Yesterday, Women’s Housing Company stood alongside 30 NSW-based services at Martin Place for the No More Empty Shoes vigil, part of the UN’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.

Chaired by Rebecca Fitzpatrick from Lou’s Place and supported by the NSW Vigil Collective, the event honoured women, children, and even pets who have lost their lives to domestic and family violence in the past year. Each life was represented by a plinth with shoes and a name, which is a poignant reminder of the human cost of violence.

Speakers delivered powerful calls for change:

• Corey Anderson (Healing Through Yarning) spoke about the link between colonisation and domestic violence and the need to engage men in behaviour change.
• NSW Women’s Safety Commissioner Hannah Tonkin highlighted the systemic work still required.
• Delia Donovan, CEO of Domestic Violence NSW, reminded us that NSW Police receive a DV-related call every three minutes and declared: “Domestic violence is relentless, but guess what? So are we.”

The most moving moment came from Tabitha Acret, a lived experience advocate, who shared her heartbreaking story of losing her daughter Mackenzie to domestic violence. Her courage and plea for men to call out disrespectful behaviour resonated deeply with everyone present.

Domestic violence is a community issue. We need systemic reform, adequate funding, and cultural change. Women’s Housing Company is committed to being part of that change, ensuring women have safe housing and support when they need it most.