media statement chevron australia and zonta house partnership doubles FDV awareness

PERTH, 26 November 2024 – A program designed to address and prevent family and domestic violence (FDV) has been reinstated by Zonta House Refuge Association, thanks to a $2.4 million investment from Chevron Australia. The three-year investment has enabled Zonta House, a specialist frontline provider of family and domestic violence support services, to expand its provision of recovery and prevention programs, including the return of its successful Empowerment through Education program.

The Empowerment through Education program is structured around three pivotal areas: primary prevention, early intervention, and crisis response.
The workshops re-launched in June 2024 and data on FDV awareness shows the three sessions conducted to date have led to a dramatic improvement in attendees’ ability and confidence to respond to incidents, support victim/survivors, and contribute to positive social change to prevent FDV.

Notably, 100% of participants reported feeling prepared to act in these three areas, a sharp increase from the 47% prior to completing the program – more than doubling this figure.

“Through this program, we aim to empower community members, organisations, and front-line responders with the skills and knowledge necessary to recognise, respond to, and prevent violence against women,” said Raissa Meireles, the program’s Team Leader.

“We are committed to creating a safer, more equitable future by addressing the root causes and complexities of FDV.”

Chevron Australia General Manager Human Resources Matt Riordan said Chevron was proud to support the important work carried out by Zonta House Refuge Association in addressing and preventing family and domestic violence.

“Zonta House is making a real difference in the community and we are pleased that Chevron’s renewed support has enabled them to reignite the Empowerment through Education Program for the next three years,” he said.

“Our aim is to forge partnerships that benefit the wider community and we believe we have a role to play in ending the cycle of violence against women and children in the communities where we live and work.”

On the launch of the 2024 16 Days of WA Campaign, Zonta House and Chevron would like to acknowledge the incredible results of the program, thank the staff and participants involved in the delivery of this program to date, and reaffirm their commitment to further enhancing prevention, awareness and frontline worker skills across the entire WA community.

The current phase of the Empowerment through Education program includes the delivery of three key workshops:

1. FDV-Prevention: An evidence-based, trauma-informed workshop focused on understanding and addressing the social drivers of FDV. The program launched its first sessions in June, delivering this content both online and face-to-face.
2. FDV-Awareness: An enhanced early intervention workshop to help professionals recognise and safely respond to early indicators of FDV, supporting victim-survivors. This session is now available both online and in person.
3. FDV-Specialist: A crisis response training module that equips front-line workers with response-based skills for risk assessment and safety planning, tailored to those supporting FDV survivors.

Through this multi-faceted workshop program, Zonta House aims to deepen awareness of FDV dynamics and impacts, foster greater understanding of and empathy for victim/survivors, and build confidence in the broader community to identify, challenge and respond to FDV. The program is available through public workshops and can be facilitated directly to organisations, community and sporting groups across Western Australia.