Welcome to a new era of self-determination for the National Family Violence Prevention & Legal Services Forum, and its evolution to:
First Nations Advocates Against Family Violence
As of July 1, 2024, the National Family Violence Prevention and Legal Services Forum (the Forum) will operate as a standalone incorporated identity under the new company structure, strategic plan, name, and brand identity of First Nations Advocates Against Family Violence (FNAAVF).
The FNAAFV name and brand identity is representative of the evolution of the organisation to a self-determined, community-controlled, national peak body. While our name may be changing, we remain steadfastly committed to creating a future where all First Nations communities and individuals live free from the devastating impacts of family violence.
Learn more about the evolution of the FNAAFV brand in our company brand FACT SHEET.
'Community Connections' artwork by Nikita Herd.
Rates of violence against First Nations women are 34 times higher than other women in Australia, and up to 80 times in the worst areas of the country
The scale of the problem is much greater than this, however, because it is known that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are less likely than other women to report family violence or to seek support because of judgment, discrimination, shame or fear. The health and wellbeing of First Nations children depends upon the safety and resilience of First Nations women and families, so addressing family violence is a central priority in eliminating inter-generational disadvantage and discrimination against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia.
FNAAFV works with its FVPLS members, communities, governments and other partners to raise awareness about family violence effecting First Nations people, and to advocate for culturally safe legal and other holistic responses to this issue. The organisation provides a unified voice for its FVPLS members in areas of national policy, planning and law reform, and being a member of the national Coalition of Peaks, FNAAFV is committed to the national Closing the Gap targets, including Target 13:
- “Target 13: By 2031, the rate of all forms of family violence and abuse against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children is reduced at least by 50%, as progress towards zero.”
Read more about the Closing The Gap Targets and the Priority Reforms of the National Agreement.
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Join the conversation on our FNAAFV social channels
After what has been a tough year for our sector and our mob, it was great to gather and unite in Barngarla, Port Lincoln for our annual Member’s conference.
The event also featured our inaugural Annual General Meeting for FNAAFV where we formally welcomed Wynetta Dewis to the role of ...Chair and Phee Clarke to the role of Deputy Chair. We also welcomed back Corina Martin as a Director and welcomed Kathleen Wincen as a new Director.
We spent valuable time as a group sharing from the past year, hearing about the achievements of each of our member services, sharing the progress of various initiatives, and collecting valuable input on our key strategic priorities as we continue to advocate and amplify the work of the FVPLS sector.
We were also joined virtually by the Honourable Amanda Rishworth, Minister for Social Services who outlined her commitment to supporting the work of our sector, while newly appointed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Katie Kiss joined us in person to share her personal story and how she plans to ensure our sector is supported to deliver it’s much-need services and programs.
Thanks to the talented team from Laundry Lane for sharing their expertise on sensitive storytelling and guiding us through some thought-provoking discussions and activities, and to John and Tosha from FVLSAC in Port Lincoln for your local guidance and knowledge.
We are so honoured to be able to bring our members together as we work as a united sector to overcome violence in our communities. It is always so valuable to regroup face-to-face and connect in person. As the sector’s national peak body, we relish the opportunity to have our members share in the development of the journey to come and to prioritise our efforts for the coming year.
#fvpls #fnaafv #firstnationsfamilyviolence #galinyala
@followers
It’s been three months since we unveiled our new name and brand identity, and we’ve loved hearing feedback from our members and followers on this next phase of our journey – so thanks for sharing!
Our new brand represents more than a visual change - it embodies the values we stand ...for; it honors our rich heritage; and it represents our commitment to supporting First Nations victims of domestic, family, and sexual violence and the services that work tirelessly to support them.
Feel free to take a moment to familiarise yourself with the FNAAFV brand using the Fact Sheet on our new website and take the journey of how it has evolved to where we are today. https://lnkd.in/gQe-c-Ke
#FNAAFV #FVPLS
What a great week on the road connecting with our members in Western Australia and the Northern Territory recently. Our Board Chair Wynetta Dewis and CEO Kerry Staines spent the week with teams from Alice Springs, Fitzroy Crossing, Darwin, and Perth hearing about all the amazing work they are doing... and to see firsthand how they truly are specialists in their field and trusted by the communities they support.
We spent time learning about some of the challenges they face in service delivery, especially across such a large geographical footprint.
Thanks to the teams at Aboriginal Family Legal Services, Central Australian Aboriginal Family Legal Unit - CAAFLU, Marninwarntikura Women's Resource Centre, North Australian Aboriginal Family Legal Service, and NPY Women's Council (sorry Heather I forgot to get a pic!) for having us!
Amazing accolade Antoinette, so well deserved!
Congratulations Cindy and the NAAFLS team! What a brilliant achievement for such a critical service 😃
FNAAFV acknowledges and respects the traditional custodians whose lands we are fortunate to live and work on and we pay our respects to all Elders past and present.
