Over 60 senior corporate leaders are gathering in Sydney on Monday to discuss the role businesses can play in preventing violence against women and children.
The national roundtable will specifically discuss the ways in which corporations can act to prevent violence against women, and will hear from Our Watch, the e-Safety Commission, Thriving Communities Partnership, and people with lived experience of violence.
Considering that one in six women in Australia having experienced financial abuse, it’s a critical discussion that will be co-convened by the Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner, Micaela Cronin and social entrepreneur Catherine Fitzpatrick.
“Governments and communities across the country have recognised that violence against women is at a crisis point in Australia,” Cronin said, noting that businesses have an important role to pay in identifying domestic, family and sexual violence and supporting those who have experienced this violence.
“We know that systems can be, and often are, weaponised. That men who use violence are very good at weaponising every new technology to continue their coercive control,” she said.
“Today is an important day in gathering senior executives from the largest companies in Australia so they can hear directly about what is needed to identify, reduce and ultimately end violence against women and children.”
The leaders in attendance at the roundtable include senior representatives from Woolworths Group, Telstra, Optus, Origin, AGL, Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Property Council of Australia, as well as major banks, technology, transport, insurers, super funds and other industry associations.
The Business Roundtable will address the role of businesses and workplaces to accelerate the implementation of the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032.
Leaders will also discuss how corporations can prevent gender-based violence through fostering gender equality in the workplace, design products and services that prevent misuse by perpetrators of violence and provide leave entitlements for victim-survivors.
As a former bank executive, Fitzpatrick said she’s “seen firsthand how products and the shift to digital services are weaponised as a tactic of coercive control, and the devastating impact that financial abuse has on victim-survivors. It’s not just an issue for banks though – any business that offers joint accounts or online services can be weaponised as a tactic of coercive control.”
Now, Flequity Ventures Founder and Director and Adjunct Associate Professor University of NSW School of Social Sciences, Fitzpatrick has pioneered bank responses to tech-facilitated abuse and engagement with businesses. She says today’s roundtable is an important step in continuing to address this national crisis.
“If we are to realise Australia’s ambition to end gendered violence in a generation, it will take collective action across sectors to promote respect for women and protect against abuse,” said Fitzpatrick.
“The roundtable will help to identify ways that businesses can continue to show leadership and accelerate efforts that complement government investment and the critical work of the community sector.”
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week or visit www.1800RESPECT.org.au
Feeling worried or no good? No shame, no judgement, safe place to yarn. Speak to a 13YARN Crisis Supporter, call 13 92 76. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
If you are concerned about your behaviour or use of violence, you can contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or visit www.ntv.org.au