BY COBY RENKIN

A new nightclub event designed specifically with women's safety in mind is coming to Melbourne in February. 

Virgo, a project aiming to create safer spaces for women and members of the LGBTQI+ community to enjoy nightlife, will host regular events with a focus on creating positive nightlife experiences for women.

Virgo was created by university student Isabel Hamilton after she decided to look into the issue of women's safety in clubs following some of her own negative experiences. 

She reached out to hundreds of Melbourne women through Facebook groups to see if her experiences were shared as it was important for her to know that other women felt the need for change that she did.

According to Ms Hamilton, 94 per cent of the women who responded to her questions said they do not feel safe in clubs and bars, and she collected more than 150 stories from women who had experienced sexual harassment or assault in nightlife venues.

"I spoke with hundreds of women who shared their gruesome and devastating stories and they went into detail about their sexual assaults and this was really, really tough to hear... it's horrible," Ms Hamilton said.

"Women told me that no one batted an eye even though they were screaming for help."

Ms Hamilton said the women she spoke to gave her an insight into their experiences of sexual assault, and many were still struggling with them, even years after they occurred.

"[These stories] validated my theory that the sexual harassment and assault of women in Melbourne nightclubs is tolerated and this is disgusting," Ms Hamilton said.

"Abuses, harassing, assaulting women and ignoring their consent is deeply embedded in our club culture and is normalised.

"That's one side of the problem, the other side of the problem is that Melbourne clubs target and appeal to men, women are sexualised and used as promotional tools and it further objectifies them, and this directly hurts and harms women and encourages the behaviour of assault, it enables it."

Ms Hamilton said when she started clubbing at 18, she was initially excited but was quickly exposed to the dangerous behaviour of men towards herself and other women and it "completely ruined the experience" for her. 

"[Abusers] were so discreet and sneaky about it and they knew they could get away with it because it is tolerated," she said.

"It's a universal experience.

"It doesn't have to be that way, so it's so important that we have something that is completely just focused on women's safety and the women’s experience because right now, the standard club, it hurts women."

"Women are not safe...that's why I created Virgo."

Ms Hamilton emphasised that Virgo is not anti-men, but anti-abuser and protective measures that will be put in place will reflect this.

Virgo events will implement both proactive and reactive measures to ensure the safety of women, including a women's-only room, which will be inclusive of all women, including those who are part of LGBTQI+ communities, and will aim to create an anxiety-reduced space for guests to dance and enjoy themselves comfortably. 

The venue will also only allow the entry of 'trusted' men, a rule enforced through an online booking system that will require all guests to disclose that they have not committed a sexually-related offence. All men will also be required to be accompanied by a female party.

An 'angel shot' system will also be in place, where guests can order an angel shot at the bar to let staff know they feel unsafe, or need assistance, and the situation can be dealt with appropriately.

Ms Hamilton emphasised that many nightclub assaults occur outside of club venues, so transportation options will be available to guests to ensure their safety both in and outside of the club.

She said these features are subject to change but are all included in her current plan for Virgo's launch. 

Ms Hamilton and her team are hoping to host their first event in February, while she'd like for it to be sooner she said they still have a lot of planning to do to ensure the night is "perfect".

To register your interest in Virgo's first event, head here.