Overview
Music venues across Melbourne and regional Victoria are set to take part in a pilot anti-sexual harassment and assault program, launched by the State Government this week. To begin, staff members in nine venues will receive training in identifying and responding to incidents. This will be followed in late April with the distribution of posters and related materials.
Officially titled the Sexual Harassment and Assault in Licensed Live Music Venues Pilot Program, the initiative was created by a taskforce and working group convened in mid-2015. Members include representatives of LISTEN, SLAM (Save Live Australian Music), Music Victoria, Live Music Office and Victorian Police. The Victorian Government, under Labor Premier Daniel Andrews, provided funding.
Venues taking part in the pilot, which will run for twelve weeks, are Corner Hotel, Richmond; Howler, Brunswick; Revolver Upstairs, Prahran; The Toff in Town, Melbourne CBD; The Gasometer, Collingwood; The Croxton Bandroom, Thornbury; The Chelsea Heights Hotel, Chelsea Heights; The Workers Club, Geelong and Karova Lounge, Ballarat.
"This ground-breaking program will enable staff and patrons to step in and better respond to sexual harassment when it happens, and to prevent it from happening in the first place," said Minister for Gaming and Liquor Regulation Marlene Kairouz.
In 2012, UNSW researcher Dr Bianca Fileborn surveyed 230 women and found that 96 percent "thought harassment happened in bars and clubs", with 80 percent describing it as common.