Zero Tolerance in South Australia: A Statewide Community Initiative

Abstract

The Zero Tolerance Campaign against violence to women and children is a hard hitting, controversial campaign designed to raise public awareness and provoke debate about male abuse of power in the areas of domestic violence, rape and sexual assault, and child sexual abuse. Zero Tolerance is also an example of best practice in cross sectoral co-operation. The campaign comprises a statewide initiative involving the Health Promotion Unit of the South Australian Health Commission, the Domestic Violence Resource Unit, Family and Community Services, community health workers and local community action groups throughout the state. The process of bringing together a wide range of individuals from very different backgrounds and differing perspectives to work collaboratively on a controversial, innovative project led to extensive examination and defining of the issues involved. The planning process included a microcosm of the debate which Zero Tolerance intends to generate in the community. Resolution of the issues raised, employed many of the strategies developed and identified as best practice in the field of primary health care. The paper explores the challenges and rewards in the context of working collaboratively through the planning of a controversial initiative and identifies the merits of a campaign which has built on a diverse range of knowledge. Zero Tolerance, as a campaign, has the scope to be adapted in a variety of culturally and socially diverse initiatives as it becomes identified as an example of international best practice developed to stop violence against women and children.