A BENDIGO-BASED specialist agency is seeking to work with event organisers and nightlife venues to prevent sexual harassment and assault.
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“There is a trial operating across venues in Melbourne, Ballarat and Geelong to increase safety and raise awareness amongst patrons of sexual harassment and inappropriate behaviour,” Loddon Campaspe Centre Against Sexual Assault chief executive Kate Wright said.
“This trial is being evaluated and is something we would love to see rolled out in Bendigo venues.”
Her comments come after months of unsuccessful attempts to collaborate with Groovin the Moo, which is hosting a sold-out music festival in Bendigo on May 5.
“We find their lack of response particularly surprising considering recent media and reports about the number of assaults and inappropriate behaviours at many festivals over the summer months,” Ms Wright said.
“Whilst there are not any reliable statistics about the rates of assaults and harassment at events and festivals we know that 50 per cent of women experience sexual harassment over their lifetime and one in five women has experienced sexual violence.
“Festivals are aimed at a younger audience and we know that young women are most at risk of being sexually harassed or assaulted. That is why we are keen to work with Groovin the Moo to facilitate awareness and create sustainable cultural change making it safer for all people attending on the day.”
Groovin the Moo is not known to be consulting with any other sexual assault specialist agencies.
“GTM Bendigo engages the services of Red Frogs, headspace with the support of St Johns, VIC Ambulance and Police to look after our patron care and have done so for many years,” a festival spokesperson said.
They did not detail any policies in place for patron safety and wellbeing.
But headspace, which operates help desks at Groovin the Moo festivals, has called on young people to prioritise their safety and that of their friends.
“It’s important for young people to know if they’re not in a good headspace they can take a break,” headspace head of clinical practice, Vikki Ryall said
“Talk to your friends about what you can do if you’re not feeling great and how you can support each other”.
No groove
THE region’s Centre Against Sexual Assault is disappointed offers to discuss patron safety and respectful conduct with Groovin the Moo ahead of this year’s event have gone unanswered.
Loddon Campaspe CASA has been seeking to develop a relationship with the music festival for months.
But the centre’s staff said phone calls and emails had failed to elicit a response.
LCCASA chief executive Kate Wright said the Groovin the Moo might be being proactive and thinking about the safety and wellbeing of people attending their event.
“But we just don’t know as they haven’t engaged or responded to our calls,” she said.
LCCASA offers event organisers staff training about how to respond to disclosures or incidents; advice on communicating messages about sexual harassment, assault and consent; a presence at the event to engage with festival-goers; and collaboration with other agencies involved in the event.
A Groovin the Moo spokesperson said the festival worked with a range of community groups ‘who provide services and support within our regional communities,’ such as Lions, CWA, Red Cross, Rotary and Hiphopportunies.
“These groups are actively involved in GTM by carrying out a service on day for our patrons whether that be managing car parks, running BBQs, facilitating workshops or fundraising,” they said.
Central Victorian organisations involved in Groovin the Moo this year include Honeyeater Salon, The Rotary Club of Bendigo Sandhurst, The Lions Club of Strathfieldsaye, St Peters Primary School, Golden Square Cricket Club, Castlemaine Youth Team, Castlemaine College and the CWA Bendigo Northern Group.
A description of an art project to be displayed at the festival in Bendigo said Groovin the Moo prided itself on patron care, ‘with initiatives in place to ensure that everyone from the bar staff to our attendees is treated equally and with respect’.
“We believe that keeping your hands to yourself is a vital part of respecting others and to bring awareness to our stance on the matter we have engaged local Bendigo artist Tara Kingston to round up local schools, youth groups and councils to enter a “Fancy Pants” art competition,” the statement said.
“Just over 100 plain bum mannequins have been delivered to Bendigo and over the next two months they will transformed into art pieces and displayed at GTM.
“You are welcome to touch these bums, but please keep your hands off other peoples (sic).”
Groovin the Moo is involved in the Your Choice campaign, which promotes positive behaviour at music events.
A number of artists in the Bendigo line-up – Alex Lahey, The Amity Affliction, and Winston Surfshirt – are also involved in Your Choice.
For support with recent or past experiences of sexual assault or abuse, call LCCASA on 5441 0430 or the Victorian Sexual Assault Crisis Line after hours on 1800 806 292.
Help is also available from 1800 RESPECT – 1800 737 732 or 1800respect.org.au.
