Thriving Communities Australia (TCA)

"It takes all of us to contribute and create change. Use your power. Use your influence. Be part of the solution. Because it will take every single one of us to stop this horrendous social issue in one generation." – #RosieBatty AO, 2015 Australian of the Year   1 in 4 women in Australia will experience family and domestic violence. Every four days, another woman is murdered.   These aren't just statistics – this is a national crisis.   We’re proud to announce the launch of One Generation – Australia’s first business alliance against Family and Domestic Violence.   The One Generation business initiative is a program of Thriving Communities Australia (TCA), co-founded with social enterprise Flequity Ventures. One Generation brings together major corporations including AGL, EnergyAustralia, Optus, Origin Energy, South East Water, Suncorp Group and Yarra Valley Water to help create safer and more supportive environments for customers impacted by gendered violence.   👇 Watch our launch video below from prominent CEOs and business leaders as they call on corporate Australia to join us in this critical mission.   🔗 Learn more about how your organisation can be part of this movement: https://lnkd.in/gBdAFkMW #OneGeneration #FamilyAndDomesticViolence #OneGenerationBusinessAlliance Ciara Sterling, Emma Martin, Katrina Moore, Pat McCafferty, Catie Moore, Cynthia Gebert GAICD, Catherine Fitzpatrick

Last week at the Financial Counselling Victoria (FCVic) Housing Summit, we gained incredible insights and connected with so many TCA partners dedicated to creating a fairer, more sustainable housing system. 🏡   One of the standout discussions focused on shifting the narrative around renting - moving away from the stigma of non-home ownership and recognising housing as an essential service.   It was also exciting to hear about upcoming initiatives that will make a real difference, including: 🔹 Minimum standards for energy-efficient appliances - helping renters access more sustainable living options. 🔹 Consideration being given to a Portable Bond scheme - designed to ease financial pressures for tenants when moving between homes.   There’s still work to do, particularly around hardship response for the 120,000 owners’ corporations managing strata fees. Also great to see hardship guidelines for Victoria’s 79 local councils are on the horizon - an important step in ensuring consistency and support to communities.   #FCVicHousingSummit #FinancialCounselling Ciara Sterling, Emma Martin, Katrina Moore, Bridgette M. Financial Counselling Victoria (FCVic)

Happy Transgender Day of Visibility! 🏳️⚧️ Trans Day of Visibility (TDOV) is an annual international celebration of trans pride and awareness, recognising transgender, gender diverse and non-binary experiences and achievements. Victorian Commissioner for LGBTIQA+ Communities, Joe Ball, shares his thoughts on the importance of visibility, leadership, and the need for inclusive communities, highlighting the progress made for LGBTIQA+ rights, while also calling for unity in defending diversity. Today we celebrate with gender diverse people all around Australia by sharing stories, starting conversations, and attending events. Read Joe’s full article below, or to learn more about attending a community event, visit: https://lnkd.in/g5dbb4mH Ciara Sterling, Emma Martin, Katrina Moore

TCA were very grateful to attend the 5th Financial Inclusion Conference this week held on the traditional land of the Bundjalung people. 🌏 Over two days in Kingscliff we joined academics, policymakers, and community sector leaders to discuss the challenges and solutions for fostering financial inclusion throughout Australia. We explored critical topics like inclusive financial access for all not just a few, the challenges faced by increases in economic abuse, better supporting young people and carers, and how a human centred, systems based collaborative approach is key in achieving outcomes. A special shoutout TCA's Bridgette M. for her presentation on “Resolving Barriers to Service Access and Resilience Through Collaborative Innovation.” Thank you to Jenni Beetson-Mortimer and the team at Northern Rivers Community Gateway for organising a fantastic event! It was great to see so many partners there as well! Ciara Sterling, Emma Martin, Katrina Moore, Tommy Mu Brogden, Janet Liu, Natalie Paine, Rebecca Glenn, Northern Rivers Community Gateway, Financial Counsellors Association NSW, Janine Young GAICD #FinancialInclusionNetwork #fic25

The video recording of the launch of the groundbreaking report on ‘The Cost of Domestic Violence to Women’s employment and Education’ is now available to watch!   In this session, Professor Anne Summers unpacks the grim findings from this recent report, before sitting down with author and writer Jess Hill to discuss the implications of these findings for women’s progress towards full equality, and what they mean for our continuing struggle to reduce domestic violence. Watch this recording now at: https://lnkd.in/giEE8j54 Download this full report at: https://lnkd.in/gvpkiYMP Ciara Sterling, Emma Martin, Katrina Moore, Anne Summers, #ThomasShortridge, Kristen Sobeck, University of Technology Sydney

Join recoveriescorp for their upcoming Social Sustainability Roundtable to discuss financial challenges in Indigenous & remote communities. 🗓️ These Social Sustainability Roundtables, now in their 10th session, have always brought together industry experts such as financial counsellors, regulators, utility & service providers, insurers and members of the financial services industry to share and discover insights and experiences around understanding vulnerability and how to better support people through a corporate lens. This session will hear from: - Kelly Gulliver from CatholicCare NT - Troy Mulder FICM CCE from Horizon Power (WA)  - Destiny Dewis from First Nations Foundation  - #StaceyMitchell from recoveriescorp - Hannah Cook (MICM) from recoveriescorp Register now to secure your spot at: https://lnkd.in/g6sKaQvp Date: Tuesday, April 1st  Time: 1:30 - 3pm AEDT Location: Online Ciara Sterling, Emma Martin, Katrina Moore

Did you know that we have a Disaster Support Directory on our website to provide up-to-date resources related to Ex-Cyclone Alfred support? 🚨🌪️ This directory is being updated to include response packages, support and information available from TCA partners and other organisations across Australia, categorised by: - Emergency response - Financial and legal assistance   - Financial services - Health - Insurance - Telecommunications & Internet - Transport - Utilities - General resources Below each sector is also a link to relevant industry insights from our Disaster Planning and Recovery Collaborative Research Project. *Thriving Communities Australia work with organisations across Australia and not directly with customers. If you personally require support from any of the services below, please contact them directly. Access our Disaster Support Directory at https://lnkd.in/gz46gGdg If your organisation has developed a disaster response that you would like to include on this page please fill in this form: https://lnkd.in/gqCJViiX Ciara Sterling, Emma Martin, Katrina Moore

Join us at the 5th Financial Inclusion Conference next week! 🗓️ This exciting event will bring together experts, policymakers, and community services to explore solutions for building resilience during the cost of living crisis. With a national and international audience, the program includes 35 presenters, 17 sessions, 3 workshops, lively discussions and networking opportunities, diving into themes like financial access for all, economic abuse, supporting youth, and place-based services. Our very own Bridgette M. will be presenting on "Resolving Barriers to Service Access and Resilience Through Collaborative Innovation." We hope to see you there! Details: 18th and 19th March 2025  Location: Mantra on Salt Beach, Kingscliff NSW To learn more and register for this conference in Kingscliff, visit: https://lnkd.in/ehSEindf Ciara Sterling, Emma Martin, Katrina Moore, Tommy Mu Brogden Northern Rivers Community Gateway, Financial Counsellors Association NSW, #NSWFinancialInclusionNetwork

Tomorrow marks International Women’s Day - a time to celebrate the achievements of women while also recognising the urgent work still needed to ensure safety, equality, and opportunity for all.   In Australia, far too many women continue to experience the devastating realities of domestic and family violence. In homes, in workplaces, in communities across the nation, women are living in fear. This is a crisis.    Often, organisations are the first point of contact for people seeking help, making them a vital part of the solution.    #OneGeneration is a cross-sector alliance of Australia’s leading essential service organisations with an ambitious goal to ignite business solutions at scale for customers experiencing domestic and family violence. By working together, we can create safer environments, strengthen support systems, and ensure that no woman is left to navigate this crisis alone.   On this International Women’s Day, let’s move beyond awareness to action. By joining One Generation, we are not just acknowledging the problem - we are stepping up to be part of the solution. Together, we can ensure that support is accessible, that organisations know how to respond, and that we create a future where gender-based violence ends in our lifetime.   We don’t want it to take another generation.    It must take only one.   Join the One Generation alliance of businesses.   The One Generation business initiative is a program of Thriving Communities Australia (TCA), co-founded with social enterprise Flequity Ventures. Backed by founding Leaders Circle members: AGL, EnergyAustralia, Optus, Origin Energy, South East Water, Suncorp Group, Yarra Valley Water. #IWD #IWD2025 Ciara Sterling, Emma Martin, Katrina Moore Catherine Fitzpatrick

Workplace safety isn’t just about policies - it’s about leadership.   "With new psychosocial safety laws, directors and executives now face personal liability for failing to address toxic workplace behaviours. Covert bullying, coercive control, and unchecked power dynamics don’t just harm employees - they expose leaders to legal, financial, and reputational risk."   That’s why Safe Space Workplace are sharing a 90-minute masterclass with Lisa McAdams, renowned expert in workplace psychosocial safety and DFV. In this session, Lisa will cover: - How covert bullying operates & its impact on workplace culture - Why ignoring toxic behaviours puts directors at risk - What leaders must do to create a safe & legally compliant workplace Date: Wednesday, 20th March 2025 Time: 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM AEDT Location: Online via Zoom 🔗 Secure your spot today: https://lnkd.in/g_MhEpqE Leadership means taking action before a crisis happens.   Ciara Sterling, Emma Martin, Katrina Moore #SafeWorkplaces #LeadershipMatters #CovertBullying #PsychosocialSafety #WorkplaceCulture #ToxicWorkplaces #DirectorsAtRisk