The Swich Speaks Out: 2026 - Domestic and Family Violence Summit
Description
A day dedicated to sharing evidence‑based practice, strengthening collaboration, and inspiring our collective response to domestic and family violence. Join us to learn, develop your skills and be energised by the work happening across our region. Ipswich community members, agencies and the service sector are invited to come together for the 4th annual Swich Speaks Out Summit in 2026.
The Swich Speaks Out Summit: 2026 continues Ipswich’s commitment to Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month. This year’s theme, Culture, Community and Safety: Equity in Protection for Every Voice, highlights the importance of culturally responsive practice, inclusive systems and community‑led approaches to preventing and responding to Domestic and Family Violence. The Summit will explore how we can strengthen safety and accountability while ensuring every person, family and community has equitable access to protection and support.
The Summit is delivered by the Ipswich DFV Integrated Service System Working Group as part of the Ipswich DFV Prevention Strategy and Action Plan, reinforcing our shared vision for a coordinated, informed and community‑driven response to Domestic and Family Violence.
The 2026 agenda features keynote presentations, panel discussions and focused breakout sessions. Attendees will be able to opt in to the sessions that align most closely with their work, interests and professional development goals.
Agenda
- 9:00 am - 9:40 am
Event Opening
Welcome to Country Mayor Teresa Harding address Opening address on behalf of the Ipswich DFV Integrated Service System Working Group Progress Update - Ipswich Domestic and Family Violence Strategy and Action Plan -2024-2025
- 9:40 am - 10:30 am
From Diversity to Equity: Reimagining Systems of Safety for Multicultural Women - Dr Faiza El-Higzi OAM, University of Queensland
Dr Faiza El Higzi OAM is a respected advocate, academic, and community leader whose work centres on equity, women’s safety, and the inclusion of migrant and refugee communities. With a career spanning policy reform, research, and grassroots mobilisation, she has made significant contributions to domestic and family violence prevention, human rights advocacy, and multicultural engagement in Queensland. A recipient of the Order of Australia Medal and the Queensland Multicultural Achiever Award, Dr El Higzi brings deep expertise in coercive control, settlement challenges, and culturally informed service design. She serves on the Brisbane South PHN board and leads community initiatives such as Bint al Neel, championing women’s leadership and empowerment. Known for her ability to bridge community voices and institutional systems, Dr El Higzi works to ensure that diversity translates into genuine equity, safety, and dignity for all women.
- 11:00 am - 11:30 am
Elevating Lived Experience
DVAC’s lived experience group members present recommendations and advice on how support services and government agencies can best support survivors and their children, sharing insights from their own journeys to safety.
- 11:30 am - 12:30 pm
Interactive Workshops
The morning interactive sessions give attendees the opportunity to explore key themes in greater depth through practical, discussion‑based workshops. Each session offers a different lens on strengthening safety, inclusion and support, allowing you to choose the topic that best aligns with your interests and practice. These sessions are designed to be engaging, informative and reflective, encouraging shared learning and conversation. Diverse Voices: LGBTIQA+SB Inclusion in Practice An interactive session exploring the experiences of LGBTIQA+SB communities and practical ways services can strengthen inclusion and safety. Includes insights from recent service delivery and tools for supporting both victim‑survivors and people using violence. SSI Workshop: Building Cultural Response Through Collaboration A collaborative session focused on strengthening culturally responsive practice. This workshop introduces insights from community engagement and explores how organisations can work together to support culturally diverse communities more effectively. Threads of Her Journey: Understanding DFV Experienced by CALD Women This interactive workshop explores the lived experiences of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) women experiencing domestic and family violence within the Ipswich region. Facilitated by a CALD DFV practitioner from WCSSI, participants will engage in a hands-on activity that highlights the intersecting impacts of trauma, systemic barriers, resilience, and support. The session will support local services to reflect on how responses can either increase barriers or strengthen pathways to safety, with a focus on culturally safe, trauma-informed, and collaborative practice. WWILD Workshop: Supporting People with Intellectual Disability who have Experienced Domestic and Family Violence A practical and informative session designed to equip practitioners with the knowledge and skills to support people with intellectual disability who experience domestic and family violence. Topics include recognising intellectual disability, understanding unique patterns of abuse, accessible communication, risk assessment and safety planning, and working effectively with support people and decision‑makers
- 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
Networking Lunch and Market Stalls
- 1:30 pm - 2:15 pm
Same Heart, Different Knowing: First Nations Wisdom and the Safe and Together Model - Jackie Wruck, Asia Pacific Regional Manager, Safe and Together Institute
Jackie Wruck is a proud Yindinji woman from FNQ, Cairns/Yarrabah region. She is currently the Asia Pacific Regional Manager for Safe & Together Institute here in Australia and has been a Certified Trainer for S&T CORE Framework since 2017. She has worked in Child Protection, Counsellor in DFV Service, Indigenous and Community health, family wellbeing service and community housing. She uses her lived experience of violence to help others understand the added complexities when working with families who experience DFV alongside racism and other inequalities. She’s been an invited speaker on DFV, the Safe & Together Model and working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families in a culturally safe way across Australia.
- 2:15 pm - 3:00 pm
Inclusion in Action: Sector Perspectives
A forward‑thinking conversation exploring how we can strengthen inclusion and elevate diverse voices across our sector. This session brings together Carolyn Robinson - Beyond DV, Ambre - Domestic Violence Action Centre, Erin Wilkin - UnitingCare Ipswich and Victoria Reid - WWILD Sexual Violence Prevention Assn. Inc. — leaders who are passionate about creating safer, more inclusive systems and communities. The panel will unpack practical approaches to embedding diversity, discuss the importance of representation in decision‑making, and explore how organisations can work collaboratively to ensure all voices are heard and valued. Expect an insightful, energising discussion that highlights innovation, challenges the status quo, and inspires attendees to champion inclusive practice in their own work.
- 3:15 pm - 3:45 pm
"Ask me More" Sessions
The Ask Me More sessions give you the opportunity to choose which conversation you’d like to explore further. These small, informal sessions allow you to spend time in a focused discussion with our presenters, ask questions and build on the themes introduced earlier in the day. When registering, you will be able to choose one of the following options: Dr Faiza El‑Higzi OAM – University of Queensland Continue the discussion on cultural safety, equity and strengthening support systems for multicultural communities. Ideal if you’d like to explore the ideas introduced during the morning keynote in more detail. Inclusion in Action: Sector Perspectives Panel Join Carolyn (Beyond DV), Ambre (DVAC), Victoria (WWILD) and Erin (UnitingCare) for a conversation about inclusion, elevating diverse voices and embedding survivor responsive approaches. A great option if you would like to continue exploring the themes raised during the panel. Jackie Wruck – Safe & Together Institute Spend time discussing evidence‑informed approaches to supporting families and gain further insight into the Safe & Together framework. Ideal if you’d like to hear more following the afternoon keynote.
- 3:50 pm
Summit Closing
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