News & Events
Understanding the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women who have experienced a trauma
The Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia is hosting the 2025 Fay Gale Lecture titled "Head Health and Healing – Listening to the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women about traumatic brain injury from violence." The lecture will be presented by Dr. Michelle Fitts, a Senior Research Fellow at the Menzies School of Health Research, who has over 15 years of experience working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across the Northern Territory and Queensland.
Since 2015, Dr. Fitts has focused her research on traumatic brain injury (TBI), particularly concerning rehabilitation and recovery for women affected by violence. Her work has highlighted the often-overlooked issue of TBI among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, drawing attention to its invisibility across various systems, including health, legal, correctional, family violence, crisis accommodation, and child protection services. Currently, Dr. Fitts and her colleagues are collaborating with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and frontline services to co-design, pilot, and implement training modules and education on violence-related TBI.
The lecture is scheduled for April 3, 2025, from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM at The University of Adelaide, Level 7 Conference Room, Ingkarni Wardli Building, North Terrace Campus, Adelaide. Admission is free, and those interested in attending can register through the Academy's website.
The Fay Gale Lecture series is named in honor of the late Professor Gwendoline Fay Gale AO (1932–2008), the first female President of the Academy and an eminent human geographer known for her contributions to academia, the advancement of women within academia, Indigenous studies, and juvenile justice. Inaugurated in 2010, this annual lecture is presented by a distinguished female social scientist and is open to the public.
The 2nd First Nations Women in Leadership Summit
7 - 8 May 2025
Meanjin / Voco Brisbane
A celebration of the knowledge, strengths & voice of First Nations women
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land on which this conference takes place, the Turrbal and Jagera peoples, and pay our respects to Elders past, present, and emerging.
https://the-hatchery.co/event/first-nations-leadership-summit-qld-may-2025/
Overcoming Indigenous Family Violence Forum
Queensland police to be given powers to issue on-the-spot orders to domestic violence perpetrators
27 - 29 May 2025
QT Hotel - Gold Coast
A National Forum Centring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Voices in Overcoming Indigenous Family Violence.
As we enter the second year since the Australian Government announced the first-ever standalone, dedicated action plan to end violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, we continue to advocate for investment in self-determined solutions. Achieving real progress towards Target 13 of Closing the Gap demands sustained funding, resources, and support of First Nations community-led solutions that have the cultural knowledge, lived experience, and expertise to create lasting change.
Significant developments have occurred in the Indigenous family violence sector. We have witnessed the continued emergence of community-driven initiatives that prioritise cultural healing, early intervention, and support for families and individuals experiencing violence. Increasingly, Elders and cultural leaders are being recognised as key agents of change, and collaboration between governments, service providers, and First Nations communities has strengthened.
It is with this momentum that we look ahead to the 2025 Overcoming Indigenous Family Violence Forum. For the third year running, the Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Service (QIFVLS) is proud to host this crucial platform for collaboration.
Together, we hold the solutions to create safer, stronger, and healthier communities. I look forward to welcoming you this May on Yugambeh Country to yarn, share, and learn from one another as we take this vital work forward.
Wynetta Dewis
CEO, Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Service (QIFVLS)
Chair, First Nations Advocates Against Family Violence (FNAAFV)
Queensland police to be given powers to issue on-the-spot orders to domestic violence perpetrators
Queensland police to be given powers to issue on-the-spot orders to domestic violence perpetrators
Queensland police to be given powers to issue on-the-spot orders to domestic violence perpetrators
Police officers will be given the power to issue on-the-spot orders to perpetrators of domestic violence.
Under current laws, police can only issue a five-day protection notice before they're forced to go before a judge to get a longer-term order.
What Next?
The government says the announcement is part of a first tranche of wider domestic violence reforms.
Queensland police officers will be given the power to issue on-the-spot orders to perpetrators of domestic violence.
Under current laws, police can only issue a five-day protection notice before they're forced to go before a judge to get a longer-term order.
Police Minister Dan Purdie said the government's proposed reforms would enable police to issue a 12-month order without having to go to court.
Family and domestic violence support services:
- 1800 Respect National Helpline: 1800 737 732
- DV Connect Women's Line: 1800 811 811
- MensLine: 1300 789 978
- Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800
- Lifeline (24-hour Crisis Line): 13 11 14
"We want to give police tools that they can rapidly put in place protection toward vulnerable victims of domestic violence. We want to hold perpetrators to account and protect all victims of crime," Mr Purdie said.
"What this does is allows police, once they've identified the person most in need of protection, they can rapidly put an order in place to protect that person. They can do that on the spot.
"We know we need to give the police those resources and those laws to be able to identify the person most in need of protection and to take decisive action to protect that person."
Mr Purdie said the new laws would slash hours of paperwork police were required to file after attending domestic violence call outs.
"Policing has been crumbling under this pressure … we know the longer it takes police to resolve one job, the longer it takes to get to the next call, and the person on that call could be your mother, your sister, your auntie or a loved one, and that's unacceptable," he said.
Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Amanda Camm said the changes were part the government's agenda to "focus our attention on victims and victim safety".
"That's ensuring that victims of domestic and family violence are protected, that police have the resources they need to ensure they can deliver that protection, and that as a state government, we will have a zero tolerance to perpetrators," she said.
Domestic and Family Violence Minister Amanda Camm. (ABC News)
She said the protection notices were were part of a "first trench of reforms in the domestic violence act".
"What we've seen and the data speaks to it, as does our frontline police, as does our frontline services that deal with domestic and family violence each and every day, the numbers are going in the wrong direction," she said.
"They're continuing to increase … we need to do something differently.
"My commitment … [is] to deliver reform that will better protect victims, but that will hold perpetrators to account."
Coalition of Peaks
Queensland police to be given powers to issue on-the-spot orders to domestic violence perpetrators
STOP Domestic Violence Conference 2025
Leaders from across the country are gathering on Ngunnawal Country next week to shape the future of Closing the Gap.
Representatives from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations will come together for a landmark Assembly – part of the first-ever Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led review of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
The Agreement was signed in 2020 with bipartisan support across all levels of government. Now, it’s time to take stock, come together, and share perspectives on how it’s going – and what must come next.
Not going to the Assembly but want to have your say?
🔗 Visit our website to take a short survey or make a submission by 16 April https://rb.gy/m9rxno
STOP Domestic Violence Conference 2025
Queensland police to be given powers to issue on-the-spot orders to domestic violence perpetrators
STOP Domestic Violence Conference 2025
24th - 26th November 2025
Gold Coast
In 2025, The STOP Domestic Violence Conference journeys to the Gold Coast. Join us and gather with your peers as we reflect on the current obstacles facing us, brainstorm innovations and seek opportunities for change within the family, domestic and sexual violence sector.
From early intervention and coercive control awareness to legislative reform and digital safety, SDV25 will explore the most pressing issues in domestic, family, and sexual violence.
Under the theme Turning the Tide: Supporting Survivors and Shaping Change, the conference will bring together experts, advocates, and frontline responders to drive systemic change, empower survivors, and challenge harmful norms.
Together, we will tirelessly work to support survivors, shape change, and end violence against women and children.
Closing the Gap Campaign 2025
The Close the Gap Campaign today calls on Australian governments to accelerate action to realise the objectives of the 'National Agreement on Closing the Gap'.
Alongside demonstrating the critical work of our communities and organisations, the 'Close the Gap Campaign Report 2025' sends a clear message that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, leaders, organisations, and our allies will continue to hold governments to account for the limited progress towards meeting their commitments under the National Agreement.
Lowitja Institute CEO Paul Stewart: 'The 2025 report demonstrates the necessity and the strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ leadership for achieving sustainable outcomes and systemic change.
‘An ongoing push to strengthen and grow the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled sector is paramount to driving reform and delivering on the Priority Reforms set out in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.’
Read our media release: https://lnkd.in/gHcXHtDx
National Close the Gap Day
Breaking the Cycle of Intergenerational Trauma
The Healing Foundation is working to end intergenerational trauma by creating resources and programs that strengthen cultural connectedness and identity and improve the social and emotional wellbeing of our young people.
Healing Our Way...
podcast explores topics relating to intergenerational trauma, racism, identify, culture & healing.
The series features Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander voices & experiences, to promote truth telling & inspire listeners to learn more about the impacts of colonisation & the Stolen Generation.
The podcast creates a space for young people to share their ongoing healing needs, aspirations & healing needs & intergenerational trauma.
https://open.spotify.com/show/3ONEDp7jiBmtciPaQUDfYN?si=a30d486215d34f48