Working Women’s Centre Australia has joined more than 40 organisations in a national submission to Safe Work Australia, calling for stronger model Work Health and Safety laws to better prevent work-related gendered violence. The submission highlights that gendered violence — including sexual harassment, bullying, discrimination and other psychosocial harms — is a serious and widespread safety risk that requires clear, enforceable duties under WHS legislation.
The submission recommends explicit regulation of work-related gendered violence, stronger requirements for employers to identify and manage risks, and prevention plans developed in consultation with workers, particularly those most at risk. It also emphasises the need to address workplace power imbalances, structural inequality, and intersectional discrimination as core drivers of harm.
This October, three advocates from our Activist Network for the “Our Silence Is Not for Sale” campaign spoke publicly about the impact of Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) and shared their lived experiences.
Raising Awareness at the Public Forum
Tessa Milford-Behn, who chose to be identified at the event as Lauren, and Leanne Kirkaldie spoke at the NDA Public Forum hosted by the Working Women’s Centre SA. They shared powerful stories about the serious and life-changing harassment they experienced in former workplaces, their challenges in seeking justice, and the silencing and shaming effects of NDAs.
“Speaking at this public forum was such a positive and empowering experience. It was refreshing to be in a room full of people who genuinely want to make a difference and who understand the harm NDAs cause to victims.
The Working Women’s Centre made sure I felt comfortable taking part. This experience made me believe that change is possible, and I was truly grateful to be part of it.”
— Tessa Milford-Behn (Lauren)
The event also featured Sharmilla Bargon, who discussed her report Let’s Talk About Confidentiality, and Hon. Katrine Hildyard MP, Minister for Women and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence.
You can read the full report-back from the Public Forum on NDAs here.
Speaking in the Media
Another advocate from our Activist Network, Anna Hough, continued to raise her voice in the media. Her story was featured in The Weekend Australian on 11 October, and she wrote an opinion piece for The Australian on 17 October.
Anna’s article, “Silencing Workplace Abuse No Way to Set New Standard,” highlights what it means to speak truth to power and to seek justice after traumatic experiences in federal parliament. She exposes how survivors of sexual assault in Australia’s parliament continue to face silence, stalled reforms, and pressure to sign NDAs.
Anna calls for the full implementation of the Set the Standard recommendations, independent complaint processes, and a redress scheme for survivors. She condemns NDAs for protecting perpetrators rather than victims and supports the Speaking from Experience report and the Our Silence Is Not for Sale campaign by the Working Women’s Centre Australia.
To read the full opinion piece, click here.
Collaboration Opportunities
If your Centre would like to host an Our Silence Is Not for Sale event or involve one of the campaign’s activists in your local initiatives, please contact the National Team to discuss coordination and support.
The Power to Prevent Coalition has prepared a joint statement to be submitted to the Best Practice Review, aiming to strengthen national responses to workplace sexual harassment and gender-based violence.
Some of you may have attended the recent Power to Prevent meeting where this statement was discussed. If you haven’t had the chance yet, we encourage you to read the attached statement and consider endorsing it if you feel comfortable doing so.
To endorse the statement or ask any questions, please contact Feiyi Zhang at Feiyi.Zhang@nationallegalaid.org.au.
The Working Women’s Centre Network invites you to join us for the Small Steps | Safe Workplaces Conference 2025, taking place from 19 to 21 November in Nipaluna (Hobart). This three-day national gathering brings together people working to prevent and respond to workplace sexual harassment.
Whether you work in the legal sector, community services, HR, leadership, government, unions — or you are simply committed to building safer workplaces — you are welcome in this conversation.
Across the conference, members of our network will be contributing to discussions including:
• I’m Speaking! Breaking the Silencing Effect of NDAs and Defamation
with Abbey Kendall (WWC Australia) and Emily Gray (WWC NSW)
• Re-imagining the Intake Process: More Than Just a Gateway to Legal Advice with Eloise Dalton, Anna Gilet & Alice Wallace (WWC QLD)
• Panel: Working with Lived Expertise — Models for the Future
with Aira Firdaus (WWC Australia) and sector partners
• Panel: Access to Justice for Marginalised Communities — Practical Calls to Action with Georgina Cahill (WWC WA) and experts
• Panel: Challenges of the Workplace Justice Visa Pilot
with Sharmilla Bargon (WWC NSW), Eloise Dalton (WWC QLD) and sector partners
• Panel: Integrated Practice — Navigating the Challenges for Best Service Delivery with Anna Gilet (WWC QLD), Jeanelle Tan & Georgina Cahill (WWC WA) and service delivery experts
And more — view the full program below.
📅 19–21 November 2025
📍 School of Law, University of Tasmania, Nipaluna (Hobart)
🎟 Tickets: https://lnkd.in/gvhBjKBi
We would love to see you there!
Happy first anniversary to the Western Australian WWC!
In just one year, the team has supported women and gender-diverse workers through free and confidential legal advice, empowering people to understand their rights and pursue justice in the workplace.
This anniversary also marks the strong collaboration between Women’s Legal Service WA and Circle Green Community Legal, who together have built a vital service for workers across the state.
The celebration event was attended by Members of Parliament, Abbey Kendall, CEO of Working Women’s Centre Australia, Helen Creed, a Life Member of both United Workers Union and Unions WA and WWCA Board Subcommittee Member, along with stakeholders and friends of the Working Women’s Centre — including The Hon. Simone McGurk MLA, Minister for Industrial Relations and for Women.
The guest speaker, Biplavi Jarga Magar, gave a moving speech about her experiences of sexual harassment that ultimately led to her being awarded $305,000 in compensation by the Federal Court of Australia. Biplavi spoke carefully and without hesitation, untangling the exploitation she experienced from her experience of standing up for herself. She spoke of the unwavering support and expertise of her lawyer Seri Feldman Gubbay, and ultimately the confidence and strength she has nurtured in herself. Thanks to Bilplavii for sharing with us.
To learn more about the work of WWC WA and how they are creating lasting change for workers in Western Australia, visit: wwcwa.org.au
If you’re in Adelaide, come along and hear from our Advocacy Officer, Aira Firdaus, who will be one of the amazing speakers at this year’s Reclaim the Night on 31 October.
Reclaim the Night is a global activist march that calls for the elimination of gendered violence, an end to victim-blaming, and for actions to build safe and just communities.
This year, Reclaim the Night calls for:
• Justice for First Nations women and communities
• An end to violence on our streets, in our homes, and in our workplaces
• Safety, autonomy, and healthcare for all
• Funding for specialist services and education
• Human rights, solidarity, and equality for all
• The voices of victim-survivors — and an end to systems of silence
Friday 31 October | 5:30 PM
📍 Gather at the top of Rymill Park (corner of Rundle St & East Tce) | Kaurna Yarta (Adelaide)
➡️ March to Parliament House via Rundle Street and Rundle Mall
Everyone is welcome — women and gender-diverse people to the front!
👉 Learn more and connect with the event here: https://wwcsa.org.au/campaigns/reclaim-the-night/
Australia’s construction sector continues to face challenges in attracting and retaining women workers. A crucial area of focus is how women are supported in the workplace before, during, and after parental leave. Research has shown that these periods are pivotal in a woman’s decision to stay in or return to work. However, there has been limited research into the experiences of women in construction during these transitions, or how to support employers and workers through this critical time.
The research, run out of the University of Sydney’s Australian Centre for Gender Equality and Inclusion @ Work, was conducted in three parts:
Australia’s construction sector continues to face challenges in attracting and retaining women workers. A crucial area of focus is how women are supported in the workplace before, during, and after parental leave. Research has shown that these periods are pivotal in a woman’s decision to stay in or return to work. However, there has been limited research into the experiences of women in construction during these transitions, or how to support employers and workers through this critical time.
The research, run out of the University of Sydney’s Australian Centre for Gender Equality and Inclusion @ Work, was conducted in three parts:
In the Media Advocacy Program, one of our lived experience advocates, Siobhan Fitzpatrick, reflects on what it meant to connect with others, feel validated, and gain the confidence to keep fighting for change.
Siobhan’s story is powerful and inspiring — watch the video to hear her reflection on the Media Advocacy Program.
Please take some time to explore the folder and familiarise yourself with the materials. These resources are for the network’s use in advocacy, communications, and campaign activities.
📁 What’s inside the folder:
Let’s Talk About Confidentiality Model Clauses
Campaign Assets
Campaign Strategy
Campaign Toolkit
Access the NDA Campaign Folder here