Do you need family violence support? Go here 1800RESPECT.
Do you need family violence support? Go here 1800RESPECT.
Do you need family violence support? Go here 1800RESPECT.
Do you need family violence support? Go here 1800RESPECT.
A letter to my daugher
By Luka Lesson
The Institute of non-violence commissioned poet and rapper Luka Lesson to create a poetry video titled: ‘Letter To My Daughter’.
With music by Sydney Conservatorium Composer James Humberstone and a video shot and edited in Luka’s ancestral home of Rhodes, Greece, the poem is an ode to women, a critique of unhealthy expressions of masculinity and a hopeful prayer for the future.
The poem and video premiered on Luka Lesson’s and Institute of non-violence’s Facebook pages at 8pm on November 25th, 2020, marking the launch of IoNV and International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women and Girls.
The video is available to share via Facebook or YouTube.
A letter to my daughter
You are the sound of a birds wings unfurling
The twitching of feathers hovering above the shadows
Shimmering light
Reflecting off the waves in the bay of hope
And when you are born
and you grow up
I will have to bring to you a warning
There will be men
who bring shotgun tongues into peaceful houses
who drink just to float with the empty bottles above their own histories
who carry manhood like a dead wolf slain across their shoulders
Men
who say that the shortest distance between two opinions
Is a clenched fist
Who frequent bars just to speak to each other in voices louder than their own demons
No man can shout louder than his demons
My daughter
There will be men
who take maximum credit
For making minimum effort
My daughter
If history teaches us anything
Your great great grand-mother
visits me in dreams
She is always wearing black
She appears to me with the ghosts of women who were stoned in the villages, who were burned in the town squares, abandoned by their husbands or exiled by their fathers, women who had to raise sons, who they knew would one day raise their fists against the town’s daughters.
Η προ προ γιαγια σου
She tells me
every man must face his forefathers sins wilfully, unpack the boxes of the false prophets, unpick the patterns of power, un-ball his fists, decorate his own palms in heritage and humility…
or risk a forced reckoning.
My daughter
I’ve seen my own karma as a man, frozen like a tsunami mid-surge above the roof of our house. I’ve seen the wounded inheritance, the hurt I’ve caused etched beneath my skin, my mistakes sit like sediment heavy in my lungs and I’m still learning how to speak them.
But you
you’re the sound of a bell chiming
the sound of the universe turning in a spiral
And your great great grand-mother visits me in dreams
she’s always wearing black
but she is always turning soil
sowing seeds in the dirt for you
helping us cultivate a clean tomorrow
“My creative philosophy with this project is one of ‘edu-tainment’ – to bring important information to the people via powerful and engaging art. I believe this to be one of the many ways our societies can be strongly impacted – art has always been a potent tool for social change and I believe collaborating with an organisation such as the Institute of Non-Violence brings a weight to my work that I cannot bring on my own. Often, after having experienced a piece of my poetry or music, people tell me they are moved to act, but that they have nowhere to place that impetus – they don’t know where to start. Working with the Institute of Non-Violence on this project gives people the immediate opportunity to take that inspiration immediately to the next level, embedding it into their personal or professional lives in a real way. Similarly, if my work can help the good people at IoNV to further their reach and positive impact upon our society by using it as a teaching tool, then this is another great reason for this collaboration. In many ways, I see this as my way of being in service of women and counteracting the history of negative relationships between the sexes – namely dominance and violence perpetrated by men onto the women around them. I know none of this work absolves me as a man, but if I can contribute my art towards better connectivity.”
“I have known and worked with Luka since 2012 when I first heard his poetry through Melbourne spoken word events. I was immediately drawn to the passion and depth of his words. Luka’s poetry is bold, honest and raw, something that is often missing from the public discourse around the most crucial social issues.
I have watched Luka grow into a professional poet and artist who has devoted his work to anti-racism and non-violence, something that I have also been passionate about and active in as a social worker and through my consultancy, Global Echo.
As I transitioned from focusing mainly on diversity and inclusion work to looking at interventions for family, gendered and social violence, it made sense to recreate myself through the Institute of non-violence (IoNV).
As it happens, I had approached Luka in August this year, following the #BeirutBlast to collaborate on a poem that speaks against violence. One conversation led to another and we now have this powerful piece about gendered violence.
I felt that Luka’s passion for non-violence and his creative genius would align perfectly with the Institute’s core values (Harmony, Equality, Safety, Equity and Inclusion) and vision to create a world where non-violence is the social norm.
I also encourage men to be as vocal as possible about this topic. Men are largely responsible for patriarchal dominance and various forms of systemic oppression of women. White men (and women) who occupy spaces of leadership and decision making, therefore benefiting from these structures, are also largely responsible for dominance over and oppression of people of colour, people with diverse gender and sexual identities, people with different abilities, and other less advantaged groups.
The more we speak about these issues, using creativity and different ways of reaching people, like through poetry and music, the more able we will be to live in accordance with our true nature, which is harmonious, collaborative and peaceful.”
“The lyrics to this piece are multifaceted, as all my poems usually are. Firstly I’m welcoming into my imagination what it might be like to have a daughter. This in itself brings up so much emotion, fear, pride, joy, love. But I am soon faced with the reality, knowing the world as I do, that I will need to warn my daughter, if I was to have one, of the dangers men pose to her. This then leads me down a track of reflecting on the kinds of men, of the personality traits of the oftentimes good men, that are violent in varied ways towards women.
My great grandmother was born in 1883, a hundred years before me, and even though she passed a long time ago, and I never met her in person, the strength of her presence is still well renown in the village. People still speak of her fondly, and I felt strongly connected to her when my wife and I lived in the village for 5 months last year. By reflecting on the hardships she endured, of the way men treated her, and the way she raised her daughters, I feel as though I am learning how to unpack my inherited misogyny.
This is why she is such a strong figure in the poem: ‘She is always wearing black, but she is always tilling soil’ to me means that even though she is mourning the women who have died from domestic and patriarchal abuse, she is also wise enough to know that there is always a new season, a new set of seeds to plant, a new generation to teach, and new great-great granddaughter to raise.
In the end, history teaches us that everything we’ve come to know is mostly written by men, which means there are inherent blind spots and intentional silences in too many important parts of our collective psyche. At this point in the poem, my own hypocrisy comes from the fact that I am a man, who is writing a poem about sexism, speaking for both my imagined daughter and idealised great grandmother. So in order to get out of the way, all that is really left for me to do is to take the lessons from my ancestors and use them to help create a fertile enough ground for the next generation to plant their own seeds into. To just open a blank page as a man, teach her how to grasp the pen perhaps, and allow my daughter to write her own version of events.”
“As a men’s behaviour change facilitator and advocate for the ending of gendered violence, I have seen first hand, the power of reaching deep into men’s hearts and activating empathy for women and girls, by directly referring to their children.
The most resistant men, who are feeling disempowered by conversations about gender equality, can relate to wanting a world where their daughter can live freely of physical, sexual and emotional violence from men. A world, where their daughter has equal access to professional success, wealth and life opportunities as their son would have.
Luka’s poem speaks directly to this.
If you’re looking to share this with others, we also have resources that you can explore on our website.”
Stereo. type.
By Luka Lesson
Poet and rapper Luka Lesson and Institute of non-violence have teamed up again to deliver a second poem and video: ‘Stereo. Type.’
The visuals for the poem premiered on Monday 22 March 2021, marking the International Day to End Racial Discrimination and National Harmony Week in Australia.
The video is available for viewing and sharing on Facebook and YouTube.
“See I don’t care about your lyrics I mostly care about your spirit our words are just vessels to help our souls grow coherent”
These words written and spoken by Luka align with our objectives, our mission and our values. We share Luka’s frustration around racism that is fueled by mainstream media and society without any responsibility or accountability for its impact on its target communities.
IoNV invites you to keep this conversation going, be #anti-racist every day and speak out against all types of racial violence.
STEREO. TYPE.
Before they lock you in a stereotype
speak words so deep
they’re like burial rights
write lines that unite
every side of the fight
so when you speak
all they get is your
STEREO. TYPE.
See I don’t care about your lyrics
I mostly care about your spirit
our words are just vessels
to help our souls grow coherent
That’s why plastic conversations
just keep people in their places
boxes and cages
staying locked in a maze
These days
a raised eyebrow in suspicion
can draw a straight line to a conviction
A country so conditioned by racism
those most judged by skin colour
and appearance
end up filling up our prisons
And we’re pissed off
when a shock-jock gets paid
just to be a bigot
but our taxes have been paying for the same shit
since the beginning
They pigeon hole us into body types
traditional dress
sexual preference
or exotic sound bytes
and they use every media stereotype
to amplify their agenda
as their political stereo mic
So we’re stuck in the battle of the headlines
on the war of the magazine shelf
they’ve taught us to see each other
as caricatures of our real selves
From Cronulla to the Herald
Channel 7 – the whole cartel
the media mafia
making sure News Corp
gets the sell
But the complexity of our lives
doesn’t fit in their headlines
so they need bite-sized pieces of our bodies
to feed on between dinner and bedtime
So when we see each other on the street
those headlines
in our head sets
become headnotes
become death stares
become death threats
become the next steps
towards our best friends’ necks
becoming breathless
To divide and conquer
we need a clear set of enemies
falsified identities
combined with our short term memories
They poison our communities
to keep us preoccupied
so while we’re fighting each other
– more land gets occupied
More services are cut
Adani gets up
another open cut mine
another refugee gets stuck
That’s why we need to take back the narrative
speak our own languages
keep our identities multifaceted
don’t simplify it for their arrogance
You are not all savages
you are not all parodies
to be used as their front page
embarrassments
So before they lock you in a stereotype
speak words so deep
they’re like burial rights
write lines that unite
every side of the fight
so when we speak
all they get is our
STEREO. TYPE.
“I believe that the inspiration that comes from witnessing a poem like this one can result in real action and positive change. By collaborating with IoNV, I am playing with how art is consumed and perceived, and how the observer can then turn into an active participant in the conversation by contacting IoNV and engaging with anti-racism work in the real world. I’m interested in seeing how the people who see my work can move from passively consuming art, to taking that next step to reach out, learn, engage and build. “
“See I don’t care about your lyrics
I mostly care about your spirit
our words are just vessels
to help our souls grow coherent”
These words written and spoken by Luka highlight why CEO and Founder, Hala Abdelnour, approached him to collaborate with IoNV on issues that align with our objectives, our mission and our values. Luka is not afraid to be bold and to speak his truth, a truth that resonates with many people who have felt oppressed in one way or another by a system that is evermore detached from the human experience.
Working in collaboration with like-minded individuals and professionals, IoNV hopes to support society and humanity as we return to our inherently non-violent essence.
I have watched Luka grow into a professional poet and artist who has devoted his work to anti-racism and non-violence, something that I have also been passionate about and active in as a social worker and through my consultancy, Global Echo.
As I transitioned from focusing mainly on diversity and inclusion work to looking at interventions for family, gendered and social violence, it made sense to recreate myself through the Institute of non-violence (IoNV).
As it happens, I had approached Luka in August this year, following the #BeirutBlast to collaborate on a poem that speaks against violence. One conversation led to another and we now have this powerful piece about gendered violence.
I felt that Luka’s passion for non-violence and his creative genius would align perfectly with the Institute’s core values (Harmony, Equality, Safety, Equity and Inclusion) and vision to create a world where non-violence is the social norm.
I also encourage men to be as vocal as possible about this topic. Men are largely responsible for patriarchal dominance and various forms of systemic oppression of women. White men (and women) who occupy spaces of leadership and decision making, therefore benefiting from these structures, are also largely responsible for dominance over and oppression of people of colour, people with diverse gender and sexual identities, people with different abilities, and other less advantaged groups.
The more we speak about these issues, using creativity and different ways of reaching people, like through poetry and music, the more able we will be to live in accordance with our true nature, which is harmonious, collaborative and peaceful.”
“This poem is about defiance. The people are fed up. Those of us who have seen our cultures, sexualities and religions get used as fodder in order to cause a stir and sell newspapers are completely sick of it. It causes deep trauma, separates us from each other, and harms our communities in both the long and short-term. This piece is about the people being able to ‘take back the narrative’ and build a better world that we know is possible.”
My great grandmother was born in 1883, a hundred years before me, and even though she passed a long time ago, and I never met her in person, the strength of her presence is still well renown in the village. People still speak of her fondly, and I felt strongly connected to her when my wife and I lived in the village for 5 months last year. By reflecting on the hardships she endured, of the way men treated her, and the way she raised her daughters, I feel as though I am learning how to unpack my inherited misogyny.
This is why she is such a strong figure in the poem: ‘She is always wearing black, but she is always tilling soil’ to me means that even though she is mourning the women who have died from domestic and patriarchal abuse, she is also wise enough to know that there is always a new season, a new set of seeds to plant, a new generation to teach, and new great-great granddaughter to raise.
In the end, history teaches us that everything we’ve come to know is mostly written by men, which means there are inherent blind spots and intentional silences in too many important parts of our collective psyche. At this point in the poem, my own hypocrisy comes from the fact that I am a man, who is writing a poem about sexism, speaking for both my imagined daughter and idealised great grandmother. So in order to get out of the way, all that is really left for me to do is to take the lessons from my ancestors and use them to help create a fertile enough ground for the next generation to plant their own seeds into. To just open a blank page as a man, teach her how to grasp the pen perhaps, and allow my daughter to write her own version of events.
“Ever since the murder of George Floyd in the United States in May 2020, the world has shifted its energy and more of us are demanding justice and equality for all – we are saying Enough is Enough! We are marching for in the streets and creating new ways of doing business that defies the ancient and outdated patriarchal structures of the colonial world.
We, at IoNV, acknowledge that the experiences of systemic racism are intertwined with the use and experience of family and domestic violence (FDV). One of our key focus points in the way we approach the work is to explore and adopt an intersectional feminist framework to intervention and prevention programs. This is crucial to think about, considering that FDV can result in police and criminal justice engagement, as well as other representatives of government and non-government institutions. When these institutions are structurally embedded in a colonial setting and mindset, they inevitably pose a threat to members of the community that have been traumatised and oppressed by them intergenerationally.
‘A country so conditioned by racism
those most judged by skin colour
and appearance
end up filling up our prisons’
It is our duty as participating members of this society, who benefit from its systems, to correct our processes, to engage and collaborate evenly across all groups, and to simply be non-violent.”
BA, DipCSD, MIT
Tharindu is a results-driven IT professional with over 17 years of experience in IT System Administration and Technical Support. His expertise is in system optimisation, network administration, and IT infrastructure management.
Tharindu is recognised for his strong work ethic, commitment to excellence, and ability to collaborate effectively with teams.
BSocSci (Hons), PHD
Dr Kavindi Wadumestri-Northcote was awarded a PhD from RMIT University, Melbourne. Her doctoral thesis was titled “Being Other: The Experiences of Young Australian-Lebanese Muslims”.
She has worked in education in Australia, Vietnam, Taiwan and China. She has also worked in government and not-for-profit organisations on youth and community engagement projects. Kavindi has compiled over 20,000 words in evidence and literature reviews to support our frameworks and strategies.
MPsych (Clinical), BPsych, BSociSci, BAppSci, GradCertSociSci (Male FV)
Mark is a senior psychologist with a specialisation in working with shame and trauma, sexual violence, family violence, and highly vulnerable individuals. He has led his clinical and forensic psychological practice since 2003 and has over 20 years of experience in family violence practice, including men’s behaviour change facilitation, clinical supervision for the Men’s Referral Service and individual client work.
Mark has worked in community and forensic settings seeing a wide variety of adult and adolescent male clients. He has undertaken reports for a range of audiences including the Adult Parole Board, the Department of Justice, the Family Court, Magistrate’s and Children’s Courts, as well as various third party providers.
BA (Linguistics), MMHC
Nikkis is a specialist in trauma and addiction therapy and groupwork. She has worked for 30 years in Aboriginal communities first as a linguist, then program manager at ATSIC and now as a Counsellor/Psychodramatist. She has practiced over 1000 hours of group psychotherapy. Nikki currently co-lead a psychodrama group for people who have recently been released from prison. She conducts sociodrama groups with community organisations who are interested in using creative methods to build skill, explore complex problems and relationships. In 2024, she published her thesis which describes an environment of relationality and healing through centering First Nations Language and Culture. Nikki is also on the Board of Indigenous Community TV and Chair of the Self Help Addiction Resource Centre.
BSc (Hons) Biochemistry, LLB, MIntPropLaw, AdvDip Group Facilitation, MThArtsPrac, MSW
Hannah is a highly skilled and passionate professional with a diverse background in corporate law, change management, advocacy, group facilitation and training, and social work. She possesses a keen understanding of navigating complex systems and is adept at driving transformative initiatives and at fostering inclusive environments. As a trainer and facilitator, she is dedicated to amplifying marginalised voices and ensuring that they are heard, respected, and acted upon.
Hannah is currently training to become an arts therapist, recognising the power of creative expression in healing and self-discovery. She has completed four years of training in psychodrama and sociodrama, allowing her to employ dynamic and experiential techniques to engage groups and foster meaningful connections.
BA (Counselling), GradCert(FamilyTherapy), GradCert SocSci (MBC Facilitation)
Michelle has over 15 years experience working in family violence in NFP, government and private sectors across Australia.
She redeveloped the Graduate Certificate in Social Science for No to Violence and Swinburne University and has been instrumental in the practice development of family violence that has a whole-of-family, integrated response. This includes developing the practice guidelines for the updated MBC minimum standards and consulting on the redevelopment of the Safe and Equal Code of practice.
Michelle has written MBC program manuals for various organisations, including the first MBC to run in a Victorian Prison.
CertIV (CommSvc), DipYouthWork, CertIV (TA)
Marijo has worked in community, therapeutic, and education settings for 20 years. This includes individual and family counselling, case management, community development, therapeutic group work and training.
He has considerable experience in working with and for people from migrant and refugee backgrounds, young people, families, and in responding to all forms of violence and abuse, trauma, and family and interpersonal relationships. In his supervision practice, Marijo uses a systemic, relational, and trauma informed approach, that supports workers and teams to build and strengthen practices that are centred in ethics, values, sustainability, and accountability.
BA (Politics/International Studies and Sociology), MSocPol
Grounded in a deep commitment to equity and evidence-informed practice, Souraya applies an analytical and systems-focused lens to understanding and addressing complex social issues.
Drawing on her academic background, including a Bachelor of Arts with majors in Sociology and Politics/International Studies and a Master of Social Policy, she combines critical analysis with practical insight to explore the intersections of policy, systems, and lived experience. Her work spans research design and delivery, data synthesis, and stakeholder engagement across projects focused on family, domestic, and sexual violence, gender (in)justice, and social equity.
She is dedicated to producing evidence that informs meaningful, sustainable social impact and strengths equity-driven practice. Through this work, Souraya contributes to building safer and fairer communities through research that bridges policy and lived realities
BSW, MSW, PGCert (Practice Education), MCounsPsychotherapy
Michael brings diverse leadership and practice experience across multiple sectors, including mental health, safeguarding, family violence prevention and LGBTQ+ health and wellbeing. He currently works as an integrative therapist in private practice, a specialist mental health clinician within the public health sector, and a board trustee for a leading UK youth mental health organisation. He also provides safeguarding consultancy to values-led organisations.
An experienced clinical supervisor, Michael has delivered both group and individual supervision to counsellors, social workers, therapists and students. He believes supervision should be a reflective and appropriately challenging space that fosters growth, learning and the continual improvement of practice. His approach is strengths-based, supporting clinicians to deepen their self-awareness and make meaningful connections between theory and practice.
Michael holds Bachelor and Master of Social Work degrees, a Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy, and a postgraduate qualification in the supervision and training of social work students. He has also undertaken post-qualifying training in a range of psychotherapeutic approaches, including Interpersonal Psychotherapy, EMDR and Mentalisation-Based Treatment (MBT). Developing expertise in the assessment and treatment of post-traumatic stress has been a central focus of his academic and post-qualification training, and he has co-developed and delivered training in trauma-informed practice.
MSocAnth, DipMgmt, MPH, BAppSci
Amali has over 10 years experience working primarily with not-for-profits, Aboriginal Community Coordinated Organisations and State Government. She is an expert on cultural safety and anti-racism and has a keen interest in understanding how systems compound intersectional disadvantage.
She holds a Master of Social Anthropology (Rotary Global grants Scholar); Diploma of Management; Master of Public Health; Bachelor of Applied Science.
BSocSci, MProfAppEthics
Gordon is a professional ethicist specialising in power dynamics and culture management. He has worked with the NSW Public Service Commissioner uplifting the Capability Framework used for all government hiring, and previously worked on the Victoria Police culture change program and their ethics training uplift initiative. He is the author of Power and the Professional, published by McFarland Press.
Gordon is currently undertaking a PhD with Deakin University’s ‘Tackling Hate’ lab, providing sessional teaching for a variety of universities, and providing consulting services to a variety of clients on demand. Gordon is available for leadership training, reviewing/developing Codes of Ethics, cultural analysis and management system development, governance system advice, and assistance regarding management of ethical breaches.
BSocSci, MHumRights, PHD
Elizabeth Lang is the CEO and Founder of Diversity Focus. Her areas of expertise include intersectional diversity and inclusion, domestic and family violence and human rights. She is a passionate speaker and has presented on a number of national and international platforms, including the UNHCR in Geneva Switzerland.
Elizabeth has a research interest in gender equity, specifically in prevention and early intervention for domestic and family violence. In line with this interest, she is completing her PhD at Curtin University. Her thesis, ‘Conceptualising Domestic and Family Violence in the Frame of Collectivist Cultures’, seeks to broaden the current conceptual understating of domestic and family violence that has dominated research and practice discourse since 1980’s.
Elizabeth has also taught as a Sessional Academic at Curtin University since 2015 and continues to do so as a guest lecturer across various undergraduate and postgraduate disciplines.
BA (Sociology), BBus (Administration)
Jasmine is a Sociologist with 20 years experience working in Media, Tech StartUps, Fashion + Advertising companies in Australia, London and the USA. As the Executive Director of Talent Development at Media Arts Lab/ TBWA she envisioned and created the Annual Global Executive Leadership Development Programs and established an in-house global Coaching program.
She has extensive experience in Leadership Development, Behavioural Analytics, Neuroscience and Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Jasmine is also a Co-Active trained coach, a certified Yoga teacher and a lover of the great outdoors. She cares deeply about the environment and promoting personal well-being and has dedicated her career to helping people reach their full creative and leadership potential.
MHSc (Health Management), GradCert (Organisational Coaching), GradCert (Training & Assessment)
Katie supports leaders to reach the next level of leadership capability, with a focus on developing a strategic mindset in a more complex and uncertain context. She provides the support and challenge leaders need to understand and get aligned with the strategic priorities of the organisation and access internal and external resources to support the organisation to deliver these priorities.
Common areas of focus include effectively toggling between operational detail and taking a broader strategic view, carving out time for high impact priority initiatives, building executive presence, influencing across different departments, leveraging networks internally and in the broader market, managing mindset and self-talk, and increasing self-confidence and assertiveness.
GradCertEd (Social Ecology), GradCertCommEnt, DipSustLiving, BA (Sociology)
Patricia is a trusted leadership advisor and coach to executives navigating complex organisational and people-related challenges. With over 15 years of experience, Patricia brings a unique systems-thinking perspective shaped by academic qualifications in Sociology, Social Ecology, Sustainable Living, and Business Commercialisation.
Patricia partners with CEOs, Boards, and senior leadership teams to co-design inclusive strategies that centre psychological safety, cultural transformation, and ethical governance. She is known for her ability to navigate sensitive organisational dynamics while helping leaders foster empathy, build trust, and strengthen team cohesion.
BA, BSW, GradDip (Applied Psychology), BMH, MCom
Stephanie is an accomplished senior psychologist with over 35 years of experience spanning government, non-government, and private sectors. Her career includes leadership roles in Child Protection (Government), the migrant and domestic violence sectors (NGOs including UNHCR), and private practice across psychology, legal services, and education.
She has also worked as a management coach and consultant with organisations such as Slater & Gordon Lawyers and the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service. Stephanie’s areas of expertise include workforce management, behavioural change, employee wellness, personality assessment, and supporting clients through complex personal and professional transitions.
GradCert SociSci (Male Family Violence), GradCert SociSci (Male Family Violence Telephone Counselling), Dip VET, BA (Psychology and Philosophy) MSW (current)
Guy is an experienced professional with extensive experience in the family violence sector. His practice is grounded in pro-feminist, anti‐oppressive principles and intersectionality. Trained in psychology and social work, he has completed the Bouverie Centre Supervision Training. He has facilitated Men’s Behaviour Change and individual behavioural change programs.
Across managerial and frontline roles, he has led multidisciplinary teams, shaped program development, and ensured high‐quality, trauma‐informed service delivery. He holds a commitment to respectful relationships, accountability and continuous improvement.
She has also worked as a management coach and consultant with organisations such as Slater & Gordon Lawyers and the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service. Stephanie’s areas of expertise include workforce management, behavioural change, employee wellness, personality assessment, and supporting clients through complex personal and professional transitions.
GradCert (Client Assessment & Case Management), B SocSci
Marena is a family violence practitioner specialising in working with men who use violence. She is skilled in supporting victim-survivors, conducting comprehensive MARAM assessments, and developing tailored safety plans using a client-centred, trauma-informed approach.
Marena commenced her career working with Arabic speaking refugees as a youth worker with Arabic Welfare. From there her passion grew in the space and she worked with asylum seekers and refugees for 5 years prior to commencing with the Magistrates Court as a Team Leader in Family Violence 2017.
She has extensive experience managing and developing teams, providing supervision, and leading high-quality service delivery. She designs and delivers training packages for professionals and community groups.
BA (Finance), MDevStud, MProfAcc
Mai is a CPA qualified accountant with a background in finance, accounting and auditing. She is passionate about problem solving and process improvements, and enjoys working with numbers and systems. She has spent extensive time living, studying and working in Vietnam, England and Australia.
BSc(Psychology), BA(Criminology), MSW
Hala is a highly qualified group facilitator, trainer, and practitioner, specialising in family violence, diversity, equity and inclusion. She has delivered numerous Men’s Behaviour Change Programs, worked in addiction and settlement services, and supported clients across diverse cultural contexts.
She is a Vincent Fairfax Fellow and has served on several NFP Boards, having participated in the Company Directors Course via Australian Institute of Company Directors in 2014. She is a passionate advocate for peace, justice, and inclusion, with a focus on cultural safety, trauma-informed practice, intersectionality, and gender equity. Hala has lived, worked and travelled in over 50 countries, is multilingual and has worked across NFP, government and private sectors, in Australia and overseas.
She entered the world of consulting in 2003 working with some of Australia’s most experienced consultants, supporting government policy formation, community empowerment, and business development. Hala’s expertise in this space sits around creating harmonious workplaces, where leaders are better equipped to manage tensions arising from bullying, harassment and other microaggressions. Hala has developed several gender equity and antiracism strategies for large government and NFP organisations.