Voices for Change: A media advocacy program for the prevention of violence against women was developed by Our Watch in partnership with Women’s Health East and VicHealth. The program ensures that women’s stories are shared in a safe, sensitive and responsible way. Voices for Change also provides the survivors involved with media training.  

The below organisations deliver the Voices for Change program: 

• Women’s Health East (Melbourne) 
• Domestic Violence NSW (Sydney) 
• Engender Equality (Hobart) 
• Brisbane Domestic Violence Service (Brisbane) 
• Ruah Community Services (Perth) 
• Women’s Safety Services South Australia (Adelaide)
• YWCA and Domestic Violence Crisis Service (Canberra) 

If you are a journalist looking for a survivor to provide comment on a story you can contact the above organisations directly. 

If you wish to run your own survivor advocacy program, download the Voices for Change Implementation Guide. You can also contact Our Watch to receive Voices for Change training materials. 

Organisations that run the Voices for Change program must have support systems in place to minimise and handle the risk of further perpetration of violence, as well as additional trauma survivors may experience as a result of speaking out. 

Organisations contemplating delivering the program must have a deep understanding of violence against women and its impacts on women, children, families and communities and have capacity to provide: 

• risk assessment and management
• support and counselling
• preparation and ongoing support to advocates
• debriefing for advocates
• liaison between the media and advocates. 

Watch the video below for more on working with the media to help prevent violence against women.