How Authentic Workplace Domestic Violence Support Saves Lives.

On 13 March 2024, we held our first inaugural Social Impact Breakfast Series. Our intention was to create a safe space where people could feel open, honest, curious, inspired and ultimately empowered to take action on domestic violence support in the workplace.

We were honoured to welcome a mind-blowing panel to lead the conversation - Delia Donovan (CEO of DV NSW) as moderator, with Christine Holgate (Group Chief Executive at Team Global Express), Lisa McAdams (Founder of Safe Space Workplace) and Jess Hill (Australian journalist behind ‘See What You Made Me Do’) as our panelists.

It was incredible to see Yirranma Place’s Blue Gum Hall filled with so many thought leaders, change-makers and community and corporate partners, who took the time out of their busy mornings to connect, converse, and explore those difficult-to-navigate topics and ideas that we believe can #ChangeTheCourse of vulnerable women's lives.

Here were the takeaways of this incredible morning.

WORDS FROM
DELIA DONOVAN,
CEO of DV NSW

As our moderator, Delia’s rousing intro set the scene of today’s discussions by highlighting the stats around family and domestic violence, and how workplaces can - and must - do their part in the mission to end F&DV.

“The statistics remain confronting. They are more than just stats - they're human beings.

• We lost 64 women to domestic violence last year, and already 14 this year (as of 13 March)
• One in four women have experienced violence by an intimate partner since the age of 15
• Last year, more than one in two police records assaults were related to family and domestic violence
• In Australia, the police receive a phone call about DV every two minutes - and that’s after the fact of how much is underreported
• F&DV is the leading cause of homelessness for women and children – noting we have a massive housing crisis, and safe housing is essential for women and children fleeing  violence
• F&DV is estimated to cost Australia 26 billion each year. That isn't investment into DV – that's the cost, because we haven't got in soon enough

To put it simply, women are not safe at this very moment; in their homes, on the streets, or in their workplaces. We can no longer turn a blind eye. It will take every single one of us to look inwardly…and we can. We must play a role in addressing F&DV, and pull every lever available to us.

For me, this means addressing attitudes, assumptions and victim-blaming that I see play out every day – particularly in the media, on our radio stations and in the papers we read. Because we're so conditioned by what we read and see and hear, that sometimes we don't even realise the violence-supportive attitudes.

DIGNITY + FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

Workplaces in particular have such a crucial role to play. As of last year, the Australian government legislated 10 Family & Domestic Violence paid leave days in all workplaces. But leave policies are just leave policies, if we're not actually thinking about that key piece – that action.

F&DV Leave must work alongside providing safe and respectful workplaces, promoting policies that contribute to gender equity, providing information and support to staff – and that's not just a one-off email, that's continual information. It means providing flexibility for staff experiencing F&DV so they can remain engaged in the workplace.

And most importantly, it means helping provide dignity and financial independence to all your staff.”

A PANEL OF
POWERHOUSES.

As we moved into the panelist portion of our event, we welcomed Lisa Mcadams and Jess Hill to join Christine and Delia on the stage to answer a series of questions, including:

• What Is Coercive Control?
• How Can Workplaces Identify + Reduce DV?
• How To Develop A Domestic Violence Policy
• How Do I Approach Someone To Ask If She's OK?
• What Will It Take To See Domestic Violence Stats Drop?

CHANGE
THE
COURSE.

As we watched the engagement in Blue Gum Hall catch fire, and saw our Linkedin feed awash in everyone's take-aways afterwards, we knew that our intentions had come to life. The energy of our event had not only stayed with people through their day, or their week…but hopefully, had set people on a path to creating real change in their own workplaces.

Here are some resources to keep the conversation going:

1. Check out Jess Hill's 'See What You Made Me Do' Book or Documentary, and other works
2. Check out Lisa McAdams' new website, 'Safe Space Workplace'
3. Check out our collection of DV Policy Guides
4. Explore the world of social procurement with Two Good Wholesale Soaps
5. See our latest Impact Report CY 2023