South West Sydney Domestic Violence Conference 2026
Overview
The South West Sydney Domestic Violence Committee is pleased to announce the 9th Annual South West Sydney Domestic & Family Violence Conference, taking place on Thursday 19 November 2026 at Western Sydney University, Parramatta South Campus.
Ticket price includes full access to all conference sessions, lunch and refreshments throughout the day.
This year’s theme:
WHO CONTROLS THE STORY?
Power, Discourse & Accountability
How do the language we use, the narratives we create and the systems we work within shape our understanding of domestic and family violence?
And who gets to tell the story?
Join us as we bring together leading voices, frontline workers, community leaders, advocates and others from across the DV sector to explore these questions, challenge perspectives and consider what accountability can look like in practice.
We’re excited to announce our confirmed speakers: Sherele Moody, Nour Haydar, Prof Jennifer Burn, Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts, Arlia Flemming, Dr Monique Moffa, Mel Daley, Regan Mitchell, Sara Muzamil, Hayley Longbottom, Kuyan Mitchell, Elsie Cheung and Elly Desmarchelier.
Bonnie Support Services is proud to be the Gold Sponsor of this year’s conference, working alongside CORE Community Services and Services Australia to bring this important event to the South West Sydney community.
Lineup
MC - Sherry-Rose Watts
Sherry-Rose is an experienced MC, moderator, speaker, consultant and board director whose work spans leadership, social impact and community development. With over a decade of experience across the not-for-profit, government and private sectors, she has led and contributed to initiatives that champion inclusion, amplify diverse voices and strengthen communities. She currently serves on the board of the Centre for Multicultural Youth and is the founder of WomanGirl, a social enterprise dedicated to creating opportunities for women and girls to thrive. Known for her warmth, authenticity and ability to navigate complex and sensitive conversations with empathy, care and purpose, Sherry-Rose brings a thoughtful and people-centred approach to creating space for meaningful dialogue, diverse perspectives and shared learning.
Monique Moffa
Dr Monique Moffa is a Lecturer in Criminology & Justice Studies at RMIT University, and an assistant manager of the Bridge of Hope Innocence Initiative.
Sherele Moody
Sherele Moody is an anti-violence activist, award-winning journalist, femicide and child death researcher and the creator of Australia's only memorial to women and children lost to violence.
Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts
Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts is a proud Bundjalung Widubul Wiabul woman, human rights lawyer, advocate, author and survivor advocate. She is a respected and leading authority on the rights, safety and self-determination of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families and communities.
Nour Haydar
Nour Haydar is a co-host and senior producer of Guardian Australia's award-winning daily news podcast Full Story and has been outspoken about the need to improve reporting on gender-based violence.
Mel Daley
Mel Daley is a proud Wiradjuri woman with more than 25 years of professional experience in the community and non-profit sectors, including working as a counsellor, advocate, educator, mentor, and activist.
Jennifer Burn
Professor Jennifer Burn is the Director of Anti-Slavery Australia, a university-based law and research centre dedicated to advancing the rights of people who have experienced all forms of modern slavery.
Arlia Flemming
Arlia Flemming is the Chief Executive Officer of the Central Tablelands and Blue Mountains Community Legal Centre and has experience across generalist community legal centres, Women’s Legal Services and Family Violence Prevention Legal Services.
Sara Muzamil
Sara Muzamil is the Finding Safety Project Manager at Jesuit Refugee Service Australia and an Executive Member of the National Advocacy Group for Women on Temporary Visas Experiencing Violence.
Hayley Longbottom
Hayley Longbottom is a Jerrinja, Cullunghutti, Wandi Wandandian woman and is currently the Chief Executive Leader of Health and Wellbeing, and a NAATSIWHP Ambassador.
Kuyan Mitchell
Kuyan Mitchell is a proud Wiradjuri, Gnunnawal and Bundjalung man and is experienced in policy, program development and facilitation, system reform and community-led design.
Elsie Cheung
Elsie Cheung is the Forced Marriage Project Coordinator at Anti-Slavery Australia and has extensive experience in the modern slavery space, initially providing free legal assistance to people affected by modern slavery, and later transitioning to research, training and resource development.
Aunty Kerrie Kenton - Welcome to Country
Kerrie Kenton is a Sydney based multidisciplinary First Nations visual artist and knowledge holder of the Wangal People of Sydney. Her art practice is intricately woven with knowledge, kinship, story & song. Kerrie is an educator, weaver, sculptor, painter & designer. Her works are inspired by her Indigenous heritage, healing and the environment. Her approach to her work reflects her commitment to her community, education and Reconciliation. Kerrie has won two Deadly Awards and many others and has had multiple artist residency’s including the Fonderie Darling in Montreal Canada. Kerrie holds many commissions and public art works to her name across Sydney and her works are held in collections in Australia and overseas.
Regan Mitchell
Regan is a proud Wiradjuri and Ngunnawal woman, raised in Community, Cowra, NSW. Regan has extensive lived and professional experience as a front-line domestic violence specialist that includes providing long term, intensive, and culturally responsive casework support for women and children experiencing domestic violence and abuse. She draws on this experience to inform her approach to primary prevention Our Watch in her role as Director of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Strategy.
Elly Desmarchelier
Session Information
Session 1 – The language of violence: The power behind the words
This panel will feature industry leaders, advocates, researchers, and journalists who will explore the role language plays in maintaining a culture of violence. The panel will discuss the notion that how we write about and speak about violence affects how we feel about and respond to violence.
Session 2 – Misidentified Victim-Survivors, Guilty Pleas and Criminal Consequences
This session will explore the issue of victim-survivors of domestic and family violence being misidentified as ‘predominant aggressors’ and the subsequent snowball effect this has on their lives. The aim of this session is to highlight the role the legal system plays in creating justice vs injustice, empowerment vs oppression, and safety vs lasting harm.
Session 3 – First Nations voices: Challenging narratives & demanding accountability
This panel will feature First Nations researchers, advocates, frontline workers and policy makers reflecting on the theme of the conference ‘Who Controls the Story? Power, Discourse and Accountability’. Centring First Nations perspectives when examining how systems and language play a huge role in perpetuating violence against women, especially First Nations women, is critical.
Session 4 – My Blue Sky: Identifying and Responding to Forced Marriage
This session will provide insight into the workings of ‘My Blue Sky’, a national forced marriage service run by Anti-Slavery Australia at the University of Technology Sydney. The aim of this session is to help audience members gain a better understanding of what forced marriage is and guidance about how to support someone experiencing forced marriage.
Resources
We are aware that difficult content will be discussed during the conference. We will have a dedicated counselling room available throughout the conference as needed. We will also have a room available for anyone who is breastfeeding and is needing a private space for this. Additionally, WSU has dedicated prayer rooms available for anyone needing to pray throughout the day. If anyone is needing support to access any of these facilities/resources, please speak to a committee member who will be able to assist you.
A dedicated resource table will be available to all attendees to utilise throughout the day. This table is a space for attendees to bring any flyers, pamphlets or other resources that they wish to share with other attendees. The information can cover services and research.
A dedicated program outlining the day’s events, speaker bios and any other important information will be available on the day via QR code.
Location & Parking Info
The conference is taking place at:
Western Sydney University – Parramatta South Campus – Building E.A.G.18
This building can be accessed via the front steps or an adjacent accessible ramp for people with mobility issues. A run-down of emergency procedures will be provided on the day.
Travel to the venue can be done in a few different ways:
1. Driving
If you are driving, please park in the Parramatta South Campus P1 Blue Bay. We will send you an email with a temporary parking permit attached that gives you free parking for the day of the conference in the P1 Blue Bay only. Please print this permit out and bring it with you on the day of the conference and display in clear view on your dashboard. If you forget to bring the permit, please advise a committee member at the registration desk as soon as you arrive for a spare permit to be provided. If the P1 Blue Parking Zone is full, you will be required to park at another location and pay for your parking.
2. Shuttle Bus
If you are taking public transport, we advised catching the train to Parramatta Station. From there, it is an approximately 5min walk to the Parramatta City Campus where you can find the Shuttle Bus stop on Smith Street, adjacent to the university building. The WSU Shuttle Bus Service runs between WSU Parramatta Campuses. The Parramatta South Campus stop drops passengers off in front of the conference building (EA). For more information about the WSU Parramatta Shuttle Bus Service, checkout the following link: https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/campus-operations/security/accessibility-transport-parking/shuttle-bus-timetable
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