The You Are Not Alone Conference took place in May 2025.

Victoria’s first women’s refuge recently marked its 50th anniversary. To commemorate this significant milestone, YANA hosted a special conference that brought together members of the Victorian refuge sector.

The event honoured the pioneers behind the movement and acknowledged the vital work that has been carried out over the past five decades.

The You Are Not Alone Conference featured keynote presentations, panel discussions and workshops. Attendees reflected on the progress made, explored the ongoing challenges facing the sector, and looked to the future with hope and determination. The conference welcomed those working in the sector, advocates, victim-survivors, and community members, offering a space to celebrate key initiatives across the state and to share powerful stories from the past fifty years.

PURCHASE A COMMEMORATIVE 50th TEA TOWEL

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PURCHASE A COMMEMORATIVE 50th TEA TOWEL 〰️

Featured SESSIONS:

• PANEL DISCUSSION

50 years of learning: How refuges have evolved, and what still needs to happen

This panel discussion will bring together leaders in the sector to discuss how refuges have evolved in terms of diversity and inclusion, accessibility, and best-practice service delivery over the last 50 years. We will hear stories from first days of the Women's Liberation Halfway House, and celebrate the groundbreaking women who forged the way for decades of women to follow.

Featuring Jan Khan (YANA CEO), Jacqui Theobald (Author, From the Margins to the Mainstream) and Dianne Otto, first staff member of Women's Liberation Halfway House. Moderated by Tania Fahra (Safe and Equal CEO).

• PANEL DISCUSSION

Global crisis, local impact: How local refuges must adapt to support diverse clients

In this session we will explore how refuges can best support women from refugee and migrant backgrounds, who represent a growing majority of clients. We will discuss how we can better assist clients who are on temporary visas, or who may be experiencing visa abuse. Hear from experts, academics, and those working in the field as we delve into this important topic.

Featuring Nesreen Bottriell, Australian Muslim Women's Centre for Human Rights CEO), Dr. Marie Segrave (Professor of Criminology, University of Melbourne), Michal Morris, Georgina Martina Inc. CEO) and moderated by Dr Kaye Quek (Senior Lecturer, Global Studies, RMIT)

• PANEL DISCUSSION

How to find hope: Looking forward, together

With the rising popularity of online figures like Andrew Tate and news of extreme cases such as Dominique Pelicot, it can be difficult not to despair. In this session join advocates as we discuss the power of hope, and how to find it.

Featuring Dr Monique Ryan (Independent MP, Kooyong), Jen Hargrave (Family violence & disability rights advocate), and Claire Marshall (Emerge CEO). Moderated by Natasha Mitchell (ABC Radio National).

• WORKSHOP

Envisioning the Ideal Refuge in 2025

During the day, breakout workshops will invite participants to collaboratively explore what defines an ideal refuge in 2025. Discussions will focus on key features of the physical environment, essential design considerations, and the refuge's relationship with the broader community. These interactive sessions are designed to foster meaningful dialogue, idea sharing, and creative brainstorming in a relaxed and engaging atmosphere.

• PERFORMANCE

Eliza Hull

A special performance by singer, author and disbility advocate Eliza Hull will acknowledge women who have lost their lives to family violence this year, and celebrate the strength and resilience of women.

MAJOR SPONSOR

The YOU ARE NOT ALONE Conference would not be possible without the generous support of ANZ. ANZ’s financial education program MoneyMinded acts as an education tool for the family violence sector.

SUPPORTED BY

ANZ is proud to be a major sponsor of the 2025 You Are Not Alone (YANA) Conference, taking place on 28 May at the historic Abbotsford Convent in Melbourne. 

A key aspect of the sponsorship will be the strong alignment with ANZ’s financial education program, MoneyMinded, which empowers adults to build essential money management skills, knowledge and confidence. A specialised module for those experiencing family violence was introduced in 2016, which acts as an education tool for family violence specialists and sector workers. 

ANZ’s Financial Education Programs  

MoneyMinded: supporting financial wellbeing across our region  

MoneyMinded is ANZ’s flagship financial education program, supporting adults on lower incomes to build their financial skills, knowledge, and confidence to help make more informed decisions about how to manage their money. The program is delivered by community organisations in Australia and New Zealand. In addition, MoneyMinded is delivered in 15 markets across Asia and the Pacific region by community organisations and ANZ employees.  

More than one million people have participated in MoneyMinded, including MoneyBusiness, since 2002, with 118,021 participating last year. The success of MoneyMinded has relied on our partnerships with community organisations and community professionals who are best placed to deliver the program within vulnerable and disadvantaged communities. 

Family violence education for prevention and recovery 

In 2016, ANZ introduced an extension of MoneyMinded designed specifically for people in the community experiencing family violence. Economic dependency can keep a person locked into, or cause them to return to, an abusive relationship. In circumstances where a relationship has ended, a person may be left with debt or may experience ongoing economic abuse. Financial education and specialist support can help a person on the path towards economic independence.  

Since 2016, Berry Street has been training family violence specialists in the extended MoneyMinded program – including a range of visual resources, prompt cards, animations, and interactive handouts, supporting community professionals to talk about financial abuse with their clients in accessible ways.  

“For many, access to funds and growing the confidence to make financial decisions remains pivotal in pursuing self-determination. Workers participating in MoneyMinded for Family Violence Coach training have reflected on the need for clients to build confidence and financial capability whilst managing multiple demands. This is where the flexibility of MoneyMinded for Family Violence comes into its own, with the program designed to be pulled apart and customised to suit the client’s needs and program context.” said one of the MoneyMinded for Family Violence Trainers. 

“I was able to use the family violence MoneyMinded resources with a new client right after the training! I used the Taking the wheel module to get the client thinking about things she may have not considered otherwise, such as collecting all her important documents. It was very user friendly!” said a recently accredited MoneyMinded for Family Violence Coach.

More than 440 MoneyMinded for Family Violence Coaches have been accredited to use these tailored resources with their clients. 

For more information visit ANZ.com/moneyminded.

In May 2024 Women's Liberation Halfway House became YANA. This was a historic moment for the organisation, our feminism and for the communities we seek to serve. The change reflects the significant changes occurring in society and across the sector and takes us one step closer to being a more accessible, inclusive and diverse organisation.

YANA Family Violence Service (YANA) is a specialist service providing information, advocacy, and support for women and children at risk of or experiencing family violence. We do this with an integrated approach that includes counselling, financial planning and support, safe and crisis refuge accommodation, and pathways to meaningful employment or education.