Responding Together: A practitioner roundtable on coercive control legislation

The sector is strongest when we learn from each other.  

With the new coercive control legislation now in place, many of you are leading the way – preparing teams, navigating challenges, and raising vital questions about how this law will play out in practice.

Join us for Responding Together: A practitioner roundtable on coercive control legislation, an opportunity to connect with peers, hear from experts and share the collective wisdom we need to move forward.  

WorkUP has heard from practitioners like you wanting to know: 

• How will the law impact individual workers? 

• Does the law impact our case noting processes? 

• How can we support workers giving evidence? 

• How do victim survivors feel about the law? What do we know about how they would like to see them used? 

But, most of all, practitioners wanted to know what was happening in other parts of sector. You wanted to understand how our other services were responding, and what they were planning to do to support their clients and teams. That’s why we have created this opportunity for you to come together, hear from experts and colleagues, and workshop a way forward, together.  

Attending Responding Together will build your confidence and comfort to navigate the new law, build and strengthen your professional networks and equip you with the resources you need. 

Event Details

Date: Thursday, 17 July 2025
Time: 9:00am - 2:00pm AEST
Location: Rydges Fortitude Valley, 601 Gregory Terrace, Bowen Hills QLD 4006

Travel support is available* – click here to apply. If you are unable to download the application form please email workforce@healingfoundation.org.au to receive a copy. *Target Group Services Only

Please note: As we’ve already finalised numbers and catering with the venue, we may not be able to fully accommodate dietary requirements at this stage. However, we encourage your team members to include any dietary needs during registration or notify us directly and we’ll do our best to accommodate where possible.

Who should attend

This event is for workers from specialist domestic and family violence, sexual assault or women’s health and wellbeing services funded by the Office for Women's Safety and Violence Prevention, Queensland Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety.

Please note: Tickets are limited and only available for WorkUP Queensland target group*. We reserve the right to limit places per service if oversubscribed.

*WorkUP Queensland’s target group is specialist DFV, women's health and wellbeing and sexual violence services funded by the Office for Women's Safety and Violence Prevention, Queensland Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety.

Panel Members

Professor Silke Meyer  

Professor Silke Meyer is the Leneen Forde Chair in Child and Family Research in the School of Health Sciences and Social Work at Griffith University. Silke is a criminologist and social worker by training, bringing practical and theoretical expertise to her research, teaching and advocacy. Her research centres on different aspects of domestic and family violence, including women and children’s safety, wellbeing and recovery, men’s accountability in their role as perpetrators and fathers, and the role of domestic and family violence-informed practice in child protection, policing and court proceedings. She is an expert in holistic and collaborative service responses to individuals and families affected by domestic and family violence, including evidence-based policy and practice reform. Silke has delivered evaluations, expert advice and professional development sessions for different government departments and community based organisations, including victim support services, perpetrator interventions, police, courts, health, child safety and the coroner’s office. 

Karina Hogan 

Karina Hogan comes from a big Aboriginal and South Sea Island family with strong ancestral ties to Northern NSW. She grew up in Woodridge, south of Brisbane, with a dynamic and colourful community that has heavily influenced who she is today. She is a victim survivor of family violence and speaks powerfully about her experiences with justice systems. She has produced radio for the ABC on and off for the past ten years. Alongside this, she has worked as a board member for Sisters Inside working with women impacted by the criminal justice system. She has also working on the board of the Children’s Hospital Queensland and is writing a novel that speaks from the perspectives of those she grew up with. You can listen to Karina on 989fm’s Let’s Talk program with Boe Spearim. 

Ria Wong 

Ria is the lead of Brisbane Domestic Violence Service, who as an activity of Micah Projects, are committed to providing services and opportunities in the community which create justice and respond to injustice.  

  Ria holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice, cross major in Human Services. Ria commenced her career in Queensland Corrective Services, working in frontline and operational roles as well as project and policy positions across the state of Queensland. Ria has since undertaken roles across the Specialist DFV sector including Gold Coast Domestic Violence Prevention Centre's Integrated Response Manager, and leadership positions at Brisbane Domestic Violence Service. Ria also worked alongside a diverse group of stakeholders as Integration Manager for the former Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women to implement the Brisbane DFV High Risk Team. Ria has been a national lead facilitator of Griffith University's MATE Bystander program and as a consultant subject matter expert to inform national service design and project implementation.  

  Ria is passionate about delivering innovative, creative and sustainable outcomes for social change & justice in our communities. Ria is committed to making a direct and genuine impact on ending violence against women at an individual and systems level, through collaborative partnerships with peers and following the lead and expertise of survivor advocates. 

Michael Ede 

Michael joined the Queensland Police Service (QPS) in 1991. He initially performed general duties in Toowoomba, Cunnamulla and Roma before undertaking the QPS Police Prosecutors Training Course in 1995. For the next 20 years he undertook prosecutorial responsibilities across Queensland, completed duties as a senior legislation development officer and undertook the role of the training and assessment officer for the QPS police prosecutor training programs as well as operating as a legal officer during G20 and the Commonwealth Games. 

Michael has also undertaken the role of patrol group inspector in the Ipswich District overviewing operational activities in this area for a three year period. He was next deployed as a strategy and performance officer with the Crime and Intelligence Command before being seconded as a legal officer to the QPS response to COVID-19. Michael has spent the last three years as a member of the Domestic Family Violence and Vulnerable Persons Command with the QPS, having been involved in implementing recommendations from the Commission of Inquiry into QPS responses to domestic and family violence and the Women’s Justice and Safety Taskforce as well as legislative and policy reform 

Lou Baker 

Louise is a social worker with 13 years experience in the sector, passionate about making a difference for vulnerable populations. Lou holds a Bachelor of Social Work and Bachelor of Arts, with over 13 years in the sector and a background of working in the Out of Home Care sector in Victoria. 

She currently oversees BYS’ family and parenting programs: 

• Safe Relationships Program (Healthy Relationships Groups for Young Women, and Social Group for Young Women, and the K.I.N.D Program which works with young people who use violence in their relationships with intimate partners and/or family members) 

• Young Dad’s program 

• Young Families Parenting group and Young Families workers. 

• Young Women’s workers 

• Young Families Brief Intervention Worker 

• Youth Domestic and Family Violence advocate 

Facilitated by: 

 Jan Ungerer  

Jan Ungerer is a dedicated process host, learning designer, and Pattern Catcher leadership coach, focused on practical strategies that empower individuals and teams to excel. With a broad background spanning the human, business, and social sectors, Jan applies living systems thinking, regenerative and appreciative inquiry, and emotional intelligence to build strong connections and develop purposeful leadership. As an accredited emotional intelligence and leadership coach, Jan is known for creating supportive environments where people feel secure in exploring the necessary risks for personal and professional growth. She specialises in crafting welcoming safe spaces that guide others in building capabilities and making a tangible, positive impact. Jan's approach highlights self-care as essential for transformation, leading to greater self-awareness and more effective engagement. Her mission is to inspire meaningful change by supporting individuals and projects committed to the common good.