The public education campaign recently launched by the Foundation to Prevent Violence Against Women and Their Children ‘Our Watch’ seen here urges people to speak out about violence against women and children. It offers an important message is to say no to attitudes, stereotypes and behaviours that support gender inequality and violence.
The campaign is the first step of a five-year strategic plan which sets out a program for positive action through a national approach. The agency will develop partnerships with workplaces, schools, clubs, community groups, organisations as well as government agencies.
The Strategic Plan titled Our Watch highlights three case studies to draw attention to programs that are having a good effect.
The first two primary prevention schemes are ‘Safe Dates’ a US program that works in schools and has shown to be effective through a long term evaluation process.
The second is a program called Baby Makes 3. This program works with couples after the birth of their first child with the aim of promoting respectful relationships and gender equity within families.
The third case study is the ‘Strong Leadership’ drive that is currently underway within the Australian Defence force. These are strategies that have been reviewed by Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick and are being closely monitored for positive outcomes.
In the current budgetary context I am writing to highlight and promote the work that is taking place with young families through the Baby Makes 3 program. An extensive evaluation Sharing the Evidence demonstrated that the program was having the desired impact.
The program was originally developed by Whitehorse Community Health Service (WCHS) in 2009, with VicHealth funding. WCHS would like to see ongoing funding for the program and the integration of topics and key messages from the Baby Makes 3 program in the early years sector, that:
- Equip parents to respond to the changes and challenges of becoming a parent, including changes in their relationship,
- Promote positive father involvement in families, and
- Promote gender equality between new mothers and fathers.
The program is currently being delivered on a trial basis within 15 municipalities across Victoria. Two large-scale Baby Makes 3 pilots have been funded by the Victorian Department of Justice (Crime Prevention Unit).
The Maternal and Child Health Services across Australia are in need of an overhaul, no wonder a large percentage of women/families do not show up. The early years services need to respond to twenty-first century families, that includes an increasing number of dads taking on the role of primary carer. These pioneering families struggle with significant tensions between the workplace and the requirements of care. There are high levels of anxiety, high levels of depression, high rates of marital dissatisfaction, and significant issues related to identify for new mothers.
In light of the Our Watch campaign, it’s important to note there is a spike in domestic violence that starts during the pregnancy. The Baby Makes 3 program has been developed in response to these challenges and helps couples adjust to changes in their relationship during the transition to parenthood. Movements to achieve equal pay and family friendly workplaces needs to be accompanied by a call for a renewal of these early years services. The Baby Makes 3 program is certainly a step in the right direction.