Women's Legal Service Queensland

PAGE CODE OF CONDUCT The aim of Women’s Legal Service Queensland’s LinkedIn page is to provide relevant information on social and legal issues of concern to women in Queensland impacted by domestic violence, as well as to provide a forum for open discussions on these topics.   We love genuine discussions about these topics and encourage you to participate. However, to ensure safety for our followers, we ask that you keep the following guidelines in mind as you interact on our page.   ➡️Please be respectful of other people when interacting on our page. Posts or comments that are inflammatory, defamatory, or contain profanity will be removed from the page.    ➡️Discrimination, harassment, and bullying are prohibited.    ➡️Please be mindful of your personal safety when interacting here. We love hearing your stories and perspectives, but please don't put yourself or others at risk by sharing personal details of any ongoing legal cases or details of DFV you have experienced. This is a public platform, and we urge you to put your safety and privacy first.   By providing these guidelines we hope that our followers will have a safer, more enjoyable experience.   If you, a child, or another person are in immediate danger, call 000. You can also call the police on 131 444 to report a crime after it’s happened in Queensland.   For 24hr/7 day a week domestic violence crisis counselling and assistance contact:   DV CONNECT: 1800 811 811 1800 RESPECT: 1800 737 732   Please be aware we cannot provide legal advice on our social media channels. For legal advice and information, please get in touch with WLSQ on 1800 957 957 Monday - Friday, 9:00am - 4:30pm, or check out our website for resources: https://lnkd.in/gZRQ8FuP

For Her, With Her – Commemorating 40 years of WLSQ. Meet one of our Ambassadors, Lorilie Cunningham. We are so grateful for Lorilie’s commitment to our vital service.  Let us tell you a bit about her … Lorilie is the proud owner of equine business Cunningham Thoroughbreds and Ridgmont Farm.  She is also on various Committees and Boards involved in finance, the arts, and fashion as well as actively involved in the lives of her 10 grandchildren. She is also a two-time, trophy winning Dancing CEO – performing in 2021 and 2024, raising the roof on City Hall with a combined record-breaking total of $695,000. Lorilie is as colourful as she is kind and incredibly generous.  We are so grateful for all that she has done and continues to do to help women and children escape domestic and family violence – including providing equine therapy to affected women.

Annabel Daniel OAM, the CEO of Women’s Community Shelters and chair of Domestic Violence NSW understands the costs of DFV on society and what it will cost for us to change it. Annabel Daniel OAM said “one in two women who approach crisis accommodation are turned away every day... Domestic and family violence costs the Australian economy in excess of $26 billion a year. These costs include police, justice and coroner’s responses, recovery services and lost productivity in the workforce. We need $1 Billion a year in funding for domestic violence services to change that reality”. “When I was managing a shelter over a decade ago, we had a doctor, a lawyer, an ophthalmologist and a concert pianist in the refuge at the same time. This tells a lot about preconceived ideas and expectations about the people who use women’s refuges and shelter services. They are everyday people.” “Less than 1% of properties across Australia are affordable for anybody, especially on a minimum wage. Many women who leave domestic violence are also victims of financial abuse, meaning their money and assets may have been withheld or extorted from them”. “It’s one thing to have a safe place to go, it’s another thing to be able to afford a safe place to stay. In coastal areas that are significantly affected by Airbnb or short-term rentals, tents are being handed out to women and kids who are living in cars because there isn’t even any temporary motel accommodation that they can get them into.” Read the full Marie Claire article here: https://lnkd.in/gpiVS36Y At WLSQ we understand that women often do not leave violent relationships because they are forced to choose between violence and financial abuse or poverty and homelessness. Our financial abuse resources are helpful to understand what financial abuse is and to let you know your options. A link to the resources can be found here: Resources - Women’s Legal Service Queensland (https://lnkd.in/g7X38q_S)

Research findings consistently report that Aboriginal women experience the highest percentages of violence. Author, educator and CEO of MUDGIN-GAL - an Aboriginal drop-in centre in Sydney that supports women and children impacted by family violence, Ashlee Donohue says shame is too often carried on the shoulders of women, and we need to put that shame back where it belongs: on the shoulders of the perpetrator. "We keep saying, “One in three women will be the victim of violence.” Why aren’t we saying, “One in three men may be a perpetrator”? It’s not a women’s business, it’s everyone's business.” “The government developed a plan to eliminate violence against women by 2032, while a separate plan aims to reduce violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women by 50 per cent by 2031. Either the authors of this plan didn’t want to be set up for failure, though this is not acknowledged in the report, or it suggests that Aboriginal women’s lives don’t really matter in this country. If so, this is systemic racism, and it needs to be called out.” Government messaging also suggests that women should have their own bank account and a separate phone. However, it’s very difficult for a lot of Aboriginal women and those living below the poverty line to achieve this. We need a more inclusive approach to education, one that starts by engaging directly with Aboriginal women”. Read the Marie Claire article here: https://lnkd.in/g-qgTqWs For 24hr/7day a week domestic and family violence crisis counselling and assistance, contact: DV CONNECT on 1800 811 811 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732 If you, or someone you know, are feeling worried or no good, we encourage you to connect with 13YARN on 13 92 76 (24 hours/7 days) and talk with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter. For free legal assistance, call our Helpline on 1800 957 957 from 9am-4:30pm Monday to Friday.

Marie Claire Australia’s recent survey revealed that 91 per cent of people agree that violence is a problem in Australia, but only 47 per cent of people believe that violence happens in their suburb. That’s a huge problem. Dr Tessa Boyd-Caine is the CEO of Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS), and like us at WLSQ, she knows first-hand the importance of listening to women and children. “One of the most useful things anyone can do is believe women and children when they share their experiences. So many women don’t go past the first conversation because they feel shame or that they’re not going to be believed. Yet that first conversation about their experience is the starting point of getting help and changing attitudes. It’s going to take all of us to see change, and everyone has a role to play”. Read the Marie Claire article here: https://lnkd.in/gY5-2S_m For 24hr/7day a week domestic and family violence crisis counselling and assistance, contact: DV CONNECT on 1800 811 811 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732 For free legal assistance, call our Helpline on 1800 957 957 from 9am-4:30pm Monday to Friday.

🌟 Urgent Volunteer Callout: Melbourne Cup Raffle at The Normanby! 🌟 We're looking for volunteers to join us on Tuesday 5 November, 2024 from 10:00 am at The Normanby Hotel for our Melbourne Cup charity raffle! 🗓 Date: Tuesday, November 5th 🕙 Time: Starting at 10:00 am 📍 Location: The Normanby Hotel 👚 Dress Code: Comfortable pants and shoes, and we’ll provide a purple t-shirt! Help us make a difference by supporting Women’s Legal Service QLD while enjoying the excitement of Melbourne Cup day. Click here to sign up and join us for a fantastic cause: https://lnkd.in/gEXJ9hQA

With the change in government following the State election over the weekend, WLSQ's ongoing commitment to contribute to policy and advocate for legislative reform for women and children impacted by domestic and family violence continues. We are encouraged by Premier Crisafulli’s commitment to addressing the critical issue of violence against women and the acknowledgment of the need to foster a safer, more equitable Queensland. As advocates for a safer Queensland, we share a commitment to protecting vulnerable communities, supporting survivors and breaking the cycles of violence that affect too many individuals and families. We will continue to collaborate and engage with the State Government with a collective resolve to create a safer, stronger, Queensland for all.

On October 17, we commemorated the 40-year milestone of the first meeting to form Women's Legal Service Queensland (WLSQ). In a powerful symbol, Brisbane Bridges were lit up in purple. The WLSQ founders, Ambassadors, Board, First Nations Advisory Group, pro bono supporters and leadership climbed the Story Bridge, reflecting on the journey we've made—helping 150,000 women over four decades, through countless hours of advocacy, reform and service provision. Together, we honour our past and work to build a future where women are empowered, supported, and safe. 💜 📸 Mark Duffus Photography

We’re excited to see some of our next Dancing CEOs in the news this week! Julie Telford, Kate Purdie, Candice Crossley and Dr Alice Harriott are our first ever Whitsundays team. These amazing ladies are about to have their first rehearsals in Airlie Beach. We’ve been told to expect “a lot of colour and a lot of fun!” We can’t wait to see their routine when they take to the stage in Brisbane’s City Hall next May. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gUG-DEWN For more information, take a look at https://lnkd.in/gxfTrX6Q

🔒 Your Safety Comes First! 🔒 We understand how stressful it can be to discreetly access information online, so we’ve added a ‘QUICK EXIT’ feature to our website. Whether you're on a phone or computer, simply click the QUICK EXIT icon or press the ‘esc’ key to leave the site instantly and return to a safe, generic search page. Our website offers free legal support and vital resources on domestic and family violence, separation, parenting, child safety, and more. If it's safe to do so, explore here: https://lnkd.in/gsb48g2k ⚠️ For 24/7 crisis support, contact: DV Connect: 1800 811 811 1800 RESPECT: 1800 737 732 For free legal help, call our helpline at 1800 957 957 (Mon-Fri, 9am-4:30pm).