will work toward a future free from violence against women.”

Alongside the internally-focused communications campaign to be implemented by local governments, we are calling on businesses and organisations accross Gippsland to raise awareness of and promote the prevention of work-related gendered violence experienced by council staff and others workers in Gippsland throughout April 2025.

The aim of the campaign is to:

• Raise awareness and build understanding of work-related gendered violence, bullying and harassment in the workplace.
• Inform Gippsland communities of Local Government support for workplaces free of gendered violence.
• Promote the tools and resources available to support staff to recognise and report work-related gendered violence.
• Encourage other workplaces to promote work-related gendered violence prevention.

What is it?

Work-related gendered violence is when someone experiences harmful behaviour at work because of their gender, sexual orientation or because they don’t fit into traditional gender roles. This can vary in severity.

What is being done?

Supported by Gippsland Women’s Health (GWH) and its partners, all six Gippsland Local Governments are taking a stand against gendered violence in their workplaces and our communities. This involves a range of activities to build a shared understanding of the issue, its impact and how we can take action together.

Why is this project important?

In the past year, reports of work-related gendered violence including sexual harassment have increased across Gippsland. Abuse, harassment, discrimination and threats of violence targeted at workers and volunteers. Statistically, the majority were women and gender diverse people simply going about their daily work.

This is NOT ok.

What can you do?

We are calling on businesses and organisations to step up and commit to zero tolerance of gendered violence in the workplace. Please support this campaign

by sharing our messages with the broader community. Consider displaying the enclosed sticker in your workplace. See our downloadable resources below for your use.

Stand with us – take action to ensure people feel safe, equal and respected.

Let’s end gendered violence together. Because everyone deserves Respect, Fairness and a Better Go.