As announced by Senator the Hon Marise Payne, Minister for Women, YWCA Canberra has been selected to auspice the women’s safety alliance to inform and support national policy on violence against women and children.
The National Women’s Safety Alliance will bring together leading organisations and individuals across Australia to provide expertise, lead consultation on and support comprehensive policy and program design aimed at reducing violence against women and children and enhancing support for survivors. The Alliance will replace the current Australian Women Against Violence Alliance, from 23 August 2021.
A key priority for the Alliance will be national consultation with subject matter experts, those with lived experience and other stakeholders in the sector. NWSA will achieve this through harnessing digital capabilities to deploy accessible and equitable consultation processes.
General membership to the National Women’s Safety Alliance will be sought both from non-government, not-for-profit and social enterprise organisations across Australia, as well as from individuals who are subject matter experts or women with lived experience.
Representation will include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, women with disability, women in regional and remote areas, women in prison, LGBTIQA+ women, and voices from each state and territory.
“This is an exciting opportunity for organisations and individuals across Australia who are working to end violence against women to inform national policy,” YWCA Canberra CEO, Frances Crimmins said.
“The National Women’s Safety Alliance will work closely with the existing Australian Women Against Violence Alliance (AWAVA) to transition members and to ensure continuity of work that is currently underway.
“Over the past 10 years, AWAVA has provided an important link between national experts on violence against women, service providers and survivors, and the Government. We look forward to building on this work through the National Women’s Safety Alliance.”
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