Creating a safer world for CALD women and children
We are embarking on a collaborative initiative with culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) community and faith leaders who hold deep insights into their communities. Addressing Family, Domestic, and Sexual Violence (FDSV) requires mobilising communities together and recognising that this is a universal issue. United, we can build safer, stronger communities free from violence.
CALD community and faith leaders share our vision for communities across Australia: respect, safety, and equality for all individuals.
Fostering a supportive and inclusive environment is crucial—one where victim survivors of FDSV feel empowered to seek help, and individuals who use FDSV are held accountable for their actions.
To raise awareness and prevent family, domestic and sexual violence within CALD communities, faith and community leaders must be empowered with the knowledge, skills and resources to identify, discuss, prevent and respond. By working closely with these leaders, we can better reach and assist CALD women and children impacted by FDSV.
SSI has been awarded the National Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence Training for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities and Faith Leaders Grant to deliver this national project that will raise awareness and prevent family violence within CALD communities. The project will be delivered in partnership with FECCA.
FAQs about the project
What will the project achieve?
The measures of success for this project will focus on assessing the impact of the project on CALD community and faith leaders in relation to knowledge of FDSV, and confidence to support community engagement/discussion on FDSV and facilitate access to FDSV supports, namely:
- Increased understanding of domestic and sexual violence and its impacts.
- Increased awareness of the indicators of FDSV for CALD women and children.
- Increased understanding of support strategies for supporting women and children experiencing FDSV.
- Increased knowledge of the role of specialist FDSV services.
- Increased confidence to identify and respond to the needs of people experiencing FDSV.
- Increased confidence to support CALD community engagement about FDSV.
- Increased CALD community engagement on FDSV.
What organisations are involved in this project?
SSI is partnering with FECCA to deliver this significant project nationally. A membership base of 23 state/regional peak organisations and a reach of over 1,500 ethnic and faith-based community organisations and their leaders provide a strong foundation to listen, collaborate and co-design resources with CALD communities that meet their needs. Based on long-term, deep, and trusted connections with these member organisations, community and faith leaders, FECCA and SSI will effectively engage and mobilise leaders to action prevention of FDSV and supporting CALD women and children within their communities.
The TECS project will complement other local and national campaigns, awareness raising and educational activities and collaborate closely with community organisations, FDSV service providers and peaks, health and legal providers and government to deliver the project’s training goals.
What governance structure is in place?
The project has a robust governance structure that includes establishment of a Reference Advisory Group (RAG) to ensure that there is a mechanism to obtain advice, input from a diverse range of stakeholders, including CALD and faith leaders, community organisations, health & legal services and FDSV service providers across all states and territories to identify the key challenges, issues, and barriers specific to the cultural, language and faith communities across urban and regional locations.
The RAG will provide diverse perspectives, expertise, and guidance throughout the development and delivery process to ensure that the training package captures current knowledge, lived experience voice, critical thinking and analysis so that it is nationally consistent and meets the needs of CALD communities.
When will the resources be available?
The resources will be available from July 2025.
Together we can:
Safer, stronger communities free from violence: our approach
Multicultural community and faith leaders are uniquely positioned to prevent family, domestic and sexual violence (FDSV). As trusted confidants for victim survivors and individuals who use violence, they hold significant influence within their communities. Often, they are the first point of contact for women experiencing violence, providing guidance, mediation, and referrals to support services.
Their deep understanding of community experiences allows them to address issues like language barriers, forced migration displacement, isolation, social barriers, and harmful gender and cultural norms. By working closely with leaders, we can better reach and assist CALD women and children impacted by FDSV.
SSI will leverage its strong relationship with multicultural communities and faith leaders and draw on lived experience expertise to co-design innovative approaches to improve awareness, increase knowledge, drive attitude and behaviour change and contribute to the development of appropriate prevention and intervention responses and strategies to address abuse of CALD women and children.
In collaboration with community leaders, faith leaders and key sector stakeholders, the project will:
Hold consultation workshops across all states and territories with faith and community leaders, victim survivors and sector stakeholders.
Codesign, develop, and deliver an evidence based, culturally appropriate national training package.
Develop vignettes as conversation starters on FDSV within CALD communities.
Develop and disseminate good practice guidance and resources to enable leaders to recognise, better engage with and foster discussions of FDSV or suspected FDSV in their communities.
Facilitate Communities of Practice to expand FDSV knowledge, good practice and opportunity for networking and peer support for CALD leadership and communities.
Project timeline
Get in touch
For more information about this project, or to understand if you should get involved, please contact us by email at fdsv.tecs@ssi.org.au.
FDSV: Train, Engage, Connect and Support (TECS) Project is funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services and is a partnership initiative with the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Council of Australia (FECCA).
Useful resources
We do not provide emergency assistance, support services, advice or referrals for women and their children.
For assistance, including 24-hour services, contact the following helplines and websites. If you require urgent assistance, please contact 000 and request police.
If you need English translation services, please phone the National Translating and Interpreting Service on 13 14 50 and ask them to contact the service you require from the contacts in your state or territory.
1800RESPECT – 1800 737 732
This is a 24-hour national sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line for any Australian who has experienced or is at risk of, family and domestic violence and/or sexual assault.
Individuals can also access local support services and search the internet using Daisy, a free app developed by 1800RESPECT that protects user privacy.
If you need translation or interpreting services call:
Translating and Interpreting Service National on 13 14 50 and ask them to contact 1800 RESPECT for you.
For callers who are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment call National Relay Service and ask them to contact 1800RESPECT
- TTY/Voice Calls – phone 133 677
- Speak and Listen – phone 1300 555 727
- Internet relay users – visit the National Relay Service website
MensLine Australia – 1300 789 978
Supports men and boys who are dealing with family and relationship difficulties. 24/7 telephone and online support an information service for Australian men.
Men’s Referral Service – 1300 766 491
This service from No to Violence offers assistance, information and counselling to help men who use family violence.
Kids Help Line – 1800 55 1800
Australia-wide free 24/7, confidential and private counselling service specifically for children and young people aged five to 25 years.
Elder Abuse Help Line – 1300 651 192
Free information and support services for people who experience or witness the abuse of an older person. Operating hours vary.
Financial Counselling Australia – 1800 007 007
Access free resources and advice from a private financial counsellor. Call 1800 007 007 to speak to someone in your state.
13YARN – 13 92 76
The first national crisis support line for mob who are feeling overwhelmed or having difficulty coping.
They offer a confidential one-on-one yarning opportunity with a Lifeline-trained Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter.