This week the Attorney General’s Department announced that nearly $15m of the $100m Women’s Safety Package will be allocated to the establishment of domestic violence hubs. These units will bring various experts such as lawyers, social workers, health professionals and translators to one location. The 12 new domestic violence hubs, six of which will be located in regional Australia, were announced with the intention of making it easier for women to access a range of services in one location.
Around the Country
- AWAVA Chair, Julie Oberin, recently spoke to ABC Central Victoria’s Morning Program about the funding arrangement announced by the Federal Government last week. Listen to her interview here.
- Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria recently launched SmartSafe, an online resource on technology facilitated abuse. Have a look at the website to learn more about online abuse, legal help and support services in all states and territories.
- Our Watch launched a new campaign to challenge young people’s attitudes to violence against women last week. Find out more about the ‘You Can’t Undo Violence Campaign’ here!
- Queensland Minister for Communities, Women and Youth, Shannon Fentiman has written about therole that workplaces can play in preventing and responding to domestic violence.
- In Western Australia, Director of Public Prosecutions figures have revealed that almost half of murder prosecutions in WA between July 2012 and August 2015 were related to domestic violence.
- In Tasmania, support groups are concerned that calls to a State Government run Family Violence Counselling and Support Service are going unanswered due to staff shortages.
Around the World
- According to a new UN Report, 73% of women have experiences cyber violence.
- In Canada, Toronto’s 35th Take Back The Night rally focused on the experiences of marginalised black lives.
- In Nepal, a mobile application called Nidarr was launched last week. The app allows women to register violence from where they are and links women with support services.
Get Involved!
- AWAVA wants your feedback on our weekly round-up! We are looking to improve our newsletter format and would love to hear your views on what you would like to see in our round-up. Send us an email on [email protected] with ‘FEEDBACK’ as the subject!
- Our Watch is recruiting! 2 positions have become vacant in Our Watch’s Practice Leadership team.Apply by 12 October 2015!
- Economic Security For Women (es4w) is conducting an online survey on women’s views on their economic empowerment; their ability to cope with changing conditions in the economy; their participation in paid work and their income in later life into retirement. Complete the survey here.
- The Women’s World Summit Foundation’s new campaign – 17 Days of Activism for the Empowerment of Rural Women and their Communities – begins on 1 October 2015. More information here!
- The 2015 National Indigenous Domestic Violence Conference will be held on 7 October 2015 in Carrara, Queensland.
- The National Women’s Alliances International Engagement Forum will be held in Sydney on 8 October 2015. The forum will bring together women working towards gender equality in Australia and the development sector. Register here!
- The Asia Pacific Professional Organisation Ltd’s ANZ | Papua New Guinea Gender Parity Symposium will be held from 12 to 15 October in Sydney, Brisbane and Canberra. More information and tickets here.
- The Festival of THE Rural Woman, a free online global event, is running from 12 to 15 October 2015. Register here!
- True Relationships and Reproductive Health in partnership with the Australia Forum on Sexuality, Education and Health (AFSEH) are calling for speakers who are willing to share their contemporary approaches to relationships and sexuality education in a teacher led forum to be held in February 2016. Apply by 14 October!
- The Canberra Community Sleepout will be held on 16 October 2015. Find out here how you can get involved and help raise awareness about homelessness in Canberra!
- Women’s Legal Service Victoria is holding an interactive workshop to assist support workers better understand the Family Violence Protection Act on 20 October in Melbourne. Register here.
- The 3rd World Conference of Women’s Shelters will be held in The Hague from 3 to 6 November 2015. More information here!