Safe and Equal

In a sea of election promises and campaign slogans, rates of family and gender-based violence remain disturbingly high in Australia - and what is currently on the table to address this national crisis is simply not enough. Now more than ever, we need increased action and investment from our leaders: to support our sector and the people doing this critical, life-saving work, to build on the long-term work to stop violence before it starts, and to ensure every person experiencing family violence can access safe, long-term housing. Safe and Equal CEO Tania Farha has written a piece for the Herald Sun on the importance of keeping victim survivors of family violence on the national agenda, and the three key asks we need all sides of politics to prioritise in their election platforms. At the end of the day, this isn’t about politics. Victim survivors and the people working to support them just want and deserve action from our leaders – regardless of which side of the room it comes from. Read Tania’s op-ed here: https://lnkd.in/gtNEemnv

☝️ Upcoming training opportunity: Responding to Disclosures Book your professional development before the end of financial year! This three-hour virtual interactive training provides response practitioners with foundational knowledge in understanding family violence and responding to disclosures of family violence. It prepares participants to recognise indicators of family violence, ask questions and provide a safe, simple and sensitive response to a disclosure from an adult victim survivor experiencing family violence 📅 Wednesday 2 April 9.30am – 12.30 pm 📅 Thursday 12 June 9.30am – 12.30 pm ➡️ 3-hour sessions online via Zoom 🎟️ $180 AUD Book your place here: https://lnkd.in/g7KRFS_E

This year National Close the Gap Day is focusing on Agency, Leadership, Reform: Ensuring the Survival, Dignity and Wellbeing of First Nations peoples. Yoorrook looks at the journey of the Close the Gap campaign since 2007 and reflects on the Productivity Commission's latest report and the reforms most urgent today. You can attend the 2025 Close the Gap report release here: https://lnkd.in/gNDsvGf5 or join online here: https://lnkd.in/gVgPPtMU #CTGDay2025 #CloseTheGapDay2025 #Closethegap #Closingthegap #Selfdetermination #HealthEquality #FirstNations #Australia

Today, on National Close the Gap Day, instead of celebrating progress towards a better life for our people, we are once again hearing about failure.  Governments must get real and fully commit to working with us to make a difference. INACTION IS UNNACCEPTABLE.     AGAIN we call for governments to ACT URGENTLY to CLOSE THE GAP.    It is APPALLING that only 4 of the 19 targets are on track to be met. ADULT INCARCERATION, SCHOOL READINESS, OVER REPRESENTATION of our KIDS IN OUT-OF-HOME CARE and SUICIDE RATES are going BACKWARDS. This is DEVASTATING, but also NOT SURPRISING.     Target 13, to reduce by 50% all forms of FAMILY VIOLENCE and ABUSE AGAINST ABORIGINAL and CHILDREN by 2031, CAN NOT EVEN BE MEASURED. WHY? Because governments are still relying on DATA that is more than SIX YEARS OLD.      “We are beyond DEVASTATED to see soaring rates of imprisonment, worsening rates of family violence, ongoing failures to reduce rates of suicides and increases in Aboriginal children in out-of-home care.     “This is not just about data for us. This is our lives. And the message we receive from this is that our lives do not matter. Our men, women, and  children’s lives are of no value. This must CHANGE NOW.    “Djirra stands firmly with Closing the Gap campaign in calling for governments to urgently implement reform and accountability measures to ensure the survival and dignity of our people.   “We will not stop fighting for our rights. We will continue to call for self determination. We MUST LEAD. Governments MUST LISTEN. We have the SOLUTIONS, and we must be INVESTED IN.” Antoinette Braybrook AM, Djirra CEO Read the Close the Gap Campaign report here: https://bit.ly/3Fl5f88 or view the livestream of the launch at 10.30am today via this link - https://bit.ly/43ZZJ7R #AboriginalWomensLivesMatter #WeHaveTheSolutions #SelfDetermination #CloseTheGap

Don't miss out on Fast Track Response! Designed for Victorian specialist family violence practitioners, Fast Track gives you direct access to experienced sector experts, facilitators and mentors with whom you will test your thinking, deepen your understanding across a range of topics and build your practice and leadership capabilities. Fast Track is delivered online. The next Response program will run from 1 May – 10 July 2025. While places are valued at $3,700 per person, we are pleased to offer this program at the subsidised cost of $500 + GST. Free places are available on a case-by-case basis. Applications close this Friday! If you’re ready to take the next step in your career journey, apply for Fast Track today. 🔗 Start your application here: https://lnkd.in/g2z7P7mf 🔗 For more information about Fast Track, please contact our team at FastTrack@safeandequal.org.au

🚨 Last chance to grab your tickets for the PiP Pitch Event! This is your last opportunity to secure your spot at the Annual PiP Pitch Event tomorrow! Don’t miss out on hearing these innovative prevention pitches from your colleagues: 💡 Lee Archer, Silver Threads and Golden Needles [https://lnkd.in/gfZtiQ_6] 💡 Alisha Gilliland, Gippsland Centre against Sexual Assault 💡 Hannah Singleton, Western Bulldogs Community Foundation 💡 Trini Abascal, Latin Stories Australia 💡 Nancy-lee Merzel, Playgroup Victoria 💡 Ro (Phoenix) Bersten, intertwine 💡 Shweta Kawatra Dakin, GenWest 💡 Laura Crozier, Youth Affairs Council Victoria (YACVic) 💡 Dr. Léna Molnar, Women with Disabilities Victoria This event is a beautiful opportunity to support fellow practitioners in the prevention space and help elevate their ideas to reach a statewide audience. By attending, you’re not just witnessing innovative pitches—you’re contributing to amplifying the voices and work of your peers, shaping the future of primary prevention in Victoria. Whether you’re there to support the finalists, network with peers, or get inspired by new ideas, come and join us tomorrow from 4.30pm. 🎟️ Get your ticket here: https://lnkd.in/ggNUdd7H

📚 Nationally Accredited Family Violence Training – register now for April commencement! Build your skills and confidence to identify and respond to family violence during professional contact with clients through this 10-week hybrid training, allowing you to work and study simultaneously. This unit will assist your understanding, knowledge and skills required to identify and respond to the needs of clients who may be experiencing domestic and family violence. 📅 Training commences 22 April 2025 🎟️ Cost $1495 (full fee) and $1345 (Members) [Nationally Accredited Training - RTO number 22729] 🔗Register here: https://lnkd.in/gCujupHM

With new Closing the Gap data released this week, we are APPALLED AND DEVASTATED to learn that the number of Aboriginal kids in out-of-home care in Victoria INCREASED from 25.7% in 2019 to 31.1% in 2024. Not only has the number of Aboriginal children in out-of-home-care increased but so has the rate of substantiated abuse Aboriginal kids experience while in “care” – almost DOUBLE the national rate. Family violence is the leading driver of Aboriginal children removed from their Mums, and this is why Djirra and other specialist Family Violence Prevention and Legal Services have advocated for more than 10 years for an overhaul to the child protection system. STOP pouring more money into this punitive and racist system and start prioritising Aboriginal women and children’s safety and their RIGHT to remain together. We continue to call on the Victorian government to urgently establish and fund a Child Protection Notification and Referral System to ensure Aboriginal mums have early access to legal advice when child protection becomes involved. As a specialist Family Violence Prevention and Legal Service, Djirra also provides the much-needed wrap around support that mums need to escape violence safely with their children AND WE MUST BE INVESTED IN. “Early referral for legal advice to specialist organisations like Djirra is critically important to keep Aboriginal Mums experiencing family violence safe and together with their kids. Our women deserve an advocate to keep them safe from a racist and punitive system.” Antoinette Braybrook AM, CEO Djirra #WeHaveTheSolutions #SelfDetermination #CloseTheGap

🌟 Meet more of the Pitch Finalists! We are excited to introduce the rest of the pitch finalists who will be presenting their ideas LIVE on 20 March at our Annual PiP Pitch Event. 🎤 Nancy-lee Merzel, Playgroup Victoria 🎤 Ro (Phoenix) Bersten, intertwine 🎤 Shweta Kawatra Dakin, GenWest 🎤 Laura Crozier, Youth Affairs Council Victoria (YACVic) 🎤 Dr. Léna Molnar, Women with Disabilities Victoria These speakers are ready to share their innovative solutions for preventing family and gender-based violence in Australia. Will you come and support them? Your support matters—come listen to their pitches, engage with their ideas, and celebrate the incredible work being done in primary prevention. 📅 Date: Thursday, 20 March 2025 ⏰ Time: 4.30 - 8.30 pm 📍 Location: The Wheeler Centre, Melbourne 🎟️ Buy your ticket here: https://lnkd.in/ggNUdd7H

🌟 Meet the Pitch Finalists! We are excited to introduce the FIRST group of pitch finalists who will be presenting their ideas LIVE on 20 March at our PiP Pitch Event. Please join us in welcoming: 🎤 Lee Archer, Silver Threads and Golden Needles [https://lnkd.in/gfZtiQ_6] 🎤 Alisha Gilliland, Gippsland Centre against Sexual Assault 🎤 Hannah Singleton, Western Bulldogs Community Foundation 🎤 Trini Abascal, Latin Stories Australia These 4 passionate practitioners are ready to share their innovative solutions for preventing family and gender-based violence in Australia. 💡 Your support matters—come listen to their pitches, engage with their ideas, and celebrate the incredible work being done in primary prevention. 📅 Date: Thursday, 20 March 2025 ⏰ Time: 4.30 - 8.30 pm 📍 Location: The Wheeler Centre, Melbourne 🎟️ Buy your ticket here: https://lnkd.in/ggNUdd7H