FVPLS Victoria announces ‘Djirra Women’s Place’ – 4 July 2017

The Aboriginal Family Violence and Prevention Legal Service Victoria (FVPLS Victoria) today announced the name of their Koori women’s place as Djirra.

The announcement coincides with NAIDOC Week, with its 2017 theme focusing on ‘Our Languages Matter’. “Today is a landmark for our organisation, a step towards our longheld
vision to create a one-of-a-kind community place for Koori women from across Victoria, including victims and survivors of family violence”, said Ms Antoinette
Braybrook, CEO of FVPLS Victoria.

FVPLS Victoria consulted with women of the community and the Wurundjeri Council to select the name. “We thank the Wurundjeri Council for permission to use Djirra, a
Woiwurrung word for the reed used widely in Wurundjeri for basket weaving. Weaving represents Aboriginal women working together, this is the essence of Djirra and why the
name was selected”, said Ms Braybrook.

“Djirra Women’s Place will become a place where Aboriginal women come together to celebrate our culture, support each other, and access support and practical help with
family violence and other matters“, said Ms Braybrook.

Many hands have contributed to the development of Djirra, with key contributions from the Indigenous Land Corporation, Victoria Legal Aid, and Gandell Philanthropy.
“We thank our steadfast supporters who have helped us realise our vision for Djirra. With the recent State Government announcement of two year initial funding for Djirra, we
now have the capacity to bring our vision to life”, said Ms Braybrook.

FVPLS Victoria provides culturally safe frontline legal assistance, early intervention prevention and community legal education to Aboriginal victims/survivors of family
violence and sexual assault. In 2016-17 our holistic services reached more than 6000 people and our Sisters Day Out® wellbeing workshop program, now in its tenth year, has
attracted close to 8500 participants. Aboriginal people who need legal advice can phone 1800 105 303 toll free.

FVPLS Victoria works with victims and survivors of family violence, 93% of clients are Aboriginal women, who are the most legally disadvantaged group in Australia.
Nationally, Aboriginal women are 32 times more likely to be hospitalised for family violence and 10 times more likely to die from violent assault than other women.

JOIN US FOR THE OFFICAL ANNOUNCEMENT:
NAIDOC Week: Announcing the name of our Koori women’s place.
Tuesday 4 July 2017 at 10am. 292 Hoddle Street, Abbotsford Victoria.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on twitter: @FVPLSVictoria and Antoinette Braybrook: @BraybrookA
Media Contact: Amy Greer for Antoinette Braybrook on agreer@fvpls.org or 0428 112 356