In a new exhibition coming to QVWC, bodies become the maps for tracking children's journeys out of crisis.

The Secure Welfare Body Map exhibition features artworks which trace the private, cultural and gendered dimensions of violence against women and children through full-body silhouettes of the artists. All artworks on display have been created by children, aged 10 to 17, as part of the Secure Welfare Unit's art therapy program.

Art therapist Rebekah Oppenheim said, 'Body Mapping is a very effective therapeutic intervention. It allows the artist to explore their journey from violence or crisis into a more positive future. We ask the children to begin by tracing their full-body silhouette onto large sheets of paper. Then, each child is asked specific questions about their experiences and represents those artisticially within the Body Map'.

Thirty-eight percent of women who have experienced domestic violence report that their children have witnessed that violence at some stage (ABS, 1996). Young Women's and Young Men's Secure Welfare program, run by the Department of Human Services, provides crisis care and accommodation for children who are victim/survivors of domestic violence and find themselves in severe crisis situations.

'We try to make the Body Mapping experience one both of therapy and of growth. Usually, when the child is nearing the 'head' portion of their Body Mapping 'journey', we ask them questions about the future they would like to have for themselves, leading to more postive imagery around the heads on the Body Maps', Oppenheim said.

In 2006, Young Women’s Secure Welfare Unit had their first exhibition as part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence. This year the exhibition is expanding to include Young Men’s Secure Welfare and the Hurstbridge Therapeutic Farm. All of the Secure Welfare units aim to help children who are in need of protection in a secure setting to prevent them from placing themselves at immediate and substantial risk.

Join us for the Secure Welfare Body Map exhibition launch

As part of the exhibition a gala launch of the artworks will be held on Friday, 30 November, 6.00 to 8.00 pm at QVWC. The launch is an opportunity to view these very intimate artworks, More importantly, the launch provides the young artists with a chance to experience a positive evening all about them. So come along and be a part of this very special and uplifting event.

Support Secure Welfare through the Body Map Exhibition

Framed artworks from the 2006 exhibition will be available to purchase. Seventy percent of the funds gained from each artwork will go directly back to the child and the remaining 30% will be donated to the Art Therapy Program at Secure Welfare.

2008 calendars, featuring the Body Maps, will be on sale at the exhibition or by contacting QVWC.

Visitors to the exhibition will also have the opportunity to 'sponsor' a Body Map artist of their choice. Individuals and organisations are invited to donate material objects or financial assistance to the child’s refuge or residential unit.

The Secure Welfare Body Map exhibition is made possible with the support of:

• The Department of Human Services

• Young Men’s and Women’s Secure Welfare Service

• Hurstbridge Therapeutic Farm

• Queen Victoria Women’s Centre

• WIRE – Women Referral.

White Ribbon Day was created by a handful of Canadian men in 1991 on the second anniversary of one man's massacre of fourteen women in Montreal. They began the White Ribbon Campaign to urge men to speak out against violence against women.

In 1999, the United Nations General Assembly declared November 25 the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (IDEVAW) and the White Ribbon has become the symbol for the day.

From 2000, the Commonwealth Government Office for Women ran awareness activities on the International Day, and, in 2003, the Australian branch of the United Nations Development Fund for Women, UNIFEM, began a partnership with men and men's organisations to make this a national campaign. Ten thousand white ribbons were distributed in 2003.

Today hundreds of thousands of white ribbons are worn by men and women across Australia - men at work; men and women in all Australian police forces; men in national and local sporting matches and organisations; men in the media; men and women in politics; men in the defence forces; men and women in capital cities and in rural and regional Australia.

There are several Melbourne-based events where you can show your support for White Ribbon Day. QVWC and Project 5-O have organised the SleepSafe Breakfast at the Park Hyatt on November 21 or check out the White Ribbon Day calendar of events for other opportunities.

Ribbons will be available at events or you can purchase a white ribbon for $2 at The Body Shop.

Know the facts: some statistics on violence against women

o Almost 60% of Australian women suffer abuse, sexual harassment or violence by men.
o Family violence is the leading contributor to death, disability and illness in Victorian women aged 15 - 44, being responsible for more of the disease burden than many well-known risk factors such as high blood pressure, smoking and obesity. (VicHealth 2004)
o The annual cost of domestic violence to the business/corporate sector was estimated at $1.5 billion with an approximate cost of an individual case of domestic violence being estimated at almost $10,000. (Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearing House, 2002)
o The estimated cost of family violence in Australia in 2002- 03 was $8.1 billion. (Access Economics 2004)
o The 2005 VicHealth and DHS Personal Safety Survey, found one in three women had experienced physical violence since the age of 15.

The women of Project 5-O and Queen Victoria Women’s Centre (QVWC) are joining together to say all women deserve to sleep safe.

On 21 November 2007, the Melbourne community is invited to show their support for the campaign to end violence against women. The SleepSafe Breakfast supports White Ribbon Day - the international campaign to eliminate violence against women by promoting culture-change around the issue – and is part of the International 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign.

The SleepSafe Breakfast aims to raise public awareness of the prevalence and impact of domestic violence within the community and to see an end to violence against women and children, allowing all a safe night's sleep.

ABC journalist and UNIFEM representative Helen Brown will MC the event at the Park Hyatt, Melbourne. Guests are encouraged to donate a pair of women’s or children’s pyjamas which will be given to local women’s refuges to help those who cannot sleep safely at home know they are cared for and have a more comfortable night’s sleep.

White Ribbon Day Ambassador and AFL Players’ Association CEO Brendon Gale will speak.

SleepSafe Breakfast Committee Chairwoman Jane Treleaven, said, ‘All women deserve the right to feel safe in their own homes, to enjoy a good night’s sleep free from the threat of violence. UNIFEM has supported White Ribbon Day in Australia since 2003 and each year events like the SleepSafe Breakfast remind the community that domestic violence is, sadly, still part of our society and we must work together to end it’.

SleepSafe Breakfast Keynote Speaker Brendon Gale said, ‘We know that to end violence against women, men and women have to stand together to say ‘no’. It’s tragic that some women live in fear because of the actions of men in their lives. White Ribbon Day reminds us that violence against women is still a real problem in our communities, but it’s also a chance to say we won’t stand for it any more.’

The SleepSafe Breakfast is organised by Project 5-O, a coalition of BPW Australia, Soroptimist International, Zonta International, National Council of Women, Federation of University Women Australia, with the support of QVWC.

Spaces are limited. Reserve your place today by registering online at Business and Professional Women (click on 'Events').

More event details.

On 15 October 2007, Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Trust was awarded the Lord Mayor’s City Safety Award Certificate of Merit.

Program Manager Sara Bice accepts the Certificate of Merit from Lord Mayor of Melbourne, John So. Photo courtesy of City of Melbourne.

The Certificate of Merit, one of only two awarded for 2007, recognises QVWCT’s commitment to enhancing women’s perceptions of safety and knowledge of ‘safe practices’ when accessing the City of Melbourne.

Through the 2007 Women’s Safety Seminar Series, QVWCT reached 115 women from diverse backgrounds to provide them with basic personal safety information, advice on ways to access the city safely and lessons in women’s self defence. The Women’s Safety Seminar Series included:

o Navigating the City Safely – For international students

o Accessing the City Safely – For women with a disability

o Fight Like a Girl – Women’s self defence.

QVWCT is honoured to have received this award and to be placed favourably amongst the many organisations working to improve safety in the City of Melbourne.

The award also recognises the contributions of our project partners:
*Victoria Police Crime Prevention Unit – especially Officer Melanie Apps
*RMIT Student Legal Service
*Australian Federation of International Students
*Fight Like a Girl – especially instructor Adori Bubble
*Victorian Women with a Disability Network – especially Director Tricia Malowney
*Vision Australia
*Travellers’ Aid – especially John McKenna.

The following individuals also contributed greatly to the Seminar Series:
*Sarah Kaushik, formerly of City of Melbourne
*Mona Wong, QVWCT intern.

The Lord Mayor’s City Safety Award, established in 1998, is given annually to recognise and showcase individuals or organisations that have made significant contributions to safety in the City of Melbourne.