WWCA ran its first Media Advocacy Program from 15 to 17 August 2025 in Adelaide, which laid the foundation of building the first cohort of the WWC Activist Network. The Program was themed around the ‘Our Silence Is Not for Sale’ Campaign.
To recap, the Program was a:
The participants of the Program comprised of five (5) lived experience activists – two (2) from WWC QLD, two (2) from WWC ACT and one (1) from WWC SA. The Program was a success, and we achieved our objectives. We received positive feedback from the participants informally and formally (via our training evaluation forms) and took on some learnings as a team on how we can make the next Program an even better experience for our activists.
As per the evaluation forms, examples of what the participants took away from the Program were:
WWCA is grateful for all the support from the Network that made this Program possible. We acknowledge and recognise that not all Centres were able to recruit and send activists to Adelaide this time around, but we are equally grateful to Centres that have contributed to cover the costs for activists from other Centres to be part of the Program. We also would like to personally thank Anne Purdy, Deputy Director from WWC SA who co-facilitated the training with WWCA, and Devina Saberi, Community Engagement and Training Officer from WWC QLD who contributed her skills, passion and expertise in filming and photography during the Program.
The video and audio content from the Program is currently in post-production stage, and it will take a few months for the final product to be finalised. We will keep the Network updated on the progress of this work.
In terms of next steps for the WWC Activist Network, our five activists have been giving us valuable insights and ideas on the national campaign during and after the Program, and WWCA is currently working on designing more advocacy opportunities for them to be involved in. With support of their local WWC, we will let them know if any of the following campaign opportunities come up such as:
If you have any upcoming campaign events or activities that you would like the activists to know about, please let Aira know.
Now available to watch: The online launch of the Speaking From Experience report by the Australian Human Rights Commission.
The panel explores the report’s key findings and recommendations to better prevent and respond to workplace sexual harassment — informed by the voices of people with lived experience.
After hearing from survivors about what needs to change, the AHRC is calling for national legislative change to stop the misuse of Non-Disclosure Agreements in sexual harassment and discrimination matters.
Commissioner Anna Cody hosted a panel discussion with:
Read the full report: Speaking from Experience Report – What needs to change to address workplace sexual harassment
Now available to watch: The online launch of the Speaking From Experience report by the Australian Human Rights Commission.
The panel explores the report’s key findings and recommendations to better prevent and respond to workplace sexual harassment — informed by the voices of people with lived experience.
After hearing from survivors about what needs to change, the AHRC is calling for national legislative change to stop the misuse of Non-Disclosure Agreements in sexual harassment and discrimination matters.
Commissioner Anna Cody hosted a panel discussion with:
📖 Read the full report: Speaking from Experience Report – What needs to change to address workplace sexual harassment
Let’s Talk About Confidentiality is a research report published on 6 March 2024 by Sharmilla Bargon (Working Women’s Centre NSW) and Regina Featherstone (Human Rights Law Centre), inaugural Social Justice Practitioners-in-Residence at the University of Sydney.
The report investigates how sexual harassment practitioners resolve out-of-court settlements and approach confidentiality terms. It builds on the Respect@Work Report, which warned that NDAs risk silencing victim-survivors and protecting harassers. Recommendation 38 of that report called for best-practice guidelines and an end to NDAs being treated as the default in every case.
Through research with Australian legal practitioners and international comparisons, the authors examined how the misuse of NDAs is being addressed — including legislative reforms and reframing it as a professional conduct and governance issue.
The Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has developed guidelines to assist in deciding when and how confidentiality clauses may be used in settlement agreements for workplace sexual harassment claims.
The guidelines emphasise that confidentiality clauses should:
The Australian Human Rights Commission has just launched the Speaking from Experience report — a landmark initiative that places the voices of people with lived experience of workplace sexual harassment at the centre of efforts to drive systemic change.
At Working Women’s Centre Australia (WWCA), we are proud to have supported this vital project, welcoming and encouraging women and gender-diverse workers to help shape the national conversation. This report provides crucial insights into what real change looks like, directly from those who have experienced harm.
The report amplifies the voices of over 300 victim-survivors from diverse backgrounds, highlighting what needs to change in Australian workplaces to address sexual harassment effectively. It focuses on lived experience insights, especially from workers facing intersecting forms of discrimination (e.g. race, disability, gender identity, migration status).
It shows that meaningful change is driven by women and gender-diverse people, guided by advocates who deeply understand these issues. There is enormous potential for greater collaboration between policymakers, employers, and advocacy organisations like WWCA to co-design better solutions. When advocates help lead the way, we can achieve genuine, lasting reform that creates safer and more respectful workplaces.
The recommendations in the Speaking from Experience report outline practical steps to create safer, fairer, and more respectful workplaces. They focus on reducing barriers that prevent workers — especially those from diverse and marginalised backgrounds — from accessing information, safety, support, and justice after experiencing workplace sexual harassment.
A key recommendation calls for funding specialist organisations — including Working Women’s Centres, multicultural services, LGBTIQA+ organisations, youth centres, disability services, women’s services, and First Nations organisations — to deliver accessible, culturally appropriate education and outreach on workplace sexual harassment. The report also calls for stronger community awareness, culturally safe and trauma-informed responses, restrictions on non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), better data collection, greater employer accountability, and investment in solutions guided by lived experience. Together, these recommendations aim to drive meaningful change and build workplaces where everyone can feel safe and valued.
Watch the Panel Discussion: online launch of the Speaking from Experience report, sharing diverse voices and calling for an end to NDA misuse.
Speaking from Experience and Non-Disclosure Agreements
One of the critical barriers identified in Speaking from Experience is the widespread use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in workplace sexual harassment cases. These agreements often silence victim-survivors and prevent advocates from speaking out.
The report calls for NDAs to be used only at the request of the victim-survivor, ensuring they are a tool for safety and empowerment rather than a means of shielding perpetrators. Ending the harmful misuse of NDAs is not just an Australian concern — it is part of a growing global movement to promote transparency, accountability, and the right to advocate for safer workplaces.
Our Silence is Not for Sale
In line with the Speaking from Experience report’s recommendations, WWCA supports calls for a national media campaign to raise awareness, drive prevention, and promote trauma-informed responses to workplace sexual harassment.
This aligns with our Our Silence is Not for Sale campaign, which advocates for an end to the misuse of NDAs that silence victim-survivors and block systemic change. We need laws in Australia that make NDAs unenforceable when used by the powerful to hide harmful information about serious workplace issues — and that give working women the right and power to continue speaking up. NDAs should only be used when requested by victim-survivors.
We also endorse the recommendation to expand access to justice, including the development of restorative justice options, and to restrict the use of NDAs unless requested by the victim-survivor.
Reach out to us if you want to be part of the movement! Join the ‘Our Silence is Not for Sale’ campaign – fill out the WWC National NDA Campaign form today!
Time for Action
We congratulate the Speaking from Experience contributors who bravely shared their experiences. The Australian Human Rights Commission has prepared resources for workers, employers, and advocates to support prevention efforts and raise awareness — all guided by lived experience.
👉 Explore the new resources: Australian Human Rights Commission Workplace Sexual Harassment Resources
👉 To read the Speaking from Experience full report: Speaking from Experience Report – What needs to change to address workplace sexual harassment
Domestic workers in Timor-Leste have launched their first union — the result of years of organising by the Working Women’s Centre Timor- Leste, focused on improving conditions for domestic workers who have long been excluded from formal labour protections.
Congratulations to the Domestic workers of Timor-Leste on this incredible milestone, and to Abelita Sousa Li Soares, board member of the Working Women’s Centre Timor-Leste, who is the newly elected President.
Together with Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA, we look forward to continuing to work in solidarity with international trade unions and strengthening the power of global collectivism.
If you’re interested in learning more about the Working Women’s Centre Timor Leste, follow them here: https://www.facebook.com/WWCTL
May Day, or the International Workers’ Day, is a global celebration of the labour movement and the hard-won rights of working people. It is observed in many countries on 1 May.
In Australia, milestones such as the 8-hour workday, paid parental leave, and many of the workplace protections we value today were achieved through the collective efforts of workers and the union movement.
At Working Women’s Centre Australia, we recognise that these rights were not easily won — and they won’t be upheld without continued advocacy.
May Day is a powerful reminder that workers’ lives matter, and that justice at work is only possible when we come together and take action.
📍 Events are happening across Australia throughout April and May — including rallies, dinners, and community workshops.
📣 Show your solidarity:
• Join a rally or march
• Support worker-led campaigns
• Speak up for safe, respectful workplaces
• Back union values in your community
TASMANIA
Monday, 28 April 2025
Small Steps | Around the State: International Workers Memorial Day 2025
FREE thought-provoking and empowering workshop, honouring International Workers Memorial Day.
When: 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Where: Invermay Bowls Club, Tasmania
Lunch Included
Our inspiring guest speakers include:
What’s on the agenda?
Awkward Conversations About Being Safe at Work
Managing Sexual Harassment from a Gendered Lens
To register: https://events.humanitix.com/small-steps-or-safe-workplaces-international-workers-memorial-day-2025
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Thursday, 1 May 2025
May Day Rally
Join workers from across South Australia as we take to the streets to celebrate solidarity and working-class power.
When: 12:00 PM
Where: Light Square, Adelaide
Bring your flags, banners, your family and your workmates, and let’s rally together for a better future!
May Day Dinner
This is an opportunity to connect with others who are passionate about fighting for a more equitable and just world, celebrating the power of collective action.
When: 6:30 PM – 11:30 PM
Where: The Cypriot Club, Welland
Get tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/2025-sa-may-day-dinner?hxchl=mkt-loc&hxref=australia%2Ffulham
NORTHERN TERRITORY
03-05 May 2025
Key events across the weekend
This year’s AEU NT Branch Conference marks the 50th anniversary of the union, celebrating five decades of advocacy for fair pay, improved working conditions, and a stronger public education system in the Northern Territory.
For more info, visit: https://aeunt.org.au/coming-up-in-may-aeu-nt-branch-conference-50-year-anniversary-celebrations
QUEENSLAND
03-23 May 2025
Labour Day Events across the State
The Queensland Council of Unions and its regional branches will again organise events across the state in 2025 to mark Labour Day, with workers, their families and supporters celebrating the achievements of working people through marches, events and family fun days.
The largest march is held in Brisbane, with events also occurring across regional Queensland.
For more info, visit: https://www.labourday.org.au/
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Sunday, 4 May 2025
May Day Rally
The May Day Festival is a family-friendly event held at the Fremantle Esplanade Park. Everyone is welcome to attend this fun event, which includes free ice cream, coffee, sausage sizzle, and free entertainment for kids and the family dog.
An organised union march through the streets of Fremantle will occur at midday, with road closures taking place from 12noon to approximately 12:45pm.
When: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Where: Fremantle Esplanade- Marine Terrace, Fremantle
For more info, visit: https://www.unionswa.com.au/event/may-day-2025/
VICTORIA
Friday, 16 May 2025
Labour Day Dinner Dance
Enjoy an evening in solidarity with working Victorians. The Victorian Trades Hall Council’s Annual Labour Day Dinner Dance, open to all unionists, activists and supporters, is held to celebrate the progress of the labour movement in Australia and the world.
When: 5:30 PM – 12:30 AM
Where: ETU Ballroom, 54 Victoria St Carlton
Get tickets: https://www.weareunion.org.au/lddd2025
TASMANIA
Friday, 23 May 2025
May Day Toast
Join us for a night of solidarity, entertainment, delicious food and drinks, as the Tasmanian Awards are presented.
When: 7:00 PM
Where: Hobart Town Hall
In solidarity with women around the world and grounded in the power of collectivism, the Working Women’s Centre Australia welcomed Shruti Patidar and Era Yesica, representatives from IUF Asia-Pacific, the global union for food, farm, hotel and allied workers, hosted by our Advocacy & Policy Officer Aira Firdaus.
During their visit, they shared their concerns and insights about the challenges women workers face across the region, as well as the powerful wins achieved when they unite around shared causes.
We also discussed the misuse of NDAs in Australia and, together with their affiliates the United Workers Union, explored ways to support each other’s efforts to end gender-based violence and harassment in workplaces.
Find out more about our campaign ‘Our silence is not for sale’, and how you can support the call for NDA reform.
Australia has plenty of International Women’s Day events lined up to inspire, connect, and empower you and your community!
Whether you’re looking to network, learn, or take action, there’s something for you.
Explore events happening across Australia and be part of the movement for gender equality, workplace safety, and women’s rights.
📅 Find an event in your city that speaks to you.
💡 Get inspired.
✊ Be part of the change.
PERTH
Friday, 28 February 2025
5pm – Northbridge Piazza, Perth
Event: International Women’s Day 2025 Rally
Leading up to the WA State Election, this year’s theme, “My Rights, My Body, My Vote,” highlights the ongoing significance of the women’s rights movement. The rally aims to foster meaningful dialogue on women’s empowerment, autonomy, and participation in society.
CANBERRA
Thursday, 6 March 2025
12pm – London Circuit, Canberra City
Event: 2025 CPSU International Women’s Day Forum and Market Day
WWC ACT and Women’s Legal ACT will host an informational stall on financial autonomy.
MELBOURNE
Thursday, 6 March 2025
5.30 pm – State Library of Victoria, 328 Swanston St, Melbourne
Event: Melbourne International Women’s Day Rally
The rally will bring people together in Melbourne to demand justice, safety, respect, and equality for all women.
HOBART
Friday, 7 March 2025
1pm – The Law Society, 28 Murray Street, Hobart (in person) and livestreamed
Event: CPD session – Managing Sexual Harassment Matters from a Gendered Lens
WWC TAS and Women’s Legal TAS will present a session on trauma-informed strategies to support clients and navigate the complexities of sexual harassment through a gendered lens.
DARWIN
Saturday, 8 March 2025
8.30 am – Gather in the Civic Centre courtyard (Harry Chan Avenue, Darwin)
Event: 2025 International Women’s Day Walk and Celebrations
Find out more about what’s happening at NT WWC for International Women’s Day 2025 here.
ADELAIDE
Saturday, 8 March 2025
10.30 am – Tarntanyangga (Victoria Square), Adelaide
Event: International Women’s Day March
The march advocates for safety, equality and respect, while celebrating the achievements of women unionists. It brings people together to support one another, reflect on lessons from the past and the rights we strive for today – all in spirit of solidarity and celebration.
SYDNEY
Saturday, 8 March 2025
1pm – Sydney Town Hall Square, 483 George St, Sydney
Event: Sydney International Women’s Day 2025
Participants are encouraged to bring their flags, friends, and posters to march, raise their voices, and hear from inspiring women.
BRISBANE
Tuesday, 11 March 2025
7am – Victoria Park / Barrambin Function Venue
2025 Basic Rights and Working Women Qld International Women’s Day Breakfast
The event will explore the impact and practice of silencing women seeking justice in their workplaces through the perpetual use of Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs).