News item - ABC News - Domestic violence escalated during Hayley's pregnancy - a time when women are at greater risk
By Kellie Scott
Published by ABC News, 10/06/26
Research suggests women are at greater risk of intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy and postpartum.
Making the call Brochure
The police, the law, your rights, and what to expect if you are experiencing family violence
News item - The Mercury: 'Chilling' pattern sees abused women in Tasmania jailed after being coerced to commit crimes
By Amber Wilson
Published by The Mercury, 02/06/26
“We use mums as scapegoats.” It’s an everyday tragedy in Tasmania – but women under the control of abusive men are committing crimes at their request, ending up in jail themselves.
News item - The Mercury: Tasmania's horror week prompts urgent calls to act on violence against women
By Amber Wilson
Published by The Mercury, 23/05/26
“This is not how it was supposed to end.” In the wake of a horror week for female safety in Tasmania, advocates are calling for stronger action to prevent violence against women
News item - The Mercury: Plan to help GPs spot family violence signs
By Bridget Clarke
Published by The Mercury 09/05/26
A Tasmanian pilot program helping GPs better support patients experiencing family and sexual violence has recorded strong statewide uptake, with about 80 clinics taking part in its first year.
Newsletter - Engender's collective impact across prevention, response and recovery - Engender Equality Update - May 2026
The May edition of Engender News highlights:
- 2026 Candlelight vigils
- Upcoming training, professional development and therapeutic groups
- Older Voices for Change
- Current job vacancies
Media Release - 'Philanthropy strengthens partnership supporting women experiencing family violence'
MEDIA RELEASE
24 June 2026
PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: Wed 24th June 2026, 11:30am-12noon
LOCATION: Hobart Women’s Shelter, South Hobart – see further details below.
‘PHILANTHROPY STRENGTHENS PARTNERSHIP SUPPORTING WOMEN EXPERIENCING FAMILY VIOLENCE’
Engender Equality and Hobart Women’s Shelter are pleased to announce new philanthropic funding from
Family Frontline Support, enabling the continuation and strengthening of their place-based therapeutic
partnership in southern Tasmania. This investment will enable the two organisations to deepen their
collaborative model, ensuring women and children experiencing family violence can access integrated,
trauma-informed support where and when they need it most.
The partnership brings together crisis accommodation and specialist therapeutic services, offering a
coordinated response that prioritises safety, healing, and long-term recovery. By working alongside each other
on-site, practitioners can respond quickly and provide consistent, wraparound support.
Alina Thomas, CEO at Engender Equality, said the funding recognises the importance of collaboration in
responding to family violence. “We know that women’s recovery is strengthened when services work together
in a coordinated and relational way. This funding allows us to continue delivering therapeutic support
embedded within Hobart Women’s Shelter—meeting women where they are and responding to their needs
in real time.”
Janet Saunders, CEO at Hobart Women’s Shelter, welcomed the investment as a significant contribution to
women’s safety, health and wellbeing. “Our partnership with Engender Equality has transformed how we are
able to support residents at the Shelter. Having specialist therapeutic support available on-site means women
can access care in a way that feels safe, timely, and connected to their broader needs.”
Richard Gorman, Director and Board Chair Family Frontline Support said they are pleased to support
collaborative responses to family violence. “We are proud to support this important partnership between
Engender Equality and Hobart Women’s Shelter. Place-based, collaborative approaches like this are critical to
ensuring women can access the support they need. In an environment where victim survivors face huge wait
times to get support, we are pleased to improve access to services for women at the Shelter.”
Family Frontline Support’s investment reflects a growing commitment within the philanthropic sector to fund
place-based, collaborative responses to complex social issues. This funding will ensure the continuation of
embedded therapeutic services at Hobart Women’s Shelter, supporting women to navigate the impacts of
violence, rebuild their lives, and move toward safe and sustainable futures.
Media Contact:
Alina Thomas, CEO, Engender Equality 0438 788 291
Belinda Witter, Deputy CEO, Hobart Women’s Shelter 0403 286 625
For a lived experience representative (case study) please contact advocates@engenderequality.org.au or
0415 740 524.
HWS is located opposite the Badminton Centre in South Hobart. Our address is confidential. You will be asked
to sign our Confidentiality Agreement on arrival. There is a public car park opposite the entry of the
Badminton Centre. The address of the car park is 106 Cascade Road, South Hobart. Please give us a call
on 6273 8455 when you arrive at the car park. One of us will come out and meet you there.
The gate to the shelter we will meet you at is about halfway up the brown fence on the right.
NB- If for some reason you are unable to contact us on the number provided above, please call the staff
mobile instead on 0488 688 721.
Media Release - Primary care is a critical frontline prevention and intervention system - International Day Against Homophobia, Trans & Biphobia
MEDIA RELEASE
15 May 2026
PRIMARY CARE IS A CRITICAL FRONTLINE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION SYSTEM – INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST HOMOPHOBIA, TRANS & BIPHOBIA
On this International Day against Homophobia, Trans & Biphobia on 17 May, Engender Equality is encouraging LGBTIQA+ people to see their doctor as more than just a clinician, but rather a resource for intervention and support in intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual violence.
Engender Equality CEO, Alina Thomas said,
“The prevalence of violence among LGBTIQA+ people is significant with Australia’s largest survey of the health and wellbeing of LGBTIQA+ adults (1) showing 61% of this cohort have experienced violence from an intimate partner.
“For LGBTIQA+ people, disclosing violence and abuse is compounded by stigma, discrimination, minority stress, and systemic barriers to people seeking help.
“For this reason, Engender Equality has produced guidelines for front line workers which aims to reduce barriers created by discrimination and heteronormative assumptions” Ms Thomas said.
Sadly, the fear of a lack of skills and understanding among service providers means many LGBTIQA+ people choose not to access services at all. There is fear of discrimination by law enforcement and support services, and insufficient strategies protecting LGBTIQA+ individuals from violence and discrimination, making it difficult for survivors to find legal recourse and other supports.
Kathryn Fordyce, CEO Laurel House said,
“Research shows the rate of child sexual abuse is reported at disproportionately high rates among gender and sexuality diverse Australians (2).”
“Compared with one in five heterosexual Australians, more than half of sexuality diverse Australians reported experiencing child sexual abuse (3).
“Further to this, more than half of gender diverse Australians reported child sexual abuse, compared with 37.3% of women and 18.8% of men.
“Private Lives 3 research confirms the disproportionately high rates of sexual violence experienced by LGBTIQA+ people, with nearly 50% of respondents having been coerced or forced into unwanted sexual acts.
“In the most recent incidents reported, the perpetrator was most commonly a cisgender man.
“For many LGBTIQA+ people, experiences of sexual violence, child sexual abuse and intimate partner violence are not isolated from broader experiences of stigma, discrimination and barriers to help-seeking.
“This reinforces why safe, affirming and informed primary care matters and involves asking safely, listening without assumptions, and connecting people to specialist support,” Ms Fordyce said.
Ends.
(1) Hill, A. O., Bourne, A., McNair, R., Carman, M., & Lyons, A. (2020). Private Lives 3: The health and wellbeing of LGBTIQ people in Australia. Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University.
https://www.latrobe.edu.au/arcshs/documents/arcshs-research-publications/Private-Lives-3.pdf
(2) Higgins, D. J., Lawrence, D., Haslam, D. M., Mathews, B., Malacova, E., Erskine, H. E., Finkelhor, D., Pacella, R., Meinck, F., Thomas, H. J., & Scott, J. G. (2025). Prevalence of Diverse Genders and Sexualities in Australia and Associations With Five Forms of Child Maltreatment and Multi-type Maltreatment. Child Maltreatment, 30(1), 21–41. https://doi.org/10.1177/10775595231226331
(3) National Office for Child Safety. How many people have experienced child sexual abuse?
https://www.childsafety.gov.au/about-child-sexual-abuse/how-many-people-have-experienced-child-sexual-abuse
Media Contact: Alina Thomas 0438 788 291
Additional Information
Download a copy of the LGBTIQA+ Family Violence Practice Guidelines.
The Primary Care Family and Sexual Violence Support Program is funded by Primary Health Tasmania (Tasmania PHN), through the Australian Government’s Primary Health Networks Program. Engender Equality is a not-for-profit agency leading the program in partnership with Laurel House.
More information including how General Practices and Aboriginal Health Services can connect with the service is available at 03 6268 1663, admin@pcfsv.org.au or https://engenderequality.org.au/pcfsv/.
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.
Speech - Candlelight Vigil, Hobart, 6 May 2026
Nick Kastner spoke at the Candlelight Vigil held in Hobart on Wednesday 6th May 2026.
Media Release - Nurses see the signs of intimate partner violence and sexual assault - International Nurses Day
MEDIA RELEASE
7 May 2026
NURSES SEE THE SIGNS OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT – INTERNATIONAL NURSES DAY
During International Nurses Day on 12 May, Engender Equality acknowledges the role nurses play in breaking the cycle of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and sexual assault.
Engender Equality CEO, Alina Thomas said,
“Nurses and midwives are often among the first professionals to recognise signs of family and sexual violence and child sex abuse.
“They have unique opportunities for private conversations with patients while tests are underway and the opportunity to build trusted relationships.
“Patients experiencing family and sexual violence may present with physical injuries, chronic pain, anxiety, depression, pregnancy complications, or behavioural changes.
“In many cases, individuals may not disclose violence directly, making early identification more complex. A supportive response from a nurse or midwife can make a meaningful difference.
“Even brief interactions can help individuals feel heard, validated, and more confident in seeking further support.
General practitioners and nurses have mandatory reporting obligations under Tasmanian law through the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1997 and the Family Violence Act 2004. Fulfilling those obligations is both a legal requirement and a professional responsibility designed to protect children and vulnerable people.
Jess Drew, Manager, Primary Care Family and Sexual Violence Support Program said,
“Our work with general practitioners, nurses, practice managers and reception staff in clinics throughout Tasmania over the past year means they are well placed to respond if their patient chooses to disclose family and sexual violence and child sexual abuse.
“We’ve been working with clinics on our SAVADA framework which encourages them to: Spot the signs; Ask appropriate questions; Validate and believe; Assess risk and safety; Document; and take Action to refer the patients further.
“All general practices and Aboriginal Health Services throughout the State also have a dedicated family and sexual violence support specialist available to provide advice should any patient choose to disclose.
We encourage anyone experiencing family or sexual violence to reach out to their doctor and disclose their situation to whomever they feel most comfortable speaking with, so they can receive help.
Ends.
Media Contact: Alina Thomas 0438 788 291
Additional Information
This Primary Care Family and Sexual Violence Support Program is funded by Primary Health Tasmania (Tasmania PHN), through the Australian Government’s Primary Health Networks Program. Engender Equality is a not-for-profit agency leading the program in partnership with Laurel House.
More information including how General Practices and Aboriginal Health Services can connect with the service is available at 03 6268 1663, admin@pcfsv.org.au or https://engenderequality.org.au/pcfsv/.