The Program is run in partnership with Anglicare Victoria, the Brotherhood of St Laurence, Relationship Matters, The Melbourne Anglican Foundation, Melbourne University and the Victorian Governments Department of Families, Fairness and Housing. The Program Manager is Kerryn Lewis and the chair of the Program’s Committee of Management is Bishop Genieve Blackwell.

We believe that:
• All people are created in the image of God,
• All are precious, equally loved, and
• All should have the opportunity to thrive according to their God-given potential.

Yet too many people – especially women and their children – are denied this opportunity because of the impact of violence.

Violence against women is a widespread and serious issue in Australia. The statistics are staggeringly high:

• One in five women have experienced at least one incident of sexual violence.
• One in three women has experienced physical and/or sexual violence perpetrated by a man they know.
• One in four women has experienced emotional abuse by a partner.

This violence has deep and long-lasting impacts for those who experience it. Such violence is in stark contrast to the abundant life that God intends for us in Christ.

As Christians, and together as the Church, we are compelled by Christ’s love to challenge the attitudes, behaviours and structures that underpin violence and to work towards a future in which women and girls can live lives free from violence – and the fear of violence.

Realising our vision will depend on all of us working together, with God’s help, to play our part.

As such, the activities of the Program reflect a whole-of-Church approach to preventing violence against women. They include:
• Providing training and mentoring for church leaders,
• Developing resources and tools for church communities,
• Developing best practice policy and governance procedures, and
• Connecting churches with specialist and local service providers.