Turn the table: Venus Vinifera wants to take harassment off the menu

Canberra women in wine and education organisation Venus Vinifera is launching a survey for local hospitality owners and workers as part of their broader campaign to make the ACT hospitality industry safer for all.

‘Turn the table – Let’s take harassment off the menu’ is a community-driven initiative that Venus Vinifera hopes will inform recommendations to the ACT Government around training programs and policy changes.

Venus Vinifera was created in 2021 as a beer, wine and spirits education community for women, non-binary people and people with trans experience. The organisation aims to offer education opportunities, provide support and guidance through mentoring, and create a safe and inclusive platform to discuss issues in the industry.

Venus Vinifera founder and director Caitlin Baker said that while there has been a lot of recent media scrutiny around sexual assault and harassment in high-profile venues, the issue is much broader than just one or two bad eggs.

“People have spoken to us about this issue over the years, but recent media attention has really shone a light on what’s been happening. We think it’s really crucial that change happens while we have that attention and momentum. It’s something that women in the industry have been dealing with for too long,” she told Region.

“It’s an issue we need to be proactive about, or nothing will change.”

The ‘Turn the table – Let’s take harassment off the menu’ campaign is kicking off with a survey aimed at collecting data from Canberran hospitality owners, managers, staff (both past and present) and patrons around the issues of sexual assault and harassment. This work follows the Not So Hospitable report released in South Australia earlier this year, which detailed the pervasive and prevalent nature of sexual assault, sexual harassment and bullying within the Adelaide hospitality community.

Venus Vinifera aims to use data collated through this confidential survey to inform the next steps of their campaign. The group will present recommendations to the ACT Government and Liquor Licensing board representatives for changes to policy and training initiatives. Venus Vinifera will also be pushing for better collaboration between industry groups and government bodies, making sure that the needs of the community are heard.

“We need to keep shining a light on this issue, educating people about sexual assault and harassment, and driving for changes that will make this industry better for everyone because everyone deserves to feel safe at work.”

Ms Baker told Region that Venus Vinifera is hoping to hear from a wide range of people involved in all areas of the hospitality industry: owners, managers, staff, patrons and suppliers. People who have recently left the industry are also encouraged to respond to the survey. Venus Vinifera is hopeful that word of mouth, social media engagement and media attention will encourage a diverse cross-section of the industry to engage with the campaign.

Whether you’re running a venue, working a shift, or just enjoying the nightlife, Venus Vinifera wants to hear from you.

The campaign was instigated after the recent Subject Matters Symposium, an event held by Venus Vinifera in September of this year, which included a panel discussion titled Women for Inclusivity and Safety. Jamie Burcide, co-author of the SA Not So Hospitable report, spoke on that panel and has since consulted with Venus Vinifera on shaping their campaign.

Anyone who is interested in learning more and participating in the campaign can go to the Venus Vinifera website, where there are resources, social media graphics and posters, as well as a link to the survey.

Take the survey, and follow Venus Vinifera on Facebook or Instagram to keep up with the campaign.

Original Article published by Lucy Ridge on Riotact.