Preventing violence against women

Fiona has a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Psychology from Flinders University and a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of South Australia.  Fiona has worked in the field of gender equality with a particular focus on violence against women for over twenty years as a Social Worker, Senior Policy Officer and Manager in the South Australian and Victorian Governments.

Her current role as Director in the South Australian Office for Women involves leading the implementation of South Australia’s Women’s Policy Achieving Gender Equality and a range of initiatives including A Right to Safety, the second phase of South Australia’s Women’s Safety Strategy and the implementation of Investing in Women’s Futures South Australia’s economic empowerment blueprint for women.   Fiona also leads South Australia’s involvement in the implementation of the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children and provides advice to the Premier’s Council for Women.

Fiona has also tutored in social work at the University of South Australia and has been involved in a number of community groups including the Women's Legal Service in South Australia of which she was the Chairperson.

Overview of presentation

We all have a choice in Australia – men and women – whether to play a role in creating a future where women and their children live free from violence or to sit on the sidelines while one woman a week is killed by her current or former partner.

An Australia free of violence against women and their children is an Australia where women are not only safe, but respected, valued and treated as equals in private and public life. Achieving this requires changes in culture, society and social norms and involves everyone.  Hear about how you can do to be part of this change.