Spotlighting the issue of high rates of violence against women in regional and rural areas

In July 2021, our Charles Sturt Gender and Feminist Studies (GaFS) Network partnered with the Athena SWAN/Equity, Diversity and Inclusion team to address issues of high rates of violence against women in regional and rural areas in the online seminar ‘Violence Against Women in Regional and Rural Areas’. Facilitated by Senior Lecturer in Sociology in our School of Social Work and Arts, Dr Donna Bridges, this seminar was attended by 120 participants from across Australia and engaged impactful media attention.

“Rates of domestic and family violence in Australia are alarmingly high,” Dr Bridges said. “It is estimated that one-third of all women in Australia have incurred physical assault, and a fifth have been subject to sexual assault.”

The seminar involved a professional panel and allowed participants to engage in meaningful dialogue around links between gender inequality and domestic violence.

Expert presenters included:

• Arlia Fleming, Centre Director/Principal Solicitor at the Central Tablelands and Blue Mountains Community Legal Centre
• Lorraine Murphy, a Generalist Counsellor practicing at the Central West Women’s Health Centre in Bathurst NSW
• Tracey Willow, who has 30 years of experience working in violence against women, most recently in the supervision and support of frontline workers in the domestic violence space and social work education
• Jenny Rolfe, President of the Wagga Women’s Health Centre
• Kevin Jones, Manager, Uniting Aboriginal Permanency Support program, Dubbo.