Episode 27
The Dark Side of Digital: Fighting Back Against Technology-Facilitated Abuse
Join us for Episode 27 of Feminist Money as we discuss the issue of technology-facilitated abuse, including:
1. Part 1: Understanding digital violence and its forms, and why digital violence is the theme of this year’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign.
2. Part 2: Programs helping protect women’s online activities and the importance of technology safety training for frontline services support workers.
3. Part 3: The impact of supporting women’s technology safety, and how we can help end digital violence with supportive conversations and resources.
Episode guest: Karen Bentley is the CEO of Wesnet, the national peak body for specialist women's domestic and family violence services. Wesnet provides relief and support to women and children experiencing domestic and family violence, intimate partner violence and other forms of gender-based violence
episode description
episode show notes
(2.32) Understanding tech-facilitated abuse and its forms
We’ve been focused on the 16 Days of Activism campaign, and this year's theme of uniting to end digital violence really highlights the work of Wesnet. For people who are new to the idea of digital violence, how do you define it?
What do you think may have prompted the decision to make digital violence the focus of this year’s 16 Days of Activism campaign against gender-based violence?
Technology is ever evolving as we upgrade our phones and start using new apps. How has digital violence and the forms it can take changed alongside the changing use of technology in the past decade?
(9.24) Programs helping protect women online, including technology safety training for frontline services
Wesnet runs a number of programs to disrupt the misuse of technology and protect people from violence. What are some examples of the programs you run that are having an impact on reducing digital violence
Education and capacity building are a core part of Wesnet’s work, including technology safety training for frontline services. Why is it so important that workers are trained to recognise and respond appropriately to technology-facilitated abuse?
(14.33) How to help end digital violence with supportive conversations and resources
Wesnet has a unique operating model in serving as a network of specialist domestic and family violence services working on the frontline to assist women experiencing domestic and family violence. What is the impact of this network structure?
When someone experiencing digital violence receives support from Wesnet, including a safe phone, what kind of broader change do you tend to see in their life?
Gender-based violence remains a problem in Australia and around the world. What do you wish more community members knew about this problem?
If a leader with the power to drive system-wide change on this issue could target resources to address the problem, what should they prioritise?