This week we wrapped up the 2026 Foundations in Sexual Violence short course with the phenomenal Professor Fiona Vera Gray.
Participants travelled from across Victoria, and even as far as Perth and Darwin, to learn from Fiona and our incredible guest speakers, including:
- Janelle Everitt
- Dr Gemma McKibbin (University of Melbourne)
- Lynne Yates
- Jacquie O’Brien (Respect Victoria)
- Dr Stephen Burrell (University of Melbourne)
- Sarah Williams (What Were You Wearing? Australia)
- Aislinn Martin (National Association of Services Against Sexual Violence)
- Kathleen Maltzahn (SASVic)
- Dr Amy Webster, PhD (SASVic).
In just six days, the course explored a range of topics including the trauma model, intersectionality, measuring sexual violence and First Nations experiences and perspectives.
Throughout the course, participants were encouraged to think critically about how we know what we know about sexual violence, including how medical, legal and social frameworks influence the way we think about it, how we talk about it, and how we respond (or don’t respond) to it.
A big theme was the importance of having a feminist understanding of sexual violence, drawing on the sector’s roots in the grassroots feminism of the 1970s.
Participants left the course feeling grateful, connected, and ready to advocate.
The course is adapted from a master’s program taught by London Metropolitan University’s Child and Women Abuse Studies Unit (CWASU), where Fiona is co-director.
Fiona will be back in Melbourne this November as one of the keynote speakers for the inaugural International Freedom from Sexual Violence Summit, hosted by SASVic. Tickets are on sale now.
