Click here to access helpful videos and a guide to consent and prevention of sexual violence.
Penington Institute has developed a toolkit to assist organisers of Victorian-based music festivals to incorporate sexual health and safety considerations when planning and running their events.
As part of the project, they’ve also developed fact sheets on important sexual health and safety topics to help you stay safe when you head to your next music festival or party.
You can access the toolkit and fact sheets at this link.
Ask for Angela https://plan4womenssafety.dss.gov.au/initiative/ask-for-angela/
Ask for Angela is an international campaign designed to promote safety in licensed venues that has been used in New South Wales, and more recently, South Australia.
Accredited Training for Sexual Violence Responses https://plan4womenssafety.dss.gov.au/initiative/accredited-training-for-sexual-violence-responses/
Under the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children, the Commonwealth Government has allocated funding to develop and pilot two streams of accredited training to build the capability and capacity of workers to recognise and respond to people who experience sexual violence.
Australian Festivals Association https://www.australianfestivalassociation.com/
The Australian Festival Association (AFA) was formed to represent the shared interests and importance of the Australian festival industry. The AFA is committed to delivering safe and well-run festivals around Australia and providing a framework for industry operating standards. You can access AFA resources including online industry training as well as information about how to become an AFA member via their website.
Sexual Assault Services https://www.sasvic.org.au/
Sexual Assault Services Victoria (SAS Victoria) is the newly incorporated and expanded peak body for sexual assault and harmful sexual behaviour services. Previously known as CASA Forum, SAS Victoria will continue to influence and reshape approaches to preventing and responding to sexual assault.
Key Crisis Helplines
If you need any support there are a range of organisations that can help:
Sexual Assault Crisis Line 1800 806 292 / sacl.com.au
1800 RESPECT 1800 737 732
Support Act 1800 959 500 / https://supportact.org.au/resources/sexual-health-and-safety/
Support Act is exclusively for those who work in the Australian music community.
Safe Steps: Family Violence Response Centre 1800 015 188 / www.safesteps.org.au
Telephone counselling, information and referral to safe accommodation in Victoria for women and children experiencing domestic violence.
WIRE (Women’s Information and Referral Exchange) 1300 134 130 / www.wire.org.au
Djirra 1800 105 303
Support service available to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and particularly to Aboriginal people who are currently experiencing family violence or have in the past.
Switchboard 1800 184 527 / www.qlife.org.au
Phone and web counselling for the LGBTIQA+ community.
For emergencies please contact 000
An equitable and inclusive music industry is one that provides access to all areas where music is created, performed and promoted, to all people, and ultimately makes us stronger.
The initial aaa (Access All Areas program) kicked off in 2018, and was a collaboration of the music industry, LGBTQIA+, community and women’s health stakeholders to advance opportunities for gender equity, diversity and safety in music industry settings in Melbourne’s north and west. It also explored how gendered violence and under-representation is shaped by structures such as colonisation, racism, ableism and more, to impact particular people in unique and compounding ways. Initiated and led by cohealth's prevention team, specifically Karen Ingram and Meredith Drinkell, the project included research, training and extensive resources for the music industry.
The above video starts to explore the issues and sheds light on why we need to keep working to address it. It touches on the gender and racial bias found in the music industry and aims to amplify the voices of people who are under-represented the most.
In 2021, due to a change in cohealth's strategic priorities, it was determined that the aaa initiative would be best served at a music industry organisation to enable sustained and impactful change. Music Victoria was identified as well-placed to carry Access All Areas into the future, and have agreed to continue to pursue its fundamental purpose - to make the music industry more equitable and inclusive.
In 2022, Music Victoria was delighted partner with Support Act to see a key component of the original program - the tailored music industry Bystander Intervention Training be further refined and developed to now be rolled out nationally for free to the music industry.
SIGN UP TO DO THE TRAINING HERE: https://supportact.org.au/events/access-all-areas/
To find out more about the work we are doing in this space towards cultural and structural change in music industry settings please get in touch with simone@musicvictoria.com.au.
