INSIGHTS Best practice for working with culturally and linguistically diverse communities in addressing violence against women
This resource captures ten insights from ANROWS’s Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Projects with Action Research (CALD PAR) initiative.
The initiative comprised a total of 26 action research projects: 18 focused on primary prevention of violence against women, and 8 focused on creating safer pathways to crisis and support services for victims and survivors.
The projects were led by local services across Australia including multicultural and settlement services and legal, health and other community services.
ANROWS supported the projects to use action research to evaluate and learn from their activities, and published a report highlighting 10 insights from the initiative, which are summarised in the resource.
The report highlights the importance of intersectional practice that:
- connects with communities to learn more about how experiences of oppression, privilege and colonial structures intersect in local contexts
- critically reflects on inequalities in power and privilege between project teams and different community groups
- collaborates and builds coalitions with community groups, services and individuals to work towards systemic change.
The 10 insights identify directions for future work in increasing strengths-based community engagement, using aspirational language to frame activities and, building capacity in culturally safe practice and supporting bicultural workers.
This resource supports policy makers and practitioners in further understanding the drivers of violence and responses to violence against women from an intersectional perspective, and translates the findings of the CALD PAR initiative.
Suggested citation
Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety. (2021). Best practice for working with culturally and linguistically diverse communities in addressing violence against women (ANROWS Insights, 03/2021). ANROWS.