• All staff deserve employer-paid parental leave
    The current system creates inequities within the workforce, and can lead to serious hardship on families experiencing psychological and financial stress. The careers of women and primary carers can also be negatively impacted. "I returned to work at the ANU ten days after giving birth to my son. My family needed the income, but it wasnā€™t just this ā€“ I also needed to secure my next contract. It was important for me that my supervisors were happy with my performance and recommended me for my next contract. This was a very difficult time. I had psychological health problems. I felt guilty about leaving my son, and would try to see him to breastfeed on my lunchbreaks" (Professional staff member at ANU). By adopting employer-paid parental leave for all staff, ANU will keep pace with other universities in the sector who already provide paid parental leave on either a full or pro-rata basis for their staff. It will also help to: ā€¢ Reduce financial stress on the families of staff who are experiencing loss of their weekly income to care for their children. ā€¢ Reduce risks to maternal and child health from returning to work early, and support international guidelines on breastfeeding. ā€¢ Contribute to ANUā€™s gender equality goals that aims to ensure all staff, regardless of their identity or sexual orientation, can contribute to their childā€™s wellbeing. Read the open letter to Vice-Chancellor Brian Schmidt from the NTEU Women's Action Network at nteu.org.au/anu/wan.
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    Created by NTEU Womenā€™s Action Network (ANU)
  • Le Bon Con: The Hipster Hotel That Fails The Pub Test
    Le Bon Ton is a New Orleans-style bar in Collingwood and one of Melbourneā€™s hottest late night venues. The bar closes at 6am on weekends and staff often donā€™t finish until even later. But whenever you work, you donā€™t get penalty rates. I worked for the owners of Le Bon Ton for more than a year and like countless other workers I wasnā€™t paid penalty rates either - I got paid a flat rate of as little as $18 per hour. In total, they stole about $5000 from me. Lots of others are also owed thousands of dollars. Will and Mick Balleau didnā€™t care if I couldnā€™t pay my rent. Theyā€™d you give a free beer at the end of your shift and reckon that makes it all right. They made me speak to their accountant who promised me the money. They even sent me a spreadsheet confirming Iā€™d been underpaid by thousands and promised they'd pay me in the next pay run. But they never did. They were betting on me not knowing how to get my money. I finished working for them three years ago and I'm still waiting to get paid. What this is, is theft. But hospo bosses just keep getting away with it. I want to see these wage thieves held to account for how they treat their staff. The watchdog needs to take serious action against these guys. https://vimeo.com/319264816
    2,370 of 3,000 Signatures
    Created by Jess Perry
  • UWA: Block Bettina
    Your commitment to the Respect. Now. Always. Campaign requires you, as a university leader, to raise awareness of sexual violence and lift the visibility of support services for students. At its core, the campaign acknowledges that every student has the right to feel safe as they work towards their degree. This is recognised in various university policies, including the UWA Code of Ethics and the Charter of Student Rights and Responsibilities, which both reference that the university fosters the value of ā€œresponsibility in social, moral and academic mattersā€. The substance of Ms Arndtā€™s ideas is grounded in harmful, biased and unsupported rhetoric. Allowing her to speak on campus marks a gross irresponsibility in fostering responsibility in social, moral and academic matters, and a complete lack of respect for survivors of sexual violence that learn and teach on your campus. The On Safe Ground best practice guide published the University of New South Wales in collaboration with the Australian Human Rights Centre acknowledges the role university administrators must play in demonstrating institutional leadership that is supportive, appropriate to the needs of survivors and intolerant of offensive conduct. On Safe Ground asserts that university administrators have a role to play in addressing confusion and ignorance about these issues. Visible university leadership and sustained commitment to cultural change is essential in making campus safer for all students. Importantly, On Safe Ground acknowledges university leadership must challenge harmful attitudes and practices. These are identified as ā€œthose that seek to hold the victim responsible for SA, that suggest victims take steps to protect themselves against potential assaults, or that view presence of alcohol or drugs as the basis for dismissing an investigationā€. This must be underpinned by clear institutional commitment.
    752 of 800 Signatures
    Created by UWA Student Guild Women's Department
  • Protect Family Violence Support Services in Tasmania
    Family Violence is a crime that seriously reduces the health and wellbeing of individuals, families and communities. The Premier has stated that eliminating family violence is a top priority of the Tasmanian Government. Tasmania Police data shows a 15 per cent increase in reported family violence arguments and incidents over a three-year period from 2014-15 (4,486) to 2016-17 (5,154). The FVCSS is struggling to deal with the increase in referrals due to lack of resources. The Family Violence Counselling and Support Service provides victims with: ā—¾Information, counselling & support ā—¾Trauma Counselling for children and young people ā—¾Information and support to family and friends ā—¾Arranging assistance from police ā—¾Assisting in organising a safe place to stay ā—¾Referrals to Legal Aid and/or Court Support ā—¾Act as an advocate in accessing assistance e.g. Housing, Centrelink ā—¾Liaise with Government and non-government sector on behalf of clients ā—¾Group work programs for affected adults, children and young people.
    423 of 500 Signatures
    Created by CPSU Tasmania
  • #LetHerSpeak: Amend the laws which prevent sexual assault survivors from telling their story
    The voices of sexual assault survivors deserve to be heard. Jane Doe wishes to speak out under her real name to challenge the stigma and break down silences surrounding sexual assault. In the #MeToo era we have seen how powerful it is when victim-survivors chose to waive their right to anonymity in order to shift the shame, and shift the blame. Today, public sexual assault survivors from around the country including Tara Moss, Bri Lee, Saxon Mullins, Jenny Aitchison, Steve Fisher, Jane Caro, Nina Funnell, Jannika Jacky, Joanna Williams, Codie Bell and Freya Willis have joined together to demand that sexual assault survivors in Tasmania and the Northern Territory are afforded the same right to speak out that survivors in other states and territories have. The laws in Tasmania and the Northern Territory must be amended to say that no person or media outlet is entitled to reveal the identity of a sexual assault survivor, UNLESS that survivor consents to waive their right to anonymity. ā€œThe most empowering thing I ever did following my own assault was to speak out publicly about it. It was an important part of my recoveryā€ said Nina Funnell who has designed the campaign in partnership with End Rape On Campus Australia and Marque Lawyers. ā€œThere is tremendous power in survivors owning their own stories without fear or stigma. It is incredibly disempowering for survivors who want to reclaim ownership of their narrative, to be told that they have no right to speak out about their own abuseā€. "This law protects perpetrators, not victims". ā€œBy silencing Jane Doe- and other survivors- the courts are keeping the stigma and silence around sexual assault in tactā€. Under existing law, survivors have to appeal for a special exemption by the Supreme Court in Tasmania so they can speak. This can cost in excess of $10,000 and there is no guarantee it will be granted. Survivors should not be financially penalised just so they can earn the right to speak. Please join with us in pushing for urgent law reform. Jane Doeā€™s voice matters. She deserves to be heard. Change the law and #LetHerSpeak *Not her real name
    8,363 of 9,000 Signatures
    Created by Nina Funnell
  • Stop the Drop in the Quality of Local Jobs and Services At Logan City Council!
    ā€¢ Logan is ā€œ...one of the stateā€™s fastest growing communitiesā€¦the state [has] used the city as the backdrop for announcing its $45 billion four-year infrastructure plans.ā€* ā€¢ Those at the pointy end of delivering the Cityā€™s successes continue to go unrecognised. Logan City Council staff have not had a pay rise since July 2016! ā€¢ In that time, all Executive Managers, Councillors and even the suspended Mayor have received annual pay increases. ā€¢ Councilā€™s current staff pay offer fails to address this two-year pay freeze, and would see wages for the lowest-paid admin staff (who are mostly female) go backwards. ā€¢ Council staff are community members just like you. We are your librarians and your water & sewage workers. We fix your roads, maintain your parks and plan your new community facilities. ā€¢ If you agree that itā€™s not fair that those working hard to deliver major outcomes for our City have to suffer a wage freeze, sign our petition to support the hard-working Council staff who support your community! *Judith Kerr, ā€˜Logan A City On The Riseā€™, Courier-Mail, 16 August 2018
    398 of 400 Signatures
    Created by The Services Union Picture
  • Stand with Educators!
    Malcolm Turnbullā€™s government wonā€™t listen. Heā€™s refused to meet with us, and he refuses to fund equal pay for educators. Thatā€™s why weā€™re telling politicians everywhere: we're making equal pay an election issue. Bill Shorten is potentially our next Prime Minister. We have a clear message for him: support early educators, and educators will support you. Please sign now to tell Bill Shorten to meet with me and other educators - together we're strong!
    755 of 800 Signatures
    Created by Michelle, early childhood educator
  • Strengthen Tasmanian laws against non-fatal strangulation
    CONTENT WARNING A woman surviving non-fatal strangulation is eight times more likely to be later murdered by her domestic violence perpetrator. Like Victorian woman, Joy Rowley who was choked unconscious eight months before her murder. Her assailant ā€œwasn't charged for six months amid police concern there was insufficient evidence". https://goo.gl/xHSG8k Those risks include disability or later death, with no external signs of injury, incorrectly attributed to other causes. See: https://goo.gl/XEQFe9 Itā€™s a weapon to instil fear and increase control over a victim. Professionals may miss subtle signs. Training can improve practice and policy. Victims' participation in life is affected, as are families and communities. Child witnesses suffer disrupted education and their physical and mental health may be affected. Laws which don't recognise the impact of non-fatal strangulation, or have limited applications, have been shown to let perpetrators get away with their crimes and leave victims living with violence under threat of death.
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    Created by Debra Smith Picture
  • Strengthen Northern Territory laws against non-fatal strangulation
    CONTENT WARNING A woman surviving non-fatal strangulation is eight times more likely to be later murdered by her domestic violence perpetrator. Like Victorian woman, Joy Rowley who was choked unconscious eight months before her murder. Her assailant ā€œwasn't charged for six months amid police concern there was insufficient evidence". https://goo.gl/xHSG8k Survivors of strangulation are also at risk of disability or later death, with no external signs of injury, and which may be incorrectly attributed to other causes because of the delay between the assault and the appearance of symptoms. See: https://goo.gl/XEQFe9 Itā€™s a weapon to instil fear and increase control over a victim. Professionals may miss subtle signs. Training can improve practice and policy. Victims' participation in life is affected, as are families' and communities. Child witnesses suffer disrupted education and their health may be affected. Laws which don't recognise the impact of non-fatal strangulation, or have limited applications, have been shown to let perpetrators get away with their crimes and leave victims living with violence under threat of death.
    12 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Debra Smith Picture
  • Support laws against non-fatal strangulation in Western Australia
    CONTENT WARNING A woman surviving non-fatal strangulation is eight times more likely to be later murdered by her domestic violence perpetrator. Research by the Western Australian Council for Domestic and Family Violence Services "showed 230 new refuge clients between January and May, including six children, reported having their neck compressed. Of those, 117 said they had no visible injuries." https://goo.gl/rZxR6Y A survey in San Diego of 300 misdemeanor strangulation cases found that there were no visible injuries in 50% of cases. "Another 35% had visible injuries so minor, that they would not show up in photographs. That means that the victims in only 15% of all strangulation cases studied had [external] injuries significant enough to (1) be seen, and (2) be photographed." https://goo.gl/AL2i9B Strangulation can cause disability or later death, even with no external signs of injury. They may be incorrectly attributed to other causes. See: https://goo.gl/XEQFe9 Itā€™s a weapon to instil fear and increase control over a victim. Professionals may miss subtle signs. Training can improve practice and policy. Victims' participation in life is affected, as are families' and communities. Child witnesses suffer disrupted education and their health may be affected. Laws not recognising the impact of non-fatal strangulation have been shown to let perpetrators get away with their crimes and leave victims living with violence under threat of death.
    191 of 200 Signatures
    Created by Debra Smith Picture
  • Respect AFLW
    In 2019, the AFL is proposing a reduction in the number of rounds of AFLW despite an increase in the number of women's teams playing. We're demanding better. Don't let AFLW become a "gimmicky tournament". It's time for the AFL to show it has a genuine commitment to women's footy.
    5,558 of 6,000 Signatures
    Created by Wil, Danae & Amy
  • Support laws against non-fatal strangulation in Victoria
    CONTENT WARNING A woman surviving non-fatal strangulation is eight times more likely to be later murdered by her domestic violence perpetrator. Like Joy Rowley who was choked unconscious eight months before her murder. Her assailant ā€œwasn't charged for six months amid police concern there was insufficient evidence". https://goo.gl/xHSG8k The State Coroner noted "the introduction of a stand-alone offence of strangulation, suffocation or choking in Victoria may significantly help to ensure strangulation is treated commensurate with the risk it poses to victims, and remove the need for police to prove particular bodily harm or intent to cause injury." https://goo.gl/CbDoHL Those risks include disability or later death, with no external signs of injury, incorrectly attributed to other causes. See: https://goo.gl/XEQFe9 Itā€™s a weapon to instil fear and increase control over a victim. Professionals may miss subtle signs. Training can improve practice and policy. Victims' participation in life is affected, as are families and communities. Child witnesses suffer disrupted education and their physical and mental health may be affected. Laws not recognising the impact of non-fatal strangulation have been shown to let perpetrators get away with their crimes and leave victims living with violence under threat of death.
    457 of 500 Signatures
    Created by Debra Smith Picture