Evidence base, frameworks and strategies

Primary prevention refers to the whole-of-population initiatives that aim to prevent violence against women and family violence before it occurs. It focuses on addressing the underlying drivers of these problems across organisations, communities and society. Prevention looks at ways to practically and sustainably address the attitudes, practices and differences in power that perpetuate and exacerbate violence against women and family violence.

The following documents provide the background and context to understand primary prevention and build knowledge about the sector. These resources help strengthen the foundation knowledge requirements for primary prevention practitioners and are a useful starting point for those seeking to join the sector.

Key frameworks to inform and guide primary prevention work.

• Change the Story: A shared framework for the primary prevention of violence against women and their children in Australia (Our Watch, Vic Health, ANROWS 2015)     
• Putting the prevention of violence against women into practice: How to change the story (Our Watch 2017)     
• Family violence primary prevention: Building a knowledge base and identifying gaps for all manifestations of family violence (State of Victoria, The Equality Institute 2017)
• Changing the Picture: A national resource to support the prevention of violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and their children (Our Watch 2018)
• Pride in Prevention (Rainbow Health Victoria 2020)
• Prevention of Violence Against Women with Disabilities: Workforce Resources for Action (Women with Disabilities Victoria 2021)

As our understanding of what drives and what works to prevent violence against women in different contexts increases, the evidence base will continue to expand and evolve. 

Prevention organisations, such as Our Watch, Respect Victoria, Gender Equity Victoria and Safe and Equal have created and collated many useful evidence papers and resources for those interested in developing their knowledge further.

Resources to track the progress of primary prevention at a population level. 

• Counting on change: A guide to prevention monitoring (Our Watch 2017)
• Tracking progress in prevention (Our Watch 2020)
• National Community Attitudes towards Violence against Women Survey (ANROWS)

Key state and national policy documents. 

• Fourth Action Plan 2019-2022 of the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-2022 (Commonwealth of Australia 2019)
• Free from Violence: Victoria’s strategy to prevent family violence and all forms of violence against women (State of Victoria 2017)
• Free from Violence: Victoria’s strategy to prevent family violence and all forms of violence against women – First action plan 2018 – 2021 (State of Victoria 2018)
• Safe and Strong: A Victorian gender equality strategy (State of Victoria 2016)
• Ending Family Violence: Victoria’s plan for change (State of Victoria 2016)
• Family Violence Reform Rolling Action Plan 2020–2023 (State of Victoria 2020)
• Building from Strength: 10-year industry plan for family violence prevention and response (State of Victoria 2017)
• Dhelk Dja: Safe Our Way – Strong Culture, Strong Peoples, Strong Families (State of Victoria 2018)

Preventing Family Violence & Violence Against Women Capability Framework (Family Safety Victoria 2017)