There are a range of primary prevention initiatives under the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children, which aim to promote the development of healthy and respectful relationships through attitudinal and behavioural change at the cultural, institutional and individual levels. These initiatives include:
Respectful Relationships Projects
The Government is investing over $9 million across five years to 2012-13 in implementing Respectful Relationships education projects nationally. Respectful Relationships is a primary prevention strategy that seeks to reduce sexual assault and domestic and family violence through education, The Government is also working through the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) to support the inclusion of respectful relationships education in Phase Three of the Australian Curriculum.
'The Line' Social Marketing Campaign
'The Line' a $17 million social marketing campaign, was launched in June 2010 to encourage young people to develop healthy, respectful relationships. The campaign provides a website and Facebook page for young people to have dialogue about healthy and unhealthy relationship behaviour and how to have and maintain a respectful relationship. Qualitative research and quantitative research commissioned by the Department has informed the development of the campaign and specific campaigns for Indigenous youth and youth from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
Community Action Grants
$3.75 million over three years is being provided for Community Action Grants. The grants aim to support community-level action to reduce violence against women through innovative primary prevention projects which reduce domestic violence and encourage respectful relationships. Projects may include activities which strengthen the community, increase awareness in the community and encourage community responsibility in reducing violence against women.