As founder of She Inspires Me, I am proud to introduce Beyond Violence - a new national workplace violence prevention, response, and employee support initiative that I will be promoting throughout 2027.

Why Beyond Violence?

Because violence does not always happen within the four walls of a workplace. It can follow employees into their working lives through family and domestic violence, sexual violence, workplace aggression, threats, intimidation, bullying, harassment, and serious assaults. When violence occurs, the impact does not simply disappear when someone walks through the door of their workplace.

Employees may be dealing with physical injuries, trauma, fear, financial pressures, safety concerns, and significant disruption to their working and personal lives. Yet too often, employees must navigate these consequences on their own. Zero-tolerance policies and statements are important. But they are not enough. We need workplaces that know how to:

⭐Prevent: violence by identifying risks and addressing unsafe workplace cultures and behaviors

⭐Protect: employees through safe reporting pathways, appropriate safety measures, and protections from retaliation

⭐ Respond: appropriately when violence is disclosed, reported, or identified

⭐Support: employees through safe reporting pathways, appropriate safety measures, and protection from retaliation.

⭐Be accountable: for ensuring policies and procedures are not simply documents sitting on a shelf but are implemented and working in practice. This initiative is for all employees, across all industries, regardless of gender, occupation, or employee status. It is particularly important that we have these conversations in male-dominated industries, including mining, construction, infrastructure, and other high-risk working environments.

But this is not an issue for one industry, one gender, or one workplace. It is a shared responsibility.

My vision is to commence Beyond Violence in New South Wales and work towards building a national framework that changes how Australian workplaces prevent violence, respond when it occurs, and support the people affected.

Throughout 2027, I will be advocating for change, engaging with government, industry, unions and employees, and working to bring this initiative to the attention of the people who can help make it happen. I believe we need to move beyond policies, promises, and zero-tolerance statements.

We need practical action, stronger accountability, and workplaces where employees know they will not be left to face the consequences of violence alone. This is the beginning of Beyond Violence.

2027: The year to move beyond words and towards action.