Respect Ballarat Fund

An Australian first approach to preventing gendered violence. In response to Ballarat’s urgent need, Respect Victoria launched Australia’s first Saturation Model for gendered violence prevention.

Ballarat experienced the tragic deaths of three local women in a short period, which led to protests in the streets to end the violence. Family violence rates in Ballarat are 50.1% above the state average. This bold initiative aims to shift the dial by addressing gendered violence not in isolation, but as a whole-of-community challenge requiring coordinated and evidence-informed effort.

A Saturation Model is made up of coordinated and reinforcing programs, activities, and public engagement and communications that collectively aim to change the social norms and address the drivers, or causes, of gendered violence. It is not one single program—it is an ecosystem approach where:
– Schools, workplaces, sporting clubs, and community groups adopt shared prevention frameworks.
– Campaigns and messaging are seen across every corner of community life.
– Evidence-based practice is embedded and measured, with learnings captured for replication.
– The Saturation Model places Ballarat at the forefront of innovation, with the opportunity to become a national blueprint for preventing gendered violence.

The Respect Ballarat Fund was established with an initial $1 million contribution from Respect Victoria to the Ballarat Foundation with the vision to achieve true saturation, which will require a sustained commitment.

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