Women’s Health Grampians has worked with Wimmera organisations including councils to develop the Grampians Regional Strategy.

The groups will launch the work this month during Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month.

The plan lays the foundation for violence prevention work through creating communities of equality and respect.

Horsham Rural City Council is among the 15 organisations involved with the plan.

Cr Pam Clarke said not a week went by where she did not hear reports of an Australian woman being killed by her partner or ex-partner.

“It’s horrendous. It’s a matter of respect and it starts in the home,” she said.

“It is important young boys see their mothers, sisters and grandmothers are treated with respect.

“We are responsible for how we talk about females, women and children, and whether we accept the behaviour of others.

“We should not be standing back. We should be saying ‘I don't like that joke’ or ‘I don’t like the way you spoke to your wife’.

“It’s taking responsibility for who we are. We should all be respecting one another, whether female or male.

“It’s a poor indictment on our society when we make women believe they need to be less than they are to fit in. 

“This issue is one of the most important things we can lead the way in.”

Hindmarsh Mayor Debra Nelson agreed the need for such plans was sad.

“However the reality is, it's the world we live in,” she said. “I don't know that it's been different in the past. 

“Family violence has probably been there for hundreds of years, but it has been largely hidden and people didn’t feel they had a voice to speak about it. 

“I think people are more willing and able to speak about it now. But there would still be so much that goes unreported.”

Cr Nelson said it was critical groups such as councils took leadership roles in denouncing family violence.

“Our council wants to make sure there’s a lot of workplace training to ensure we demonstrate leadership in the area and embed gender equity, and I think that’s what it’s about,” she said.

“We need to change the culture in our society and some of our communities and the way people think about the issue.

“When many people think about domestic violence, they think of the bruises and physical signs.

“But it's more than that – it's really about the lack of respect.”

Cr Nelson said financial control was among the other forms of domestic abuse.

“Years ago that wouldn't have been seen in the same context, because in many families the man controlled the money because he was the only worker,” she said.

“That was the norm for many people, but it’s not the case now.” 

​Horsham Cr David Grimble said it was up to everyone to lift their game.

“We as community leaders have a significant role to play about the expectation society should have about the way we treat everybody,” he said.

Horsham Cr Robin Barber said councils needed to be at the forefront of addressing what he described as ‘a scourge on our community’.

Women’s Health Grampians will launch the regional strategy on May 30.