Month: December 2025

MEDIA RELEASE

17 December 2025

SAFE LANDING REQUIRED AS VIOLENCE RISES SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE HOLIDAY PERIOD

Tasmanian family violence service, Engender Equality is calling for awareness and empathy from service providers over the Christmas holiday period when Australian crime statistics and police data show a significant rise in family and sexual violence incidents.  

Engender Equality CEO, Alina Thomas said,  

“It can be a very challenging time for victim-survivors as perpetrator’s use Christmas  

‘arrangements’, particularly in relation to children, to manipulate and attempt to exert control over, threaten, and/or harass a current or former partner.  

“Safe spaces such as work and school are closed, as are services that facilitate safe changeovers for parents who are experiencing post-separation abuse.  

“We ask that when victim-survivors reach out for help from those services there to support them — such as Police, Accident and Emergency, GPs and the courts -they feel believed, supported and protected. 

“The practices and attitudes of the support systems can make an enormous difference to the safety of victim-survivors and their children. 

The following Family and sexual violence support services may also be available: 

For more information visit the Engender Equality website or phone (03) 6278 9090. 

If you would like to engage a lived experience representative (case study), please see Advocates for Change – Engender Equality, email advocates@engenderequality.org.au or phone: 0415 740 524.  

Ends. 

Media Contact: Alina Thomas 0438 788 291  

MEDIA RELEASE

8 December 2025

BUSHFIRE SEASON SENDS MORE THAN THE BUSH UP IN FLAMES

Tasmanian family violence service, Engender Equality is reminding the Tasmanian community that outdated and harmful gendered expectations of both men and women during disasters increases the risk of family violence. 

Engender Equality CEO, Alina Thomas said, 

“Violence against women has been found to increase during and after disasters.  

“Traditional gender roles place expectations on men to provide and protect, and on women to nurture and care for others, sometimes at the expense of their own safety and wellbeing. 

“This contributes to increased violence against women and their children and negative consequences for women, men and LGBTQIA+ people, long after the fire front has moved through. 

“Excuses are made for men’s violence because they may have suffered in the disaster, or because they are seen as ‘good blokes’ and even ‘heroic’.  

“This condoning of men’s violence against women and their children is extremely damaging for disaster survivors. 

“We all have a role to play in disaster planning, response and recovery — including paying attention to the health of our relationships, not just the safety of people and property.”  Ms Thomas said. 

Australian research1 has indicated that domestic violence increased following the 2009 bushfires, and, further, that women’s voices were effectively silenced (Parkinson, 2012). After the Black Saturday bushfires, men, women, and emergency workers all spoke of male behaviours following the traumatic experience of the fires and in their aftermath, that were harmful both to themselves and to those close to them (Parkinson, 2012; Zara & Parkinson, 2013).  

For more information visit the Engender Equality website or phone (03) 6278 9090. 

Ends. 

Media Contact: Alina Thomas 0438 788 291  

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 

If you would like to engage a lived experience representative (case study), please see Advocates for Change – Engender Equality, email advocates@engenderequality.org.au or phone: 0415 740 524.