PCFSV Media

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Tasmanian family violence service, Engender Equality is reminding the Tasmanian community that outdated and harmful gendered expectations of both men and women during disasters increases the risk of family violence.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

MEDIA RELEASE

26 November 2025

CALLS FOR ALL SECTORS – TAKE ACTION TO STOP DIGITAL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Tasmanian-based family violence organisation Engender Equality is calling on governments, technology companies, donors, and individuals to speak out, support victim-survivors, and end the exploitation and harm driven by profit and complacency in digital spaces.

Engender Equality CEO, Alina Thomas said,
“We support the 16 Days of activism to end gender-based violence which begins on 25 November 2025, under the theme: Unite to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls”.

“Men increasingly use digital violence to stalk and harass women and girls of all levels of society, especially those with public or online visibility.

“The impact for women facing intersecting forms of discrimination, including race, disability, gender identity, or sexual orientation is even worse.

There are unique dynamics at play with this form of abuse, especially the scale and speed through which it can exacerbate and aggravate other forms of violence and abuse. These acts do not just happen online. They often lead to offline violence, such as coercion, physical abuse, and even femicide – killing of women and girls.

Ms Thomas continued saying
“Change can happen when violence in manosphere spaces is no longer accepted and normalised, and perpetrators are not able to remain anonymous,” Ms Thomas said.

“Change can happen when tech platforms and social networking sites ensure platform safety, remove
harmful content, enforce codes of conduct, and publish transparent reports.

“Change can happen when governments pass and enforce laws that criminalise digital violence, protect personal information, and strengthen tech sector accountability.

“Change can happen when technology sector regulations are strengthened, and legal recognition of digital violence activated.

“Change can happen by intervening early in the role of Artificial Intelligence to prevent new forms of abuse and amplifying digital violence,” Ms Thomas said.

Interviews are also available with Engender Equality’s Advocates for Change (see additional information) who are victim-survivors from across Tasmania and willing to share their lived experience of digital abuse.

Media Contact: Alina Thomas 0438 788 291

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Forms of digital abuse include:

• image-based abuse/non-consensual sharing of intimate images – often called revenge porn or leaked nudes
• cyberbullying, trolling, and online threats
  online harassment and sexual harassment
• AI-generated deepfakes such as sexually explicit images, deepfake pornography, and digitally
  manipulated images, videos, or audio
• hate speech and disinformation on social media platforms
• doxxing – publishing private information
• online stalking or surveillance/tracking to monitor someone’s activities
• online grooming and sexual exploitation
• catfishing and impersonation, and
• misogynistic networks such as manosphere or incel forums.

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.

Available for interview 

 Advocate 1  

“My perpetrator broke into my mum’s house solely to steal all my devices. Nothing else was stolen. He then changed all my passwords and set up the multi-factor authentication to his phone. He had access to all my accounts, private messages, photos, and financial information. He was using tech as a tool for power and control. The police couldn’t do anything.” 

 Advocate 2 

“A friend of my perpetrator posted a photo of me using drugs on social media. He also hacked into my son’s social media account and shared the photo there. This was done without my consent and was a deliberate act of collusion with my perpetrator, intended to harm both me and my son. This was in 2020. I reported the matter to the police, but they stated they were unable to take any action.” 

 Advocate 3 

“I went to the police station to get support as content from my phone was known to someone that I have a current PFVO against. I asked the officer how I could find out if I was being monitored and stalked. The officer told me that they were not tech savvy and didn’t know. They tried looking online but they had no idea. I walked out of the station with no help. We need to know where we can go safely and where we can access support. This is not just my experience.” 

MEDIA RELEASE

22 September 2025

COERCION AND CONTROL THAT LIMITS REPRODUCTIVE AUTONOMY IN THE SPOTLIGHT

On World Contraception Day on 26 September 2025 Engender Equality wants to raise awareness of reproductive coercion, a behaviour that interferes with a person’s reproductive autonomy and is both a form of interpersonal abuse and sexual violence.

Engender Equality CEO, Alina Thomas said,

“These behaviours are usually perpetrated against women by male partners and almost always manifest within a broader pattern of controlling behaviours known as ‘coercive control’.

“Reproductive coercion can be hard to identify because it occurs privately, in a climate of controlling relationships, and involves significant feelings of shame for the victim.

“Traditional gender roles also reinforce men’s propriety over women, remembering that rape within marriage was legal in Australia until the late 1970s.

“Governmental policies and systems that influence or restrict reproductive choices, including those which limit access to termination, create a climate where reproductive coercion can flourish.

“Laws and regulations that interfere with an individual’s reproductive health decision-making cause psychological distress and create real barriers to a victim seeking help.

“Our Primary Care Family and Sexual Violence (PCFSV) Support Service is working with general practitioners throughout Tasmania to support their work with victim-survivors.

“We ask that they treat reproductive coercion with the same gravity and sensitivity you would other forms of intimate partner, sexual or family violence,” Ms Thomas said.

Reproductive coercion can include forcing or pressuring someone to become pregnant or to terminate a pregnancy or preventing someone from accessing contraception. Doing things to stop contraception from working such as ‘stealthing’, the act of removing a condom during sex, or forcing or pressuring someone to undergo sterilisation are also prevalent. Some perpetrators prevent their partners from accessing reproductive healthcare, including screening tests for sexually transmitted infections and cervical cancer (pap smears).

Reproductive nurse, working in primary care, Teagan Atkins, explains;

“If a patient appears intimidated by or afraid of their partner, the patient’s partner speaks for the patient, makes decisions on their behalf or is otherwise controlling, this would be a red flag.

“The patient’s partner may insist on attending routine medical appointments, including consultations on contraception and reproductive health to exert control.

“A patient appearing isolated from other family members and friends or who seems reluctant or regretful about their reproductive health choices, including past pregnancies or terminations may also indicate reproductive coercion,” Ms Atkins said.

 Additional Information

This Primary Care Family and Sexual Violence Support Service 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 can be obtained at https://engenderequality.org.au. 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 www.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 0415 740 524.

Ends.

Media Contact: Alina Thomas           0438 788 291