Engaging with male dominated industries including construction and manufacturing provides a vital avenue for the primary prevention of violence against women.

Evidence shows that sexual harassment and gendered violence in these industries is rife and women are either reluctant to enter the industry or once employed don’t stay for long for these reasons amongst others. Programs that assist with workplace culture shift and the recruitment and retention of a more gender diverse workforce are being increasingly engaged to meet skill shortages, to comply with government policies around social procurement, fair work codes and become an employer and supplier of choice. Women’s Health Grampians developed Act on Site, a primary prevention program aimed at meeting this demand in a rural region of Victoria.

Act On Site addresses gender inequality, unconscious bias, rigid gender stereotypes and dominant forms of masculinity and their detrimental effects for everyone. There is a strong emphasis on active bystander skill development to address and call out behaviours and attitudes evident in workplaces that are drivers of violence against women. These measures combined with the promotion of health and wellbeing initiatives, push for more flexible work arrangements and equal access to parental and carer’s leave furthermore fosters a culture of change where men are being encouraged to take on caring roles, address mental health and shift their focus towards a better work-life balance.

These are all strategies that address the gendered drivers of violence against women as set out in Change the Story and this presentation will highlight key learnings from the implementation of Act on Site. Working towards creating safe, equal and respectful workplaces in male dominated industries will increase a gender diverse workforce, bring new ways of working, and eventually eliminate long held attitudes and behaviours in these industries that can fuel violence against women.