Monash City Council, along with MonashLink and the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth), today announced a ground-breaking $1 million preventing violence against women project.

The three-year project is funded by VicHealth and will employ a range of proven prevention initiatives in the City.

The project is the first of its kind in Australia in that it will be an integrated program across the community to promote respectful relationships and ultimately prevent violence against women. It aims to embed and drive cultural change within the community through trial and education, potentially involving workplaces, schools, youth services, health services and community education programs.

Monash Mayor Stefanie Perri said that she is proud that Council is taking the lead when it comes to preventing violence against women.

"This is the largest funding for a non-capital works project that the City of Monash has secured. Preventing violence against women is a priority for us and this funding will enable us to build on our work in this area," Cr Perri said.

VicHealth CEO Jerril Rechter said: "We know it is possible to create a society where women live safe and free from violence. Leadership from all parties will be crucial if we are to create the cultural change in beliefs, attitudes and behaviour that lead to more respectful environments for women."

The demonstration site is being trialled in the City of Monash in the hope of creating a transferable model to be used in other municipalities across Victoria.

MonashLink CEO, Gregg Nicholls said: "MonashLink Community Health Service has a longstanding commitment to, and significant expertise in, the prevention of violence against women. We are very pleased to partner with the City of Monash and VicHealth in this important initiative."

Solid foundations have been established by the City of Monash over the past 15 months with a similar preventing violence against women project, leading a partnership of four councils in Melbourne's inner east metropolitan region.

"Monash City Council and MonashLink were selected through a competitive tender process. I am very excited that VicHealth chose our partnership to build on that recent work as I believe that we are in an advantageous position to drive and embed positive cultural change through our ability to promote appropriate attitudes and behaviour towards women in the community," said Cr Perri.