Centre for Women's Safety and Wellbeing

On Monday we released our review of the specialist Sexual Assault Support Services (SASS). We believe that where you live shouldn’t stop you getting help after a sexual assault. But the review found this isn’t always the case, as many parts of WA have no access to sexual assault services and limited outreach. Access to forensic and medical examinations, which are crucial evidence collection tools, is dependent on where you live. CWSW looks forward to working with our services, Government partners and other stakeholders to improve outcomes for victim-survivors of sexual assault in WA.   We believe in change.   Get involved here: Cwsw.org.au/believe   Read a summary of the review including the 16 Recommendations here: https://lnkd.in/dZ-BHsX5   Read the full review here: https://lnkd.in/dHX_5XTu   Read the story here https://lnkd.in/dFbvVD-c Allambee Desert Blue Connect Waratah Support Centre Goldfields Womens Health Care Association Gloria Moyle Relationships Australia WA

This morning we were humbled to hear the stories of lived experience experts Alison Scott and Renna Gayde at the End Gender Based Violence – #16DaysinWA Community Event, Joondalup March Against Domestic and Family Violence. Renna spoke so eloquently about the danger of not believing victim-survivors. “What I cannot believe is that our women and children continue to be met with such inconsistent responses when we find the courage to speak up. Our systems and society tend to weigh and measure our credibility and meet our cries for help with often guarded or skeptical responses that perpetuate the message that we are exaggerating or attention seeking or deflecting, the message is loud and clear, we will not be believed “Believe me or don’t believe me, the great tragedy is that I learnt to believe I was crazy and so I stopped believing in myself.” We must continue to believe if we want change. Show you believe. Support the CWSW’s BELIEVE campaign. Cwsw.org.au/believe Alison Evans Jennie Gray Alison Scott Renna Gayde Department of Communities WA

Every day across our State, refuges save the lives of women and children who have fled to them, desperate for help. We have long advocated for these critical frontline services that have been struggling under the weight of unprecedented demand. The State Government's announcement today that includes $19m for refuge service providers, will help some of the most vulnerable members of our community find safety and support when they need it most. We also welcome the commitment of $8.2m for children and young people who can be both directly and indirectly affected by family and domestic violence. It’s important to recognise children and young people are not ‘secondary victims’ of family and domestic violence, but victim-survivors in their own right. A focus on children and young people was a key ask at our crisis talks with the Government late last year. Roia Atmar's courageous story at the #16DaysInWA breakfast this morning was another reminder that we must continue to BELIEVE in victim-survivors. cwsw.org.au/believe Everyone has a part to play in ending men's violence against women. Read more here https://lnkd.in/eYY4uPyX

CWSW joined the Geraldton community yesterday for the Walk Against Violence event as part of #16DaysInWA.    It was heartening to see so many of the community turn out to say No More to men’s violence against women and children.    As we said on Monday in the City- We BELIEVE in victim-survivors. In our services. In change.   Thank you to Desert Blue Connect for inviting us.    Join the BELIEVE campaign cwsw.org.au/believe Alison Evans Ariel Bombara Lara Dalton MLA

What a way to start the morning!   CWSW’s Jessica Murray MC’d the Economic Abuse Reference Group Breakfast as part of #16DaysInWA.   The breakfast gave practical tips on how to recognise economic abuse and helped raise awareness. Thanks to Rob Cory from Bankwest for hosting EARG WA members Monica Cass, Merlene Price from Women's Legal Service WA, Georgia Turco and Jack Thornton from Consumer Credit Legal Service (WA) Inc.  

We're excited to be taking part in this event at WA Museum Boola Bardip on Friday. Join CWSW chair Prof. Donna Chung and manager, family and domestic violence Anna Farrant along with Ben Headlam. BSc, MAICD, Debra Zanella and Georgia Prideaux-Cera, for a discussion on recovery from family and domestic violence, empowerment and change!

A heartfelt thanks to the hundreds of people who gathered at Forrest Chase on Monday to show they believe in victim survivors, in our services and in change. CWSW is honoured to continue the work of our activist forebears and organise the annual March Against Domestic and Family Violence. The strong show of support for the families of victim-survivors who have lost their lives, and to those who are still living in fear fills us with hope. We would like to say thank you to all our speakers. To Glenda Kickett and Sam Pilot for the wonderful Welcome to Country and Yidaki performance and to Della Mob for the beautiful music that helped set the tone for the day. Thank you to Minister for Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence the Hon. Sabine Winton MLA and Deputy Commissioner of Police Allan Adams for taking the time to address the crowd. To our experts by experience Ariel Bombara and Lorraine Pryor, we cannot begin to express the affect your powerful and poignant words had on those gathered. We are in awe of your courage and determination and feel privileged to have walked alongside you in your journeys. As our CEO Alison Evans said: “Silence is what allows people to suffer without recourse, for crimes to go unpunished. Being unable to tell your story is a living death, and sometimes a literal one.”   To all victims of family and domestic violence, we see you and we believe you. Join the BELIEVE campaign cwsw.org.au/believe WA Police Force Department of Communities WA

Today is Economic Abuse Awareness Day.   We know that economic abuse impacts so many women in our community.   Controlling or preventing your access to money, not being allowed to return to work, having loans taken out in your name without your consent, refusing to contribute to the household and non-payment of child support are all signs of economic abuse.   Read more about about economic abuse here https://lnkd.in/ezZEmCZR and here https://lnkd.in/eV6m3p_f   Join the BELIEVE campaign here https://lnkd.in/eK3VwQ5P #nonpaymentofchildsupportiseconomicabuse #IEAAD24 #EndEconomicAbuse #NoExcuse #NoExcuseforEconomicAbuse #16DaysinWA #PlayYourPart

It was a privilege to gather together today at the 34th March Against Domestic and Family Violence to honour those who have died and show solidarity to those still living in fear. The powerful and moving words by experts by experience Lorraine Pryor and Ariel Bombara show that we must believe you, we must believe in you and we must believe in change. Alison Evans Sabine Winton MLA WA Police Force Department of Communities WA

Today is the day we gather together at Forrest Chase to play our part to end gender-based violence. If you can only join us for part of the March that's OK- we'd love to have you there. Stalls from 10am, Rally 10.45am, March from 12pm. We Believe that together, change is possible. https://lnkd.in/eaCbhBCe