Girl Up is a United Nations affiliated women’s empowerment community group based in Brisbane. We invite you to attend 'Ending violence against women through primary prevention: A panel discussion' - a thought-provoking discussion of panellists representing varied industries, centred on preventative actions crucial to ending Australia's gendered violence epidemic. The discussion will be followed by a social mingle, in celebration of Girl Up's year of advocacy in 2024!

As of July of this year, 80 Australian women have tragically died by gendered homicide, and thousands more have been impacted by physical and sexual violence (Source: Sherele Moody Femicide Watch). If you believe, like us, that gendered violence is an epidemic and would like to learn how primary prevention can make a difference, we would love to see you at our panel. So, what are the details?

When: Wednesday 4th December, 6.45-10pm

Where: Covent Garden - Gin Bar & Restaurant, 142 Boundary St, West End

Dress code: Night out (whatever YOU like!)

Ticket price includes dinner catering and non-alcoholic refreshments. All meals are GF/coeliac friendly. DF and vegan options are available. Nut-free meals can be accommodated.

Meet our panellists!
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Stephanie Wyeth (Professional Planner in Residence, University of Queensland) - Urban planner, Researcher and Strategist + Planning Institute of Australia Fellow; Researcher working on the 'Safer Cities | Safer Streets' program

A/Senior Sergeant Sharon Morgan (Queensland Police Service) - Coordinator (High Risk Teams); Domestic, Family Violence and Vulnerable Persons Command

Kara Cook (Former CEO, Basic Rights Queensland) - Solicitor and Founder of Australia's first expert Domestic Violence Law Firm + Lawyers Weekly 30 Under 30; Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Board Member (Audit and Risk and Research Committees)

Nidhi Kalaiya (Learning Director, Future Women) - Founder and Facilitator of Zuka + Former Social Impact Hub Fellow; Not-for-profit and DEI consulting for Kind Enterprises, The Equality Institute, Challenge DV programs

Why talk about gendered violence? And what is primary prevention?
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TW/CW: Violence, domestic violence, homicide

Preventing gendered violence is vastly under-resourced in Australia and instances of homicide and assault are significantly underreported. Victims of violence face excessive wait times for support, inadequate protocols for protection, and in some cases, interactions with apathetic, undereducated personnel. Often the stories of women who are killed violently don’t make the news. People want to believe that violence against women is rare. It makes us feel safer to deny the insidious truth - that men are harming women at alarming rates in this country - often within their homes, and within the confines of relationships that they believed in and trusted. Women are also at risk while jogging, returning home from nights out, and in public space. This is something we refuse to accept. A ‘primary prevention’ approach addresses the underlying, gendered drivers of violence against women. The aim of primary prevention is to stop violence before it happens.

To decrease the prevalence of gendered violence, whole-of-society ownership of the issue is essential. Our leaders must invest in interventions that address the underpinning factors that drive violence (poverty, discrimination, educational inequities, healthcare inequities, and AOD addiction etc.), reimagine masculinity and empower marginalised people.

Where is Covent Garden Gin Bar & Restaurant and how do I get there?
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142 Boundary St, West End QLD 4101

Free weekday parking is available on side streets nearby, however, we would recommend leaving 10-15 minutes to allow additional time for finding a park. If you are travelling via public transport, you can find route options through the Translink app. Covent Garden Gin Bar & Restaurant is a 16-minute walk from South Bank Train Station, a 19-minute walk from South Bank Ferry Terminal and nearby to several bus stops.

Covent Garden has wheelchair-accessible bathroom facilities and is accessible to manual wheelchair users (via assisted lift by staff up 4 short steps). We regret to share that this venue is not accessible for power/electric wheelchair users. We will continue our search for future venues that are fully accessible to all. Please do not hesitate to reach out via messenger if you have any access needs we can accommodate. Your comfort is a priority for us.

All are welcome and encouraged to attend.

- The Girl Up team xxx