More than our story: action, wisdom and change

Family Safety Victoria on behalf of the Victorian Government invites you to a free virtual forum, More than our story: action, wisdom and change.

This forum aims to showcase and celebrate the unique role lived experience expertise has played in the family violence reforms in Victoria and the role of survivor advocacy in changing how the community understands and responds to family and sexual violence in Australia.

The forum will feature a conversation between former Australians of the Year and advocates Rosie Batty and Grace Tame, together with award-winning author, artist and advocate Amani Haydar; facilitated by author and gender equity advocate, Jamila Rizvi.

In 2016, the Royal Commission into Family Violence recommended victim survivors should remain at the heart of the reform and build on the legacy of community activism.

Victoria has established a formal advisory group of victim survivors to directly inform government on policy development, service design and systems improvement.

The forum will share lessons, discuss trends and challenges, and identify opportunities to ensure systems and service transformation is informed by people with a lived experience of family violence.

Five panel sessions will cover themes including:

• survivor advocate leadership
• best practice for lived experience initiatives in the community sector
• how to centre the voices of diverse and minority communities
• Aboriginal self-determination and lived experience
• the voices of children and young people.

This is a free forum, held virtually, 9.30am – 1.00pm Tuesday 12 April 2022.