Stakeholder engagement for Discussion Paper 3, Women and girls' experiences of the criminal justice system, both as victims-survivors of sexual violence, and also as accused persons and offenders, began in Mackay on Thursday 3 March 2022. Taskforce members and secretariat heard local stakeholders.
Taskforce Chair, the Hon Margaret McMurdo (centre), was keynote speaker at the Small Steps for Hannah International Women's Day event on Friday 4 March 2022. She is pictured with other guest speakers Sandra Creamer, CEO of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women's Alliance (right) and Natalie Lewis, Commissioner, Queensland Family and Child Commission (left).
The Taskforce heard from more than 25 stakeholders in Townsville on Monday 7 March 2022.
While in Townsville, Taskforce Chair the Hon Margaret McMurdo AC, along with secretariat members met with Sisters Inside and women with lived experience at their local office. They also visited Townsville Women's Correctional Centre, Cleveland Youth Detention Centre and The Women's Centre, which supports and empowers women in Townsville and surrounding regions.
After the flooding disaster of late February forced the postponement of the Brisbane stakeholder forum, the rescheduled event went ahead on Thursday 10 March 2022.
More than 100 people attended the event at the Brisbane Convention Centre. Pictured in the top photo is Taskforce member Gillian O'Brien (right) with other stakeholder attendees. Bottom right photo, left to right, the Hon Margaret McMurdo AC with Queensland Australians of the Year, Sue and Lloyd Clarke.
More than 100 people attended the event at the Brisbane Convention Centre. Pictured is Taskforce member Gillian O'Brien, Manager of WWILD Sexual Violence Prevention Association (right) with other stakeholder attendees. More than 100 people attended the event at the Brisbane Convention Centre. Pictured is Taskforce member Gillian O'Brien, Manager of WWILD Sexual Violence Prevention Association (right) with other stakeholder attendees.
The first MATE conversation event for 2022 was held on 14 March 2022 at Griffith University. It focused on ‘Women and girls as accused persons and offenders’ and was sponsored by the Women's Safety and Justice Taskforce.
Panelists and audience members heard from a woman with lived experience and discussed what measures were in place to stop women from offending, how to support those who do and, importantly, what systems are in place to transition these women back into our society.
The stakeholder forum in Rockhampton was held on Wednesday 16 March 2022. Stakeholder attendees represented local police, the legal profession and domestic violence and sexual assault support groups.
More than 100 people attended the event at the Brisbane Convention Centre. Pictured is Taskforce member Gillian O'Brien, Manager of WWILD Sexual Violence Prevention Association (right) with other stakeholder attendees.
The Taskforce travelled to Woorabinda to meet with Elders and community members on Thursday 17 March 2022. Taskforce members included Thelma Schwartz (second from left), Taskforce Chair, the Hon Margaret McMurdo AC (centre) and Professor Patrick O’Leary (second from right).
Taskforce members also visited Yoonthalla Services at the Bill Thaiday Centre.
More than 100 people attended the event at the Brisbane Convention Centre. Pictured is Taskforce member Gillian O'Brien, Manager of WWILD Sexual Violence Prevention Association (right) with other stakeholder attendees.
Taskforce Chair, the Hon Margaret McMurdo AC and Taskforce members Laura Reece and Alexis Oxley, along with secretariat members, travelled to Cherbourg in 23 March 2022. The team met with Elders, police and local service providers.
Men behaving well!
It was a great trip, although a flat tyre half-way between Cherbourg and Murgon almost derailed the journey home. Two chivalrous young local men saved the day, stopping to change the tyre. “The Taskforce has been hearing of many men behaving badly in terms of coercive control, domestic violence and sexual assault. It was reaffirming to meet such kind, generous and capable men in the South Burnett,” Margaret told the local online news. Read the full story.
The Taskforce held forums at the Sunshine Coast in late March 2022 (above right) and the Gold Coast in early April 2022. Both were representative of local stakeholder groups including police, legal and support organisations.
Taskforce Chair the Hon Margaret McMurdo AC attended both sessions, while member Laura Reece attended the Sunshine and was joined by Nora Amath and Di McLeod at the Gold Coast.
During March and April 2022, the Taskforce held more meetings with stakeholder groups and people with lived experience in south-east Queensland. This includes a forum hosted by Sisters Inside in Brisbane (pictured left).
One of the final regional consultations was held in Cairns in April (inset, pictured right).
Pictured winding down after the stakeholder forum are (left to right) Taskforce Board member Patrick, Secretariat Director, Sarah Kay, Taskforce Chair Margaret McMurdo and Secretariat Principal Legal Officer, Carly Whelan.
From Cairns, the Taskforce travelled to Bamaga, which is the administrative centre for the Northern Peninsula Area (NPA), made up of the three Aboriginal communities of Injinoo, Umagico and New Mapoon, and the Islander communities of Seisia and Bamaga.
The Taskforce met with staff from the Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Service (pictured left).
While in the far north, the Taskforce also visited Yarrabah, home to the Yidinji people.
Pictured right are members of the Yarrabah Leaders Forum at the Gindaja Treatment and Healing Centre.