About Us

WorkUP Queensland (WorkUP) was created in May 2019 to offer support and training to help meet growing demand for the state’s 188 specialist sexual violence, women’s health, domestic and family violence services.

We were founded by The Healing Foundation, in partnership with Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS). The Queensland Government has committed to fund WorkUP for five years.

The Healing Foundation brings Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership, cultural awareness and healing to improve the way services interact with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients. We also aim to increase the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff in the sector with cultural awareness forming a key part of the training we offer.

ANROWS brings leadership in the development of Knowledge, Translation and Exchange (KTE) in Australia as applied in preventing and responding to violence against women. This KTE practice involves synthesising the results of research and developing resources and communication strategies to support the transfer of the evidence to policy and practice.

Our logo was created by Elaine Chambers-Hegarty of Cultural Edge Designs, working with Monique Proud of Cultural Grounding. The design emerged from consultation with ANROWS, The Healing Foundation and domestic and family violence, sexual violence and women’s health sector professionals from Queensland.

The name WorkUP Queensland reflects our focus on developing the sector to meet the challenges of the future. The ripple effect in the logo highlights the domestic and family violence, sexual violence and women’s health workforce’s impact in ending violence in Queensland. The circle elements of the design also represent the broader community coming together in a holistic approach to end domestic and family violence and sexual violence in Queensland.

The Reference Group supports the Steering Committee and ensures the sectors’ voices are taken into account when developing our programs. The Reference Group also advises on key initiatives including Practice Studios, action learning, knowledge circles, and the statewide workforce strategy.

The Reference Group is made up of stakeholders from domestic and family violence, sexual assault and women’s health and wellbeing services across Queensland. Membership is for a 2 year period. The Steering Committee are permanent members of the Reference Group.

Reference Group Members:

Dr Brodie Evans

Brisbane Domestic Violence Service

Dr Brodie Evans has worked within the Domestic and Family Violence sector for over two and a half years, primarily as a co-facilitator and coordinator of a Men’s Perpetrator Intervention Program. In addition, Dr Evans is an academic and researcher at the School of Justice at QUT and is also a member of the SPEAQ (Services and Practitioners for the Elimination of Abuse Queensland) network. Dr Evans values collaboration and developing a collective voice.

Claudina Rodriguez

Immigrant Women’s Support Service

Claudina Rodriguez has worked at the Immigrant Women’s Support Service (IWSS), which provides specialist sexual violence and domestic and family violence services immigrant and refugee women from non-English speaking background and their children, for 3 years. Claudina believes in being consistent, reliable, honest and respectful in her practice, and in setting up practices that are fair and just, and providing safe space.

Georgina Binjuda

Lena Passi Women’s Shelter

Georgina Binjuda is the service manager for Lena Passi Women’s Shelter.

Julia Yorkston

Lena Passi Women’s Shelter

Julia Yorkston is a Torres Strait Islander living and working with her community on Thursday Island. Julia is currently engaged as a part time project officer with Lena Passi Women’s Shelter. She has been an active member of many organisations and networks within her community including as secretary for both Lena Passi Women’s Shelter Board and Mura Kosker Sorority Board and member of the Social Justice Interagency Services.

Lynette Anderson

Helem Yumba

Ms Lynette Anderson has worked in a management position with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Domestic and Family Violence sector for approximately 14 years and is the CEO for Helem Yumba in Rockhampton. Ms Anderson has taken a lead role in networks including Rockhampton coordinated HRT; CEO’s monthly gathering of DFV services, QPS DV Steering Committee and the Primary Health Network Community Advisory Committee.

Michelle Royes

DVConnect

Ms Michelle Royes is the Research, Compliance and Inclusion Manager for DVConnect. Based in Brisbane offering state-wide telephone support to men and women who experience domestic, family and sexual violence, Ms Royes works alongside practice to see how research can inform the work, that inclusion is prioritised and that compliance advances practice, not hinders it. Ms Royes values include communication, collaboration and learning and believes that if you build something that supports the most vulnerable, everyone will benefit.

Natasha Knezovich

Centre Against Domestic Abuse (CADA)

Natasha has worked in the community sector for over 20 years. She currently manages a Women’s Wellbeing Hub and a Children, Young People and Families program; for the Centre Against Domestic Abuse (CADA) in Moreton Bay.

Prior to CADA, Natasha was Community Relationship Education Coordinator at the Redcliffe Community Association.

For two years she worked in Kazakhstan for a humanitarian agency setting up micro business opportunities for locals and supporting improved living conditions within orphanages.

Paul Monsour

SPEAQ (Services and Practitioners for the Elimination of Abuse Queensland)

Mr Paul Monsour has been the SPEAQ secretary for the last 12 years. He has supported the professional development of SPEAQ members through a range of activities including organising SPEAQ’s regular stakeholder meetings, training and other events. Mr Monsour values genuine consultation, dialogue, inclusion, recognition of diversity, cooperation, collaboration, diligence and gender equality.

Talia van Gils

Community Action Gympie

Ms Talia van Gils works at Community Action Gympie and for the past 7 years has managed programs working with people experiencing Domestic and Family Violence. She is a certified trainer in the ‘Safe and Together’ model and previously managed the Integrated Workforce Development Strategy for the Health and Community Services Workforce Council. Ms Gils believes in the power of groups to effect change.