Change makers share what drives them and sustains them during DFVP month
Come and join us on Wednesday 27 May, as we launch our Workforce Plans during DFVP month and celebrate all of these amazing change makers who have shared their passion for driving change to end violence.
Find out how Workforce Plans are creating a sustainable workforce, by supporting the workforce through professional development, ongoing supervision, teaching self care strategies and encouraging self care, resilience and critical thinking.
At our virtual event, you will hear inspirational words from these change makers as they share what drives them, sustains and keeps them in the sector and encouragement for others considering working in the sector.
Read more about their contributions to the workforce here:
Thalep Ahmet - Support Worker, Men's business and trainee counsellor, Helem Yumba - Rockhampton,
Ella Morter - Manager, Cairns Sexual Assault Service
Mikhaila Markwell - Save the Children, South West Queensland
Lela Idagi – Aurukun Women Shelter Support – Cape York / Gulf RAATSICC
Aunty Elsja Dewis – Cultural Healer, Murrigunyah
Holly Brennan – CEO, Centre Against Domestic Abuse (CADA), Moreton Bay Region
We thank all of these change makers for their inspiration and the commitment they make every day to supporting their clients and the services that they provide as we collaboratively work together to end violence.
Thalep Ahmet from Helem Yumba shared how he is keen to be involved in the Workforce plans. "I think it’s important to shift perspectives about men working in the community sector and therapeutic fields.” Thalep said. “I want to provide my knowledge and insights to support recruitment of and engagement with men and young people in this sector.”
Ella Morter from Cairns Sexual Assault Service shared her inspiration for driving change “Change comes when society as a whole says ‘no more’. It’s the conversations we have with friends and acquaintances, it’s the submissions we provide at a more formal level, it’s empowering people from all walks of society to stand up and speak out when they hear or see something that suggests disrespect or negative attitudes around sexual violence and consent. Change comes from talking more about sexual violence, so that survivors feel empowered to speak about their experiences without blame, and any shame sits only with the perpetrators for their actions.”
Mikhaila Markwell from Save the Children in South West Queensland said "I want to create change through educating women about their rights and the dynamics of domestic violence, so that they are empowered, knowledgeable and confident leaders of the future."
Aunty Elsja Dewis, a Cultural Healer from Murrigunyah said "Healing our babies is so important and it starts there. It’s not part of our culture to have domestic violence. It’s not part of any culture."
Working in the DFV sector, Holly Brennan, CEO of the Centre Against Domestic Violence (CADA) in Moreton Bay Region shares that “You need to have an incredible sense of humour. We love being able to do practical things to help women. To see that we are making a tangible difference – it really helps to know you are doing something positive and practical for them. It’s important that we acknowledge this and celebrate each other and the work that we do.”
“Driving change in ending domestic violence means creating a safe happy healthy environment for the whole family dynamic.” Lela Idagi from Aurukun Women's Shelter said, sharing her vision. “It means no lives lost to DFV, women and children are safe at home, women are empowered and respected and children are given the best opportunity to thrive, learn and succeed."
As we have been developing the Workforce Plans, and through virtual knowledge circles, workshops and seminars, we are constantly reminded of the amazing strength and resilience of the workforce.
Together, we are working to end domestic, family and sexual violence and to reinforce the vital message that violence is never OK, not now, not ever.
Inspiring change makers, ending violence together during DFVP month
During Domestic and Family Violence Prevention (DFVP) month in Queensland we are delighted to acknowledge and celebrate some of the unsung "sheroes" of the sector, the real change makers who are making their mark and driving change in the DFV sector across Queensland.
Join us as we launch our Workforce Plans on May 27 during DFVP month to celebrate all of these change makers for their strength, tenacity and resilience. Come and hear, through our virtual event, inspirational words from these change makers and be inspired by their vision for an empowered workforce committed to ending violence.
Read more about their contributions to the workforce here:
Ella Morter - Manager, Cairns Sexual Assault Service
Mikhaila Markwell - Save the Children, South West Queensland
Lela Idagi – Aurukun Women Shelter Support – Cape York / Gulf RAATSICC
Aunty Elsja Dewis – Cultural Healer, Murrigunyah
Holly Brennan – CEO, Centre Against Domestic Abuse (CADA), Moreton Bay Region
We thank all of these change makers for their inspiration and the commitment they make every day to supporting their clients and the services that they provide as we collaboratively work together to end violence.
Ella Morter from Cairns Sexual Assault Service shared her inspiration for driving change “Change comes when society as a whole says ‘no more’. It’s the conversations we have with friends and acquaintances, it’s the submissions we provide at a more formal level, it’s empowering people from all walks of society to stand up and speak out when they hear or see something that suggests disrespect or negative attitudes around sexual violence and consent. Change comes from talking more about sexual violence, so that survivors feel empowered to speak about their experiences without blame, and any shame sits only with the perpetrators for their actions.”
Mikhaila Markwell from Save the Children in South West Queensland said "I want to create change through educating women about their rights and the dynamics of domestic violence, so that they are empowered, knowledgeable and confident leaders of the future."
Aunty Elsja Dewis, a Cultural Healer from Murrigunyah said "Healing our babies is so important and it starts there. It’s not part of our culture to have domestic violence. It’s not part of any culture."
Working in the DFV sector, Holly Brennan, CEO of the Centre Against Domestic Violence (CADA) in Moreton Bay Region shares that “You need to have an incredible sense of humour. We love being able to do practical things to help women. To see that we are making a tangible difference – it really helps to know you are doing something positive and practical for them. It’s important that we acknowledge this and celebrate each other and the work that we do.”
“Driving change in ending domestic violence means creating a safe happy healthy environment for the whole family dynamic.” Lela Idagi from Aurukun Women's Shelter said, sharing her vision. “It means no lives lost to DFV, women and children are safe at home, women are empowered and respected and children are given the best opportunity to thrive, learn and succeed."
As we have been developing the Workforce Plans, and through virtual knowledge circles, workshops and seminars, we are constantly reminded of the amazing strength and resilience of the workforce.
Together, we are working to end domestic, family and sexual violence and to reinforce the vital message that violence is never OK, not now, not ever.
Celebrating the "sheroes" and change makers during DFVP month
During Domestic and Family Violence Prevention (DFVP) month in Queensland we are delighted to acknowledge and celebrate some of the unsung "sheroes" of the sector, the real change makers who are making their mark and driving change in the DFV sector across Queensland.
We celebrate these change makers for their strength, tenacity and resilience. For their empathy, kindness and caring. For their everyday commitments to support their clients and the services that they provide and for the work they are doing collectively and collaboratively to help end violence.
Read more about their stories here:
Lela Idagi – Aurukun Women Shelter Support – Cape York / Gulf RAATSICC
Aunty Elsja Dewis – Cultural Healer, Murrigunyah
Holly Brennan – CEO, Centre Against Domestic Abuse (CADA), Moreton Bay Region
Ella Morter - Manager, Cairns Sexual Assault Service
Mikhaila Markwell - Save the Children, South West Queensland
Aunty Elsja Dewis, a Cultural Healer from Murrigunyah said "Healing our babies is so important and it starts there. It’s not part of our culture to have domestic violence. It’s not part of any culture."
Working in the DFV sector, Holly Brennan, CEO of the Centre Against Domestic Violence (CADA) in Moreton Bay Region shares that “You need to have an incredible sense of humour. We love being able to do practical things to help women. To see that we are making a tangible difference – it really helps to know you are doing something positive and practical for them. It’s important that we acknowledge this and celebrate each other and the work that we do.”
“Driving change in ending domestic violence means creating a safe happy healthy environment for the whole family dynamic.” Lela Idagi from Aurukun Women's Shelter said, sharing her vision. “It means no lives lost to DFV, women and children are safe at home, women are empowered and respected and children are given the best opportunity to thrive, learn and succeed."
As we have been developing the Workforce Plans, and through virtual knowledge circles, workshops and seminars, we are constantly reminded of the amazing strength and resilience of the workforce.
Together, we are working to end domestic, family and sexual violence and to reinforce the vital message that violence is never OK, not now, not ever.
Change makers: working together to end violence
May is Domestic and Family Violence Prevention (DFVP) month in Queensland to help raise community awareness of domestic and family violence and to reinforce the vital message that violence is never OK, not now, not ever.
During DFVP month, we are acknowledging and celebrating the change makers who are making their mark and driving change in the DFV sector across Queensland.
We celebrate these change makers for their strength, tenacity and resilience. For their empathy, kindness and caring. For their everyday commitments to support their clients and the services that they provide and for the work they are doing collectively and collaboratively to help end violence.
As we have been developing the Workforce Plans, and through virtual knowledge circles, workshops and seminars, we are constantly reminded of the amazing strength and resilience of the workforce.
Read more about these incredible change makers and their contribution to driving change as we work together to end domestic, family and sexual violence.
Lela Idagi – Aurukun Women Shelter Support – Cape York / Gulf RAATSICC
Aunty Elsja Dewis – Cultural Healer, Murrigunyah
Holly Brennan – CEO, Centre Against Domestic Abuse (CADA), Moreton Bay Region
Final Practice Studio announced
WorkUP Queensland is pleased to announce the final successful practice studio host for this round. Congratulations to Gympie Community Action https://www.communityactiongympie.com.au/ group who will be testing the implementation of the Social Entrapment Framework within their local community.
After discovering Gympie Community Action’s was successful, manager Talia, said “The Social Entrapment Framework offers potential to support women to tell their stories in such a way that the real safety risks and barriers to accessing support they experience can be comprehended (and hopefully responded to) by justice systems and other systems. We are so excited by the opportunity to pilot this in our court support and advocacy”.
The two previously announced hosts were the Cairns Sexual Assault Service with their practice studio implementing a trauma and violence informed model of care and Women’s Health Queensland who will be using the partnering with women element of the Safe and Together Framework with ambassadors across Queensland. WorkUP Queensland will be providing updates on their progress throughout their implementation and sharing the learning’s generated to drive the uptake of evidence informed practice across the sector.
Newsletter editorial: A word from our CEO’s
Newsletter editorial: A word from our CEO’s
As the CEO’s of The Healing Foundation and ANROWS we recognise the extra burden day to day on the workforce and are pleased to inform you that WorkUP Queensland is providing training and development in response to this significantly changing environment.
As we keep our distance to keep people safe from COVID-19 we are well aware that this distancing can lead to increased risk of domestic, family and sexual violence. The sector across Queensland has been highlighting these concerns to both governments and the broader community. At the same time services are establishing and refining new ways of working in a physical distancing environment, online and by phone and in some instances continuing face to face.
WorkUP Queensland has had the opportunity over this period to engage with the sector and in response has put together a suite of online professional development opportunities from one hour webinars to three part series and longer term communities of practice. Professional development opportunities coming up over the next few months include:
- Capacity building during COVID-19
- Maintaining meaningful contact with men who use violence: contemporary research to alternative approaches
- Virtual Knowledge Circles for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers
- Maintaining well-being through COVID-19: A Neuroscience based approach to self-care
- Emerging Leaders Series
- Communities of practice for practitioners and administrators
We look forward to the days when we can connect in different ways again and hopefully, we carry with us some of the learnings and insights we have gained during this unusual time.
Take care
Fiona Petersen and Heather Nancarrow
Workforce Plans: Ready for action!
Workforce Plans: Ready for action!
This month marks the final stages in the co-design of workforce plans for the sexual assault, women’s health and wellbeing and domestic and family violence sector with implementation plans for the coming year well underway.
We are delighted with the plans, particularly the broad workforce development focus of the activities that will be delivered on both a statewide and regional level. These activities are themed across a workforce spectrum:
• Growing the workforce
• Retaining the workforce
• Developing the workforce
• Supporting the workforce
• Connecting the workforce, and;
• Sustaining the workforce.
The workforce spectrum highlights the sectors commitment to building a strong and sustainable workforce and the need for a diverse range of strategies and actions to achieve that. Examples of activities that will be undertaken this year include:
• Developing a career and capability framework
• Developing a sector induction program
• Delivering an online workshop series sharing cutting edge research and thinking
• Gathering and analysing workforce data
• Supporting place-based and statewide projects through WorkUP Queensland grants
• Developing an online workforce development hub, and;
• Delivering a wide range of learning and developing programs using a range of approaches.
We look forward to working with the sector to implement all of these exciting actions and more over the next twelve months.
SPARK Webinar series
SPARK Webinar series
SPARK Webinars will connect practitioners with current research and a range of relevant topics for the sector.
The Speakers Provoking Action, Reflection and Knowledge (SPARK) Webinar series will focus on practice issues and topics of relevance to practitioners. Sometimes they may be provocative, but they will always promote knowledge sharing across the sector and create a space for reflecting, thinking and talking about practice. WorkUP Queensland will add regularly to the series throughout the year. Practitioners are warmly invited to contact us with suggestions for upcoming webinars.
First SPARK Webinar: Community-based approaches to sexual offender reintegration is on May 13. Register here
A short sharp SPARK these Webinars will run for an hour only.
In the first SPARK Webinar, Associate Professor Kelly Richards (QUT) will share the findings and recommendations from the newly released ANROWS research report ‘Community-based programs for sexual offender reintegration’. You can learn more about this project here and read a summary of the research report here.
Kelly will present her research and then respond to questions related to the workforce implications of her research. When you register to attend this event, you can submit your own questions about the research for consideration.
If you have an interesting idea or topic for a webinar, you can contact us about it at: workforce@healingfoundation.org.au
“Inspiring and educational speakers” shared lived experience
Same Same but Different Inclusion Forum
WorkUP Queensland ran the first of two online forums yesterday on 21 April, 2020. Same Same but Different provided an opportunity for participants to hear sector leaders and those with lived experience talk about the positive impacts of inclusive practice!
The focus of the full day workshop was inclusion for people with a disability, those who identify as LGBTIQ, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and culturally and linguistically diverse populations (CALD). Dr Brodie Evans, Men’s Program Coordinator at Micha Projects gave a keynote addressing practical tips to embrace and celebrate diversity within our workplaces.
We also heard from Aunty Elsja Dewit, Cultural Healer at Murrigunyah Family & Cultural Healing Centre. She shared the importance of understanding and establishing key relationships in community, with personal insights for how achieve this.
Karni Lidell imparted knowledge as a person with a disability and engagement manager for Disability Connect QLD. Karni’s role is to increase employment of People with a disability across the Public sector. Her story highlighted ways we can create more holistic and responsive services for those with disability.
The voices of CALD survivors were also heard at the forum, providing participants with practical strategies for improving practice.
We received positive feedback from participants at Same Same but Different including:
“Inspiring and educational speakers”
“A great deal to digest, so thought provoking and informative”
“When I look at the lists… they are all things we do well…which gives me some encouragement”
“I liked Aunty Elsja’s message…to bring it back to the heart”
To find out how you can be part of our next forum or other initiatives around inclusion please visit https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/same-same-but-different-inclusion-forum-online-sw-nq-m-se-cq-tickets-90906468695
Blog #2 - Self-care planning
Self-Care planning
A self-care plan can help you to respond to existing or new stressors in your life. Embedding self-care into your routine can help you to maintain your wellbeing, even when life is relatively less stressful.
We have prepared a self-care plan that is simple to use and easy to customise for your specific needs. You can also download the slides from a workshop that we presented on Self-Care planning.
Please feel free to download and share these resources with your friends and colleagues.
Self-care plan workshop slides