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Visionary leadership shown in Brumby government’s vision for the GLBTI community

// October 26th, 2010 // 2 Comments » // AVP news, Media discussion, Within Australia, Within Victoria

The Anti-Violence Project of Victoria (AVP) welcomes state premier John Brumby’s announcement of major social policy initiatives supporting GLBTI community as visionary and ground breaking.

AVP head Greg Adkins said “If Mr Brumby is successfully re-elected at the 27 November state election, the $2.5million next-stage of the Labor government’s decade long commitment to celebrating diversity and ending discrimination and violence in our society will deliver:

• The establishment of a whole-of-government advisory committee on GLBTI issues
• Provision of $200,000 over four years to the Anti-Violence Project of Victoria to support victims of homophobia and help GLBTI people to report physical or verbal abuse or harassment
• An investment of $100,000 in a campaign to reduce homophobic harassment and highlight the contribution of GLBTI communities in Victoria
• Strengthening of laws against homophobic harassment

In addition a re-elected Brumby Labor Government would continue its support for same-sex attracted youth by:

• Providing $320,000 over four years to build on a pilot project to help combat homophobia in schools. This project, delivered through Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria, would develop and distribute quality resources to schools, provide professional development to staff to support students and school communities, help develop a whole-of-school approach to combating homophobia, and help develop students’ own networks and further builds on work by the government which is already underway;
• Establishing a $500,000 grants program over four years to help 10 projects a year provide a safe space for same-sex attracted youth, informal mentoring and peer support; and
• Investing $500,000 in a partnership with Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria, Sane and Headspace to train health professionals in helping same-sex attracted youth at risk of suicide

Further to this, the GLBTI community will be asked to step-up and determine what its “voice” would look like and where the provision of a GLBTI community voice will find a home, after the Brumby Government committed a further $100,000 a year for four years for a GLBTI peak body to represent the interests and act on behalf of the community.

The Anti-Violence Project notes that the Premier’s announcement is the first ever of this magnitude by a head of an Australian state or federal government setting-out a plan to deliver state-wide social policy initiatives to ensure that gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex individuals and communities are (in the Premier’s words) “safe, valued and respected.”

“Brumby’s GLBTI policy initiatives are further evidence that the ground has shifted politically in Victoria.  The AVP invite all other political parties to come on-board to support the Labor government’s  leadership in seeking to provide more support and a real voice for the GLBTI community.

Read the complete announcement from the Premier: More support and a real voice for the GLBTI community.

Respect Agenda Round Table

// September 23rd, 2010 // No Comments » // AVP news, Media discussion, Within Victoria

AVP head Greg Adkins said today that community leaders were left with a sense that real movement is taking place in Victoria that ensures promoting understanding of difference and diversity has an equal place at the table in the Government of Victoria’s Respect Agenda.

Respect Minister Justin Madden and host, Cabinet Secretary and MP for Prahran, Tony Lupton have put the issues driving homophobia and harassment firmly within the Respect Agenda at a GLBTI Respect Agenda Round Table held in Prahran on Thursday 23 September 2010 (check out the participants here).

Two clear messages came forward. Its the start of generational change. And more work will come to ensure the issues of respect impacting community groups are better aligned. Together can then partner with the government to continue to build respect into its whole-of-government work and state-wide strategy of building respect in Victoria.

Update from Police – Malvern assault investigation

// September 8th, 2010 // No Comments » // AVP news, Media discussion, Within Victoria

Victoria Police media report that all five suspects involved in the assault of a Caulfield North man last Thursday 2 September at the Malvern Railway Station have been identified.

Some members of the gay and lesbian community witnessed the assault and were encouraged to provide information to police by the AVP.

Police report that the men have all surrendered themselves after seeing themselves following media coverage of the incident.

Four of the five men involved in the assault have been interviewed over the past five days.

Malvern Police interviewed the first man, an 18-year-old from Frankston North after he surrendered himself to police at the Frankston Police Station on Friday 3 September.

An 18-year-old from Carrum Downs was arrested and interviewed on Sunday 5 September and two 15-year-old’s from Frankston North and Carrum Downs were interviewed on Tuesday 7 September.

A 17-year-old from Carrum Downs is expected to be interviewed by police in the coming days.

All five men have co-operated with police and assisted with enquiries.

They are expected to be charged on summons for assault related charges at a later date.

Victoria Police say that as a result of media coverage, a large number of witnesses also identified themselves and Police wish to thank the public and media for their assistance.

Volunteer Training – September 16th (Thurs) & 19th (Sun)

// September 7th, 2010 // No Comments » // AVP news, Within Victoria

NEW SESSIONS

Coming-up – Volunteer Training for the Anti-Violence Project

SESSION ONE – Thursday 16th September – 6pm to 4pm
Level 10, 225 Bourke Street

Topics: AVP operations, development and history – relationships with Gay and Lesbian Liaison police – violence reporting and the upcoming expansion of AVP activity – role-plays and scenarios.

SESSION TWO:- Sunday 19th September – 1pm to 4pm
Level 10, 225 Bourke Street

Topic: Rolling Round Table – a range of GLBT community orgs with direct relevance to the AVP and the issues GLBT individuals have surrounding violence, will join the panel of volunteers in a conversation of the relationship their organisation has with the community and these issues. We’ll also explore the existing connections we have as organisations and envision future relationship potentials.

The aim of these two training sessions is to broaden the trainees view of AVP and its role, expand understanding of GLBT community, the other organisations that work alongside us and increase an awareness of the issues driving these organisations. Additionally we seek to “spark” the interest of our new volunteers encouraging them to think “outside the box” when addressing violence through the state-wide peak GLBT organisation, the AVP.

For more information please contact Greg Adkins

AVP receives nominations in the 2010 {also} awards

// June 20th, 2010 // 2 Comments » // AVP news, Media discussion, Within Victoria

The Anti-Violence Project of Victoria received a number of nominations on the 2010 {also} Awards categories judged by a voting panel. These included:-

NOMINATED FOR MOST OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY CAMPAIGN OR INITIATIVE.

Anti Violence Project – for four areas of activity in 2010:-
*Playing a part of the Australian Football League Campaign (developed by AFL Players Association’s Dr Pippa Grange and Rob Mitchell);
*The “Out and Safe” Campaign (partnership between Cr Jane Garrett, Mayor of Yarra, the AVP, the Victorian Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby, Victoria Police Gay & Lesbian Liaison Unit and Officers, local health services and businesses in the City of Moreland);
*Stop Homophobia Today and *IDAHO (led state-wide by AVP with primary partners Victoria Police GLLOs, the {also} Foundation, TransGender Victoria, JOY 94.9, Country Awareness Network (CAN), Way-Out, Family Planning Victoria and Yak, the Attorney General Rob Hulls, the VEOHRC, and many more individuals, groups and organisations from all parts of the state).

NOMINATED FOR GLHV AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING HEALTH INITIATIVE

Anti-Violence Project was nominated for “IDAHO 2010 – Speaking About Silence – Homophobia in Sports and Community”

NOMINATED FOR ACTIVIST OF THE YEAR

AVP Executive Director, Greg Adkins was nominated in this category.

(The {also} Awards take place on Monday 28 June 2010, 7:30pm at the National Theatre in St Kilda)

IDAHO radio and net programming on JOY.9

// May 24th, 2010 // No Comments » // AVP news, Media discussion, Within Victoria

Check out the IDAHO broadcasting on JOY 94.9 for “Speaking about Silence – Homophobia in Sport and Community”, the state-wide campaign challenging homophobia in Victoria.

Click here to check it out!

International Day Against Homophobia on May 17 builds momentum in Victoria!

// May 12th, 2010 // No Comments » // AVP news, Within Victoria

International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) activity in Victoria is gearing up ahead of Monday May 17th.

Check-out http:/StopHomophobiaToday.com for the details on how to create YOUR “game-plan”, thoughts on how others put theirs into practice, and suggestions on how to “pass it on” to others.

You’ve probably guessed from the sporting analogies that this years theme encompasses one of the hardest aspects of homophobia to shift in society… “Speaking about Silence – Homophobia in Sport & Community”.

Heaps of individuals and groups are developing their “game-plans” and will upload videos talking about them. Many more are creating messages and photos. These will also be uploaded, as part of individual “game-plans”, and all will show how homophobia is about to be challenged, and challenged BIG TIME in the State of Victoria, Australia!

Check-out the many activities already underway or planned in the lead-up to IDAHO on May 17th and in the weeks and months beyond. Follow the link to the archive of last years IDAHO 2009 campaign here in Victoria, care of the National Library of Australia and the State Library of Victoria. See who our partners are for this year’s 2010 IDAHO (ourselves and many of our partners would be only too happy to accept offers of people wanting to volunteer or become involved in IDAHO or many of our ongoing activities). Get the telephone numbers and email addresses to contact us and perhaps even make a donation to help extend the scope of IDAHO activities in 2010.

All of this and more, by visiting Stop Homophobia Today!

UK guide for victims of hate-crime

// April 6th, 2010 // No Comments » // Around the globe, AVP news

UK charity, Stonewall has launched its new plain English guide for victims of anti-gay hate crime. “Blow the Whistle on Gay Hate” explains what homophobic hate crime is, why hate crime should be reported and what to say when reporting it. Check-out the guide here!

The AVP will review this important guide with a view to contextualise it for the community here in Victoria. If you want to be part of the review process contact the AVP by clicking here or call 0407664442.

International Day Against Homophobia is coming

// April 1st, 2010 // No Comments » // Around the globe, AVP news, Within Australia, Within Victoria

Today around 80 countries in the world still criminalise homosexuality and condemn consensual same-sex acts with imprisonment. Of these, nine (Afghanistan, Iran, Mauritania, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates and Yemen) still have the death penalty. Discrimination on the ground of sexual orientation and gender identity is still not recognised formally by the member states of the United Nations (even though human rights mechanisms such as the Human Rights Committee have repeatedly condemned discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity). This video comes care of ILGA.

Midsumma Carnival – visit the joint AVP and VicPol stand!

// January 17th, 2010 // 2 Comments » // AVP news, Within Victoria

Drop in and visit the Anti Violence Project at our stand we are jointly running with Victoria Police at today’s Midsumma Carnival in Melbourne’s Alexandra Gardens.

Located only a few minutes from Flinders Street Station, this is a perfect opportunity to discuss your experiences of violence, to volunteer or get involved in AVP activities or to register your interest in playing a part in the 2010 International Day Against Homophobia activities occurring throughout Victoria between now and May 17th.

Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officers from Victoria Police will be on hand.