Gender Equity Victoria (GEN VIC) is thrilled with today’s funding announcement of $400,000 over two years to support our work as Victoria’s peak body for gender equity, women’s health and the prevention of violence against women.
“According to the World Economic Forum, it will take 100 years to achieve global gender equality at the current rate of change. We simply cannot let gender inequality negatively impact on the health, wellbeing and safety of women and girls for another century.
The time is now to accelerate progress on gender equity in Victoria,” said Kristine Olaris, GEN VIC Convenor.
“Our vision for a gender equal Victoria, shared by our members, is an urgent and imperative one. The investment by the Victorian government will support GEN VIC to develop the organisational infrastructure we need to continue to build an effective and sustainable peak body that can advocate, influence and collaborate to improve outcomes for women and girls in every community of Victoria,” said Ms Olaris.
This funding will allow GEN VIC to facilitate collaboration and coordination across our diverse and growing membership, maintaining a state-wide reach and local focus for the vital work of advancing gender equity, promoting health and preventing violence in Victoria.
Among its roles as a peak body, GEN VIC will play an important part in implementing Victoria’s first gender equality strategy, Safe and Strong, by providing a collective and independent voice of our members; ensuring women’s voices are integral to policy, legislation, and services; and supporting coordinated and evidenceinformed women’s health promotion activities.
“The Victorian government has demonstrated they are willing to invest in setting up the right foundation to progress gender equity in Victoria,” said Ms Olaris.
“But we know social change takes time. We want GEN VIC to be able to work with our members, partners and the government over years and decades to see this work through. While we welcome additional funds, it is imperative that we have recurrent funding to ensure that gender equality remains front-and-centre in Victoria for years to come.”
Download the- Funding boost to progress gender equality media release PDF