Advocacy and Awareness Raising

The Finding Safety Project is uniquely placed to be able to make visible the obstacles and gaps in systems and policies that prevent women on temporary visas who have experienced violence from accessing safety and justice in Australia.

We advocate for improved accessibility by engaging with frontline services, Local and State level decision makers and the Federal Government. This multi-faceted approach to awareness raising and advocacy is crucial in creating the long-term and sustainable change needed for those marginalised by structures that fail to recognise the unique challenges faced by women at the intersection of immigration and sexual and gender based violence.

Since our inception, the Finding Safety Project has partnered with services that share our values and vision for a better, more just society. JRS Australia is a proud executive member of the National Advocacy Group for women on Temporary Visas (the NAG) and we endorse the NAG’s Blueprint for Reform in full.

We also actively participate in council level Communities of Practice and DFV interagencies, and the NSW Community of Practice for women and LGBTQIA+ people experiencing violence on temporary visas chaired by DVNSW.

We believe that a collaborative approach is key to improving outcomes for women experiencing SGBV, and we are keen to continue to work with organisations across the broader social and community services sector to achieve this.

16 Days of Activism to End Violence Against Women and Girls

Every year, JRS Australia marks the 16 Days of Activism- a global campaign that unites women across the world in a call to end violence and all forms of abuse and discrimination. 

The 16 Days of Activism commences on the 25th of November (The International day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls) and ends on the 10th of December (World Human Rights Day). This is to symbolise that violence against women is a grave abuse of human rights.

In Australia, we recognise the gendered drivers of violence against women as:

1. The condoning of violence against women
2. Men’s control of decision-making and limits to women’s independence in public and private life
3. Rigid gender stereotyping and dominant forms of masculinity
4. Male peer relations and cultures of masculinity that emphasis aggression, dominance and control

See Our Watch for more information.

During the 16 Days we take the opportunity to highlight how these drivers of violence play out in unique ways for women on temporary visas and those seeking asylum, where complex cultural and religious contexts intersect with sexism and racism within the broader Australian context.

The 16 Days of Activism is an opportunity to call for improved Government action, systemic responses and funding for organisations so that victim-survivors have the opportunity to access justice and create safety for themselves and their children.

Learn more about our 16 Days of Activism 2023 Campaign here.