Maurice Blackburn partners with DVConnect to help end domestic and family violence
On Monday 25 November, International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women DVConnect and Maurice Blackburn Women’s Network announced their partnership to work together to end domestic, family and sexual violence against women.
The Women’s Network of social justice law firm Maurice Blackburn will provide DVConnect with a variety of professional services pro bono.
DVConnect Chief Executive Officer Beck O’Connor says “We receive on average 1 call for help every 7 minutes, and 1 call every 3 minutes during our busier periods. With demand like this, it is imperative that the elimination of violence against women and children becomes a whole of community objective.
We were absolutely thrilled when Maurice Blackburn Women’s Network contacted us offering their help. Their professional services will help us continue to provide Queenslanders with pathways to safety, away from violence.”
This year marks Maurice Blackburn’s 100th year. The law firm have always been committed to social justice and were instrumental in contributing to some of Australia’s most influential legal decisions, including equal pay for women.
Maurice Blackburn Women’s Network Chair Vavaa Mawuli says “With on average 1 women a week killed by her intimate partner in Australia, our Women’s Network wanted to be able to lend our support to DVConnect to undertake the important and lifesaving work that they do everyday to help women experiencing domestic violence.”
Maurice Blackburn have taken the Queensland Government’s Not Now, Not Ever Pledge which encourages both the corporate sector and community organisations to pledge their commitment to act against domestic and family violence.
Corporate organisations and not-for-profits working collaboratively together to put an end to domestic, family and sexual violence is a key objective action under the Not Now, Not Ever Third Action Plan, released by the Palaszczuk Government in September this year.
Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Di Farmer said partnerships with the corporate and community sectors were vital to addressing domestic and family violence.
“We have done more than any other government before us to address domestic and family violence in Queensland, backed by an investment of almost $330 million,” she said.
“Domestic and family violence is everyone’s responsibility, so whether it’s corporate and community sectors, government, or everyday Queenslanders – we all need to support each other and work together to create the Queensland we want to be.
“It’s fantastic to see Maurice Blackburn partnering with DVConnect, and I would really encourage every corporate or community organisation to step up and consider how you can play your part.”
DVConnect helps Queenslanders find pathways to safety away from domestic and family violence. DVConnect operates three crisis helplines; Womensline, Mensline and the Sexual Assault Helpline. DVConnect is Queensland’s only free telephone service specialising in domestic, family and sexual violence offering crisis counsellors who can provide safety planning, information, interventions, referrals and emergency transport and accommodation. DVConnect operates Bella’s Sanctuary, a medium-term accommodation residence for women and children after leaving refuge/shelter. DVConnect also offers Workplace Domestic Violence Training to Queensland organisations.
The DVConnect helplines are:
- Womensline 1800 811 811, available 24/7
- Mensline 1800 600 636 available from 9am – midnight, 7 days
- Sexual Assault Helpline 1800 010 120, available from 7.30am – 11.30pm, 7 days.
- For more visit www.DVConnect.org.
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