First National Survivor Advocate Program to create significant change in Australia

Full Stop Australia (formerly Rape and Domestic Violence Services Australia), aims to put a full stop to sexual, domestic and family violence in Australia. Over the past five years, the Foundation has funded a Legal and Policy Officer at Full Stop Australia (FSA) to assist clients with access to high quality legal insight, and advice to navigate a multitude of complex court and legal processes and jurisdictions.

As a natural extension to this support, through an additional one-off funding grant of $50,000 in October 2021, FSA has been able to recently launch the National Survivor Advocate Program to ensure law, policy and advocacy is survivor led across the country.

This is a significant program for FSA to launch, as currently there is no national body that links and supports survivors of sexual, domestic and family violence in Australia who want to speak out and influence change. As the lead Full Stop counsellor said at the launch event in late November:

“Those with lived experience of abuse are experts in their own lives, and can bring solutions to the table as they are living with this every day. They need a safe environment to be heard, believed and empowered. They do not need to wrapped in cotton wool; these are strong and resilient individuals and many of them want to have a voice.”

The central element of the program will be the establishment of a national advisory group of diverse people with lived experience of violence who are passionate about advocating for systemic reform. It will be based on collaboration with existing groups; CEO Hayley Foster stressed that the program “aims to support and to facilitate; this will not undermine or duplicate existing incredibly important networks and structures.”

Members of the advisory group will be selected through a formal Expression of Interest (EOI) process. Advisory group members will be invited through national networks via survivor and sector forums.

The Foundation is proud to be supporting Full Stop Australia to launch this program at this critical moment in Australia’s history, where the goal of ending violence against women and children is a national priority.

Full Stop Australia counsellors are available 24/7, nationwide on 1800 FULL STOP (1800 385 578). This is a free service available 24/7 Australia wide. Access to online counselling services are available at fullstop.org.au.