BCFW applauds Femili PNG for hosting Rosie Batty’s visit to PNG

Anti-violence advocate Rosie Batty

Femili PNG had the pleasure of hosting the 2015 Australian of the Year and anti-violence advocate Rosie Batty in Papua New Guinea from 24 to 28 April 2017.

Her visit was to share her experience as a survivor of family violence in support of Femili PNG’s work in addressing family and sexual violence (FSV) in Lae and PNG. Her advocacy during her visit has also boosted the discussion on FSV in PNG, and enlightened many Papua New Guineans that FSV is a global issue that can affect anyone, regardless of who you are.

While in PNG, Rosie visited Lae and Port Moresby and met with survivors of violence, Femili PNG staff and family and sexual violence service providers. Rosie gave public lectures at the PNG University of Technology in Lae and the University of Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby, sharing panels and generating discussion of the issues among PNG men, women and youth. She also spoke at fundraising dinners in Lae and Port Moresby.

All funds raised through the fundraising dinners will be used to support the work of Femili PNG assisting survivors of family and sexual violence in PNG.

At the end of the visit, Rosie noted that there is still a lot of shame surrounding family violence in both Australia and Papua New Guinea, and that people are suffering in silence. She stressed the importance of survivors reaching out for help.

Femili PNG Case Work Manager Evan Bieso travelled with Rosie to attend other scheduled meetings in Port Moresby. Ms Bieso said that “survivors of family and sexual violence in PNG were empowered to learn from Rosie that not only Papua New Guinean women face this sort of violence, and that is a global problem”.

Femili PNG thanks Steamships for sponsoring the two open lectures, Cardno for sponsoring the fundraising dinner in Port Moresby and Trukai Industries Limited for sponsoring the fundraising dinner in Lae. Femili PNG also thanks the PNG Business Coalition for Women, Guard Dog Security Services, Theodist, Post Courier, the Voice Inc, and others who have assisted through giving their time and in-kind support to make the events associated with Rosie Batty’s visit a success.

About Rosie

Rosie Batty began her crusade against family and sexual violence in 2014 after her 11 year old son Luke was tragically murdered by his father Greg Anderson after cricket practice on 12th February 2014.

Rosie decided to use her personal tragedy and experience to advocate for better responses and service delivery for survivors of violence.
She is now the CEO and Founder of the Luke Batty Foundation. She is a leader in the crusade against family violence in Australia and has turned her personal tragedy into a fight to help others.

Her relentless work in this area resulted in Rosie being named the 2015 Australian of the year and the Pride of Australia National Courage Medal recipient.

Rosie is a founding member of the Council of Australian Governments advisory panel on preventing violence against women. Rosie is now leading a Victim Survivors’ Advisory Council for the Victorian Government as a response to Australia’s first royal commission into family violence. She has also been inducted onto the Victorian Honor Roll of Women.

Rosie is also the author of “A Mother’s Story”. In the book, she shares the story of how her son was tragically murdered by his father.