On behalf of the whole community who have been working together to implement actions that addresses the high rates of family violence in the Shire of Cardinia, council applied for a national award for Together We Can.
As a community – we won!
“Men, women and children of Cardinia Shire ought to feel proud of their contribution to making our communities a safer place to live, learn, work and play,” Cardinia mayor Collin Ross said.
“We have such a long way to go, and this National Award for Prevention and Community Safety demonstrates we are on our way to reach our long-term vision – Together We Did It! Safe and peaceful communities.”
Since 2015 the governance group for Together We Can secured resources from the Department of Social Services (Federal), the Victorian Government, Cardinia Shire Council, The Ross E Trust Foundation and Cardinia Park Hotel.
These resources have enabled people in the shire to develop and implement ideas, innovations and solutions that are starting to changing lives for people exposed to or using violence within families.
“As mayor, I could not be more proud of the enormous contribution that organisations, businesses, individuals, clubs, services and authorities have had in our collective effort to keep women and children safe,” Cr Ross said.
“Children and young people are our future, and each of us, as members of the community have, and still need to, play our part to stop and prevent family violence from happening.”
The Cardinia Shire Liveability Plan, developed by the community for the community, has a vision to be “a liveable, resilient community where the environment flourishes and residents are healthy, included and connected”.
“Reducing family violence is one of seven outcomes of the plan and when people engage and align their work to Together We Can, they are actively working towards this collective vision,” Cr Ross said.
Council is committed to Together We Can for the long term – understanding that to stop, prevent and end family violence requires a sustained effort from all parts of the community, including government.
Council is now the ‘backbone’ organisation for Together We Can and will be supporting the community through the advocacy for systems changes and resources and managing the Collective Impact model.
Together We Can was also recognised as the Gold Medal winner for the National Local Government Innovation Awards, voted on at the National ReInvent Conference in April 2018.
