Bystander Intervention Pilot Project

1. Bystander Intervention Pilot Project MAV Preventing Violence Against Women Network Meeting 12th of December, 2012

2. Bystander Research Project • Two part research project aimed to assess community and organisational readiness to implement pro-social bystander interventions • Part 1: International evidence review (2011) • Use as part of a broader approach • Ground programs in theory and current practice evidence • Gendered approach • Involve community members and organisations • Length, skilled facilitators and evaluation • Part 2: Statewide survey (2012) • Sexist and discriminatory behaviour or cultures • Readiness to act on unfair conditions in three settings

3. Survey results • Strong support in the general community for bystander action • More subtle and systemic forms of violence and discrimination still not considered very serious • 1/3 had witnessed sexism towards women in the last 12 months and almost half (47.6 per cent) said they took bystander action • Majority of Victorians expect sports clubs and workplaces to take a leadership role

4. Bystander approach and primary prevention • Primary prevention addresses the problem before it occurs • Causes of violence against women: • Gender inequality • Gender stereotypes • Constructions of masculinity • Not about responding to incidents of violence against women • Focus is on the subtle and systemic behaviours that create cultures in which violence against women is ignored or condoned

5. Bystander Intervention Pilot Project • Developed based on results from international evidence review and statewide survey • Respectful and equitable organisational culture increases bystander action where: • Organisational policies and procedures support this action • There is support from colleagues • The organisational culture of the workplace is supportive • Project will seek to understand the ways in which: • Workplaces can support the prosocial bystander action of employees • Act as prosocial bystander organisations themselves

6. Project objectives • Increase knowledge of sexism, gender discrimination and violence against women • Raise awareness of the impacts of these behaviours and the costs of not taking action • Develop skills in taking action to intervene safely and effectively • Reduce perceived costs of taking action • Promote organisational cultures that are conducive to taking action

7. Training overview Session one: Introduces key topics • Violence against women • Bystander intervention Session two: Recognising when bystander intervention is required • Sexism, sex discrimination, sexual harassment Session three: Towards bystander action • Organisational support for bystander action • Strategies for bystander action _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Session four: Refresher training

8. More information? • Nancy Pierorazio • Community Safety and Wellbeing Branch (Workplace Facilitator for The Bystander Intervention Pilot Project) • Email: nancy.pierorazio@melbourne.vic.gov.au • David Flynn • Bystander Intervention Coordinator • Email: david@equalityconsulting.com.au