Together We Can 2015-2018

Together We Can 2015 - 2018

Table of Contents Overview 3 Together We Can - A Collective Impact Approach What is Collective Impact?

Collective Impact Framework Together We Can Model

4 4 4 5

The Together We Can Journey

6

Key Supporters

7

Steering Group The Funding Challenge Mobilising Community Dollars Funding Summary

Key Activities Community Leadership Summit Year of Action

Engaging Community Snapshot of Media

Evaluation Key Themes 2015 - 2018 Strength of Key Partnerships/Backbone Indicators How Are We Tracking?

Knowledge Sharing

7 7 7 8

9 9 10

15 15

17 17 18 18

19

Publications 19 Presentations 19 An Award Winning Project 19

Looking Ahead

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Overview Family Life has been pioneering Collective Impact as a powerful collaborative model to solve complex social problems since 2015. Together We Can (TWC) is Australia’s first Collective Impact project that focuses solely on reducing the rate of family violence in a Local Government Area.

TWC draws on the collective experience and understanding of family violence of diverse partners, capitalising on their strong linkages in the community.

With the support of partners, and using the Collective Impact framework, Family Life led the first three year pilot in Cardinia Shire from 2015 to 2018. This project has shown promising outcomes, contributing to a 16 percent reduction in reported incidents of family violence over the life of the project.

Collective Impact aligns with the Victorian Government’s Free From Violence Strategy, which advocates working with the whole of community to co-design local solutions for change. The philosophy is supported by the Tamarack Institute in Canada, the global leader in Collective Impact for complex social change. Tamarack Institute Director, Liz Weaver, provides ongoing coaching to Family Life staff around Collective Impact practice.

Evaluation and outcome measurements have been supported by The University of Melbourne.

TWC was set up as a three year pilot with Family Life providing the backbone function, with the intention to embed the concept within the Cardinia leadership community at the end of the pilot period.

This is now underway.

Collective Impact is now an established tool within Family Life’s suite of Creating Capable Communities key prevention initiatives.

In 2018, Together We Can won a gold award at the Municipal Association of Victoria sponsored National Local Government Innovation awards.

It was also elected as the winner of the Prevention and Community Safety category of the Australian Government’s National Awards for Local Government, sponsored by the Department of Social Services.

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Together We Can - A Collective Impact Approach What is Collective Impact?

Collective Impact is a multi-disciplinary collaborative approach which offers a conceptual framework to support effective community action on complex social issues.

Originally developed in North America and launched in 2011, the approach allows communities to address social inequity by implementing sustainable change in localised geographic areas.

Effective implementation of Collective Impact is driven by organisations which have embedded knowledge about the approach, and the resources to implement it in response to an identified need.

This process is undertaken in partnership with community leaders for a collaborative response.

Collective Impact Framework

Common Agenda Keeps all parties moving towards the same goal.

Common Progress Measures Measures that get to the TRUE outcome.

Mutually Reinforcing Activities Each expertise is leveraged as part of the overall.

Communications This allows for a culture of collaboration.

Backbone Organisation Takes on the role of managing collaboration.

www.collaborationforimpact.com

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Together We Can 2015 - 2018: Three Year Report

Together We Can Model Collective Impact Pre-Conditions Collective Impact 5 Key Conditions 1.

3. Mutually

reinforcing activities

2. An influential champion

3. Urgency for change

Backbone Organisation Governance

Common agenda

2. Measuring results

1. Adequate financial resources

Community Advisory Group

Steering Group

Establishment & Planning Phase: • Engagement with stakeholders

• Commencement of Theory of Change

• Branding decisions

• Formation of governance group.

• Alignment of evaluation strategy to TOC

• Community engagement around brand

• Build understanding of unique community profile and needs

• Testing of TOC - internal to governance group

4. Continuous

communication

Readiness Phase

Readiness Phase

5. Backbone

• Establishment of Community Advisory Group

• Build on prior achievement • Community engagement

• Community marketing for summit

• Targeted partner engagement • Build community interest

on

-E

Innovation and Development Phase

Whole of Community

• Annual summit

Innovation and Development Phase

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ti lua Eva

Implementation and Reflection Phase

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organisation

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• Seeding of community change ideas

• Formation of community solution groups • Idea development, testing and clarification

Implementation and Reflection Phase • Launch of community solutions

• Community achievement report

• Implementation of community solutions

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The Together We Can Journey Throughout 2013, there was increased demand for social community assistance in Victoria’s Growth Corridor Interface Councils. In response to this, Family Life sought discussions with the local government areas affected, to understand how our organisation could contribute to addressing livability concerns.

As part of this process, the CEO of Cardinia Shire was invited to present it’s position to Family Life.

This information, addressed to the entire Family Life staff, gave valuable insight into the service needs of families with young children and was a catalyst for idea development.

Particular attention was given to understanding the prevalence of family violence. Knowing that women and children faced increased risk around the birth of a child, together with the high birth rate in Cardinia, it was important that any response focused attention on prevention. Improved support for new families and promoting a culture that would not tolerate violence were also highlighted as focal points to address.

family violence incidents in Melbourne’s southern metropolitan region. An average of three to four incidents were recorded per day in the municipality in 2014–15, with many more going unreported.

Cardinia monitored the number of reports of family violence to its Council’s Maternal and Child Health nurses for one week in 2015 and reported 24 incidents in that period alone. This highly concerning figure was only compounded with knowledge that family violence seriously impacts the psychological, social, emotional and developmental wellbeing of infants, children and adolescents.

In 2015 Family Life formally commenced a three year partnership with Cardinia Shire to implement Together We Can. Championed by the vision of the CEOs, a core group of senior managers from both organisations formed a Governance Group for the project. This group took responsibility for establishing a broader stakeholder group and for development of an implementation plan to support the project. It encompassed community engagement and community leadership intervention, driven and informed by the Collective Impact framework and guided by Liz Weaver, of the Tamarack Institute.

At the commencement of the initiative, Cardinia Shire had the second highest number of recorded

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Together We Can 2015 - 2018: Three Year Report

Key Supporters Steering Group

Collective Impact is innovative - With innovation comes uncertainty. Funders don’t generally like uncertainty.

In line with the Collective Impact approach, Family Life has provided the backbone function to lead Together We Can, guided and supported by a Steering Group consisting of:

Mobilising Community Dollars

1. Family Life 2. Cardinia Shire 3. University of Melbourne 4. Victoria Police

The Funding Challenge The funding challenge for any Collective Impact initiative is articulating to funders what you will do when you don’t yet know what you will do! Taking a Collective Impact approach means activities are not confirmed until post community engagement.

In response to the funding challenges presented, the steering group adopted a strategy of seeking relatively small funding amounts from a mix of funders initially, both monetary and inkind.

This enabled strategic investment to support the development of an engaging video infographic to explain what TWC was setting out to achieve and secure the attention of larger funders. The infographic served as an invitation to funders to come on a journey to explore what is possible when we dream big and all work together - true partnership.

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Funding Summary Local Government: Cardinia Shire Council

2015 - 2018

$90,000

23%

Trusts & Foundations: R.E. Ross Trust Besen Foundation

April 2015 June 2016

$30,000 $8,500

10%

August 2015

$150,000

39%

June 2017

$100,000

26%

2017

$6,000

2%

2015-2018

$384,500

100%

Federal Government: DSS Building Safer Communities for Women & Children State Government: Department of Premier and Cabinet Community Partnerships for Primary Prevention Grant Sponsorship: Cardinia Park Hotel TOTAL:

Inkind Support Family Life contributed more than 7,500 hours of inkind support to Together We Can, in addition to a paid facilitator role. This in kind contribution is valued at a conservative $480,000 from Family Life alone.

Inkind support was also provided by Cardinia Shire Council, University of Melbourne, Victoria Police, Community Advisory Committee members as well as community partners.

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Together We Can 2015 - 2018: Three Year Report

Key Activities Established by the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments in 2013, Our Watch was developed to drive nation-wide change in the culture, behaviours and power imbalances that lead to violence against women and their children.

• mapping of local relationships and conditions associated with the problem/outcome • development of a local Theory of Change • development of a Shared Measurement Framework • holding of a Community Leadership Summit • plan Year of Action of mutually reinforcing activities (Community Solutions)

One initiative, ‘Change the Story’, is a shared framework for primary prevention of violence against women and children and identifies four gendered drivers behind violence against women:

• develop local communications plan • support implementation of Year of Action

1. the condoning of violence against women

• engage partners to deliver local family violence prevention initiatives

2. men’s control of decision-making and limits to women’s independence

• planning for next Year of Action

3. rigid gender roles and identities

Community Leadership Summit

4. male peer relations that emphasise aggression and disrespect towards women In-line with this, TWC was developed as a community strengthening and mobilisation model that sought to challenge gender inequality and address these four drivers. A Theory of Change clearly articulated that violence against women and children is underpinned by gender inequality.

Specific activities were sought to challenge behaviours. TWC aimed to address factors that reinforced gendered drivers. In addition, children who had been exposed to violence were supported through trauma informed work with the community.

The following key activities made up the project: • working with community to create a common purpose and shared agenda, platform for change/ community owned outcome • the establishment of local governance and steering structures and survivor advisory group

In August 2017 a Community Leadership Summit was held to gather feedback and explore opportunities to further promote the cause.

At this time, Cardinia had recorded a 10.7 percent reduction in reported incidents of family violence.

Participants were asked why. Was it due to people not reporting incidents? They questioned whether people were aware of what family violence is and where it starts? Or, was the reduction in reported incidents as a result of the Together We Can campaign?

The Summit invited participants to join other leaders in the community to build momentum, raise community awareness and discuss primary prevention. They also contributed ideas to enhance awareness campaigns, create prevention activities, develop community solutions and put forward ideas to other community leaders as part of the first Year of Action.

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Year of Action Following a thorough engagement process with key stakeholders, a range of Community Solutions were implemented during the first Year of Action, to act on initiatives developed out of the consultation process. These community projects were set up and run by community groups, with the support of the Collective Impact Team and guided by the Community Advisory Committee, who ensured projects were shaped by their lived experience. A process whereby key stakeholders reflect on the activities of the previous year to inform future Year of Action activities has been established.

student leaders within schools and displayed simple messages of respect and where to find support if needed.

1. Bystander Action “Empowering everyone, everyday - not just on special occasions”, was the motivation for a group of 25 volunteer community leaders from within the Shire who participated in Griffith University’s MATE Bystander Action Training (www.griffith.edu.au/ arts-education-law/mate-bystander-program).

The training outlines how to take safe and appropriate action against violence and how to identify its early signs. Participants were also trained to deliver the program, providing greater opportunity to expand the reach of the message to as many people as possible.

3. Food Circles Reduce Isolation Food security is an important safety issue for all families. The TWC process highlighted the fact that food insecurity had the potential to create a feeling of isolation and increase poor physical and mental health and wellbeing. As a result Food Circles were established and organisers created opportunities to promote cost effective local food solutions as well as bring people together who had the potential to be isolated or vulnerable.

Delivery of the program was conducted through education, faith, resident and cultural channels.

2. Learning From My Mates A small group of young people who experienced bullying or violence were empowered to build respectful relationships and behaviours. Challenged to pay-it-forward, they developed a tool that Cardinia Shire Council Communications were able to distribute to other young people The tool consisted of an informative lanyard for every Year 7 student in the Shire. It was distributed by older

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4. Gender Equity in Sport TWC worked with local sporting clubs around preventing violence against women and children.

AFL and cricket clubs have traditionally been male dominated in terms of their committees, paid positions and on the field. As with workplaces, there is evidence that shows that gender equity in clubs results in increased membership, skill and will of players and club harmony. The work of this group was to assess the ‘state of play’ of three clubs within the Shire and support them to educate their members, volunteers, coaches, umpires and players regarding family violence and how to build more gender equity.

6. Streetball Builds Respect TWC has supported a group of young people to build a local ‘Streetball’ activity, where youths can play unstructured basketball in a public space in Pakenham. Streetball is all about peer to peer interaction and encourages healthy competition amongst friends and the sharing of responsibility to create a safe environment for players and spectators.

Key to this activity is the strong leadership from young people themselves to develop the activity, their ability to role-model and promote respectful behaviours as well as to refer their peers to support services should they be required.

5. Community Campaigns to Stop the Violence Awareness raising remains a key priority for TWC. Campaigns and programs such as the Clothesline Project and Walk Against Violence continue to be supported by the community at large. As part of the Clothesline Project, in November 2017, several sporting clubs joined primary schools across the Shire in writing ‘stop violence’ messages on t-shirts and hanging them on boundary fences for passersby to read. The Walk Against Violence through the main streets of Pakenham was also well attended, with male speakers sharing the importance of building respect in relationships.

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7. Children Show Drivers Their Take on Gender Equality What child wouldn’t love to see a picture they drew on the back of a large bus? Showcasing what children say about respect and gender equality was the theme for another program introduced under the banner of TWC. School children were engaged around what they understood equality to be and were asked to design an image that was a call for equality and respect - through the eyes of a child.

Putting the image on the back of a bus enabled the program to achieve high exposure to many adults and encourage thoughts and conversation.

8. Community Education on Respect and Equality Together With Me @ the Library was the theme for the delivery of two events. In partnership with the Pakenham Show and Pakenham Gazette, a writing competition for children and young people was developed. Participants were asked to imagine and write about what it might be like to live a day as a person of the opposite gender. Over 40 entries were submitted and the winner published locally.

The second event was a Summit for professionals and members of the community, helping generate discussion and provide support for those affected by family violence. Guest speaker, Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, spoke on building healthy and respectful relationships to create peaceful families. Early Years professionals were also able to deepen their knowledge of trauma informed practice when working with children. Students from secondary colleges heard from male advocates with a lived experience of using violence, encouraging them to think about the impact that physical and nonphysical violence has on families.

9. Violence Is Not Discipline in Australia TWC supported Cardinia Shire’s South Sudanese community to share a celebration of their culture at the Pakenham Hall early in 2018. There were around 100 adults and children who attended the event which included a traditional meal, traditional dancing by children and young people and children’s activities. Speakers at the event talked to the group about a range of issues including; what constitutes family violence and the impact it has on children, the consequences for people who use violence, where people can seek help and the benefits of safe and peaceful families and communities.

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The walk is now an annual event, in November each year.

10. Peer Support Prevents Elder Abuse With over one-fifth of Cardinia Shire’s population aged over fifty-five years, empowering senior residents to create and share messages that aim to prevent elder abuse has been strongly supported by TWC. This was done through the work of Cardinia’s Age Friendly Alliance. Members of the Alliance represented their peers and determined that the best way to distribute messages to their age groups is through a fridge magnet.

The magnet promotes how to make wise choices when engaging with tradespeople as well as information about powers of attorney, technology platforms and salespeople. The Alliance distributed these to the older generations at Seniors events in June 2018.

11. Taking It To The Streets The ‘Walk Against Violence’ was established by the Cardinia Family Violence Network and supported

by TWC. Hundreds of men, women and children gathered at the Pakenham Hall in late November 2017 making a stand to stop violence against women and children.

Participants walked through the streets of Pakenham to build awareness of family violence and make a pledge to ‘stop and prevent family violence in Cardinia Shire’. They also reinforced the message that everyone has the right to a ‘safe place to live, learn, work and play’.

12. Map Your World Map Your World puts the power of new technologies into the hands of young change agents. The program enables them to map, track and improve the health and well-being of their communities and become agents of change in their local and global communities.

Contributors are empowered to explore what their local community looks like and identify a local issue that has meaning for them. From that they develop and implement a survey, reflect on the results and build actions for change.

The funding supported the adaption of the Map Your World program for working with young people around healthy relationships. Over 500 young people participated in the program pilot.

The outcomes included increased awareness of the benefits of healthy relationships and how young people can contribute and help each other develop solutions to social issues.

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13. You the Man ‘You the Man’ is a social education performance.

The show highlights how bystanders can interrupt cycles of relationship violence and abuse. A single actor plays six contrasting male characters, none of who is the perpetrator or victim. The play shows the impact of violence on these characters and different forms of supportive bystander response. ‘You the Man’ was performed at the launch of TWC in 2016 to around 230 students from across the Shire.

In 2018 it was also delivered to Pakenham Secondary College.

14. Local Voice Influence Change TWC is committed to ensuring that victim survivor experiences shape the work that we do.

A ‘Community Advisory Committee’ empowers the voices of local women (and their children) who have had a previous experience of family violence.

With the support of Kristy McKellar, fellow victim/ survivor and advocate for ending violence against women, this group is working towards supporting Cardinia Shire’s local response to ending family violence. Their intent is to inform other levels of Government of the impact of systems and policy on the safety and wellbeing of women and children living in interface, regional and rural communities.

They also are able to influence the work of TWC and provide advice and recommendations as appropriate.

Kristy McKellar

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Engaging Community Through a communications strategy, community engagement and community solutions model, TWC focussed messaging to address family violence supporting behaviours such as condoning violence against women, rigid gender roles and aggressive male peer relations.

A comprehensive and integrated communications campaign was implemented. With over 80 published articles since March 2016, a dedicated website, a facebook page and twitter feed, regular community consultations, forums, presentations, professional development, summits and community campaigns, local awareness of family violence and the impact it has on women and children has grown significantly. In 2016 – 2017, over 4,100 people engaged with TWC.

Snapshot of Media Following are examples of some of the media coverage, hardcopy and digital, that the campaign received.

• Website - www.togetherwecan.org.au • Twitter - @TWC_AU • Facebook - @twccardiniashire Together We Can @TWC_AU 24 Nov 2015 How children think about Family Violence - let them be heard. Start the conversation around your kitchen table http://pakenham.starcommunity.com. au/gazette/2015-11-24/through-their-eyes-in-theirwords/#.VlUjdf0zzyc.twitter …

Together We Can @TWC_AU 15 Dec 2015 #DearDaddy Imagine getting a letter from your unborn daughter https://youtu.be/dP7OXDWof30 via @YouTube Together We Can @TWC_AU 26 Jan 2016 Congratulations #DavidMorrison #AOTY2016 #MaleChampionsofChange Together We Can empower grassroots change for #equality for all @TWC_AU

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Together We Can @TWC_AU 8 Mar 2016 Join us at the Together We Can Community Convention on Thurs 28 April - To find out more and to register http://togetherwecan.org.au/events/ Pls share Together We Can @TWC_AU 21 Apr 2016 Together We Can Retweeted Christian Porter It’s everyone’s responsibility - Join us next Thurs @ http://togtherwecan.org.au event STOP PREVENT END Family Violence Together We Can @TWC_AU 25 Jul 2016 Together We Can Year of Action Launch - It will take persistence, patience & creativity to tackle family violence Together We Can @TWC_AU 1 Aug 2017 Thank you to everyone committed to ending family violence and to giving your support and leadership #TWC2017 TOGETHER WE DID IT Gender equity is an essential part of curbing violence against women and children Together We Can @TWC_AU 27 Jul 2017 Our event is full! Thank you to all those coming. Our wait list is open if you would like to add your name.

Join us here using #TWC2017 Together We Can @TWC_AU 1 Aug 2017 @JoCavanaghAU makes the point that Cardinia Shire is taking the lead in making change at a local level #TWC2017 and is being noticed Together We Can @TWC_AU Jan 23 We all play a part to #endfamilyviolence with #communityparnershipsforprimaryprevention funding @NatHutchins @DanielAndrewsMP South Sudanese Community Celebration Day @ CardiniaShire http://tinyurl.com/y8fsk38l

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Evaluation Family Life and the University of Melbourne led development of the initiative’s Theory of Change, evaluation planning, data collection, data analyses and feedback, evaluation capacity-building and knowledge dissemination. Evaluation of TWC was embedded in the governance and backbone structures from establishment of the project.

This required particular expertise and time to plan and develop with significant in-kind resources contributed by Family Life and the University of Melbourne.

Evaluation of TWC has been planned over three phases: 1. Developmental (2016 - ongoing):

self-assessment/facilitation of feedback and reflection/interviews 2. Formative (2018 - 2019): qualitative evaluation of community activities 3. Summative (Ongoing - 2020): findings to date/emerging themes/regular feedback loop

Key Themes 2015 - 2018 Over the course of the pilot, some key themes were identified: 1. Time investment: Establishing genuine collaboration takes a significant investment of time.

2. Roles and responsibilities: A strong focus is required on roles and responsibilities of individuals in key stakeholder groups.

3. Mobilising community: A wide net needs to be cast to have a truly community engagement approach.

4.

Continually observe key focus: It is important to ensure the initiative observes a primary focus on prevention rather than intervention.

Stakeholders ensuring there is tangible community change by creating awareness, providing education and regularly revisiting the key focus.

5.

Shared responsibility, empowerment and leadership support: Addressing complex social problems requires shared responsibility across all partners and cannot be led by one partner alone. The backbone is tasked with strategic thinking, establishment of structure and guiding the collaboration. However, Collective Impact has the greatest impact when leadership across all governance agencies work towards creating and supporting the common agenda, ensure there is continuous communication and driving a compelling Year of Action.

6.

Strengths-based strategies: Strengths-based strategies are key to mobilising real community action. Community engagement with the initiative is strongest when it is built upon the existing interests, resources, knowledge of self and local leadership contained in community.

7.

Small strategies lead to good outcomes: Utilising small strategies can lead to strong outcomes and need not require extensive resources. For example, the initiative called for local stakeholders to invite three people they knew, to attend the 2017 TWC Community Action Summit. This led to an excellent community response with over 100 people attending, representing diverse community groups and organisations. At the Summit, 12 Community Action groups were established and were charged with implementing prevention activities within the community.

8.

Remain focused on short-term goals with longterm goal in mind: Definition of short term goals in order to maintain focus, whilst working towards long term social shift and a “bold goal” is important. This helps to maintain focus and momentum to support realistic expectations about the type of change expected to be seen in the community and how to best test contribution or attribution of change as it relates to the initiative or other factors. Collective Impact is not a “quick fix” but rather step by step work with all stakeholders and community to slowly turn the wheel, grow momentum and change behavioural norms.

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Strength of Key Partnerships/ Backbone Indicators Governance Group self-assessment was undertaken bi-monthly using the VicHealth Partnership Analysis Tool. Results available.

Similar to the self-assessment process undertaken with the Governance group; members of the Backbone Group were invited to complete a ‘Backbone Indicators Survey’ twice per year to reflect on progress and functioning of the Backbone.

The survey asks questions about each of the 27 indicators for Backbone Effectiveness. The 27 indicators fall into six overarching domains: guide

vision and strategy, support aligned activities, establish shared measurement practices, build public will, advance policy and mobilise funding.

Results available.

How Are We Tracking?

In line with intended outcomes of the initiative, an interim report and snapshot ‘traffic light’ table has been produced to update on progress and generate reflective discussion.

A detailed outline of activities and outcomes that measured the backbone function and governance across the six overarching domains is available.

Together We Can Structure Community Advisory Group Backbone

Governance

Steering

Meet Monthly

Meet Quarterly

Meet Monthly

Project Oversight Guidance / Model Development 27 Success Indicators (indicators allocated to Backbone Members)

Decision Making Accountability Monitoring Policy Influence and Advocacy

Operationalisation Working Groups Years’ of Action Plans

Backbone Plan (27 indicators of success for CI) / Report

Backbone Plan/Report and Project Plan/Report

Project Plan (5 Conditions of CI) / Report

Evaluation / Outcomes Framework Backbone Agency

Cardinia Shire Council Family Life The University of Melbourne Victoria Police Community Advocacy Group Department of Health & Human Services

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Operationalisation Working groups Years’ of Action plans

Knowledge Sharing An Award Winning Project

An important component about the success of this initiative is sharing new found knowledge. Below is a list of publications and presentations that have featured TWC:

In early 2018, Cardinia Shire Council submitted two nominations to raise the profile of Together We Can nationally. The results of these nominations recognise Together We Can as:

Publications

• innovative

Together We Can - Stop Family Violence in Cardinia: In: Building Safe Communities for Women and their Children: A compendium of stories from the field. ANROWS, Sydney. 2018: pp 95 - 96

•

Together We Can: Act now to end family violence in Cardinia. Evaluating a collective impact project.

McCoy A & Rose D. Children and Families in Focus 2016; Chapter 3.

Presentations Evaluation of a Collective Impact Family Violence Prevention Initiative: Learnings from the first two years. AIFS Conference, July 2018; Melbourne.

A Community Collective Impact Initiative to Address Family Violence. World Conference on Social Work, Education and Social Development, July 2018; Ireland.

Evaluation of a Collective Impact Initiative; Collective Impact Initiative; Collective Impact and Intersectional Approaches Session. ANROWS Building Safer Communities for Women, Evidence to Action and Local Action as Evidence Forum, Feb 2018, Sydney.

Symposium: Collective Impact: From International Learning to Local Grassroots Change. Four presentations - Inclusive Wellbeing; Collective Impact; the Together We Can Model; Evaluating Collective Impact. AIFS Conference, July 2016; Melbourne.

driving sustainable change in community awareness, attitudes and behaviours related to the prevention of domestic and family violence and/or sexual assault

• promoting local cross-community leadership and engagement in prevention and community safety • providing support for those who are at risk of experiencing or have experienced domestic and family violence or sexual assault For the Municipal Association of Victoria sponsored National Local Government Innovation awards, delegates at the Re-Ignite Conference selected Together We Can for the GOLD Award.

For the Australian Government’s National Awards for Local Government Together We Can was selected as the Winner of the Prevention and Community Safety category, sponsored by the Department of Social Services.

As a Collective Impact initiative with a ‘no logo no ego’ ethos, the Cardinia Shire Community were credited for the award through an eight page wrap around feature in the Pakenham Gazette and the Pakenham Officer Star News newspapers.

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Looking Ahead Together We Can has been successfully transitioned to Cardinia Shire to further partner with community and keep women and children safe. It has demonstrated huge success as a place based collective impact model, recognising and harnessing the power of community to come together, solve its own problems and lead change.

Family Life’s specialist backbone team has learnt a great deal through this partnership that we take forward into the other social change and collective impact work we are supporting and leading. Collective Impact represents a largely untapped approach to responding to complex social problems. We look to the learnings of our

mentoring organisation, Tamarack Institute, and see the opportunity to further strengthen our work around movement building through building community aspiration, strategic learning and inclusive community engagement. Further work needs to be done to strengthen partnership with government at all levels as a key change partner, with a strong focus on structural systems change and policy reform. If we are to achieve solutions to wicked problems we need alignment from local communities to state and federal government.

We celebrate the change achieved with our partners and community. Together we will continue to bring about change.

For more information visit www.togetherwecan.org.au or contact Family Life on info@familylife.com.au or (03) 8599 5433 Together We Can 2015 - 2018: Three Year Report 20