Changing the Landscape

The challenge was to transform a comprehensive evidence base on preventing violence against women with disabilities—a group often overlooked in mainstream violence prevention conversations—into accessible, engaging resources. Today, Women with Disabilities Victoria (WDV) and Our Watch needed to centre the authentic voices and experiences of women with disabilities throughout the design process while creating materials suitable for diverse audiences with varying accessibility needs. The project required innovative collaboration between multiple stakeholders, including three lead organisations, a co-design group of practitioners, and a Project Advisory Group of women with disabilities acting as advisors, editors and advocates.

Today, WDV and Our Watch reimagined traditional resource development by placing women with disabilities in decision-making roles throughout the process. Working alongside specialist suppliers Banalarama, The Mind Room, and Scope, they developed a comprehensive suite of accessible formats: explainer and case study videos with captions, audio descriptions and Auslan translations; podcast-style audio series; posters; checklists; social media templates; and Plain English and Easy Read resources. Their trauma-informed approach allowed women to authentically share their experiences, while their commitment to accessibility transformed the entire project management approach, ensuring all documentation and processes were inclusive by default.

The project drove an almost 850% increase in resource page views a month after launch, and an impressive 300% year-on-year growth in users four months on, and won the 2024 National Disability Services ‘Excellence in Innovation’ Award. By genuinely centring over 29 women with lived experience as decision-makers rather than just consultants, Today has established new standards for inclusive resource development. “It was a pleasure working Our Watch and WDV and I think we should all be incredibly proud of the results”—Renay Barker-Mulholland; video talent, First Nations, disability and gender justice advocate on the launch of the resources.

The project's standout feature was the commitment to trauma-informed, accessible processes at every stage. They created intimate, psychologist-supported filming environments with an (almost) all female-identifying crew where women felt safe sharing powerful, sometimes painful stories. "I've shared my experience in a few projects like this, but never have I felt so welcomed and included, safe and respected." — Participant Today intentionally shifted power dynamics by stepping back from an ‘expert’ role to become facilitators and designers, ensuring all lead organisations agreed that the Project Advisory Group and co-designers had final say on all outputs. This approach transformed how prevention resources are typically created. Their stripped-back, intimate approach to art direction left space for authentic storytelling that resonates deeply with audiences. As WDV Acting CEO Julie Kun observed: "It felt transformational hearing this information from people with lived experience. For things to change, people have to have compassion. These tools are so valuable for building compassion." By launching on national breakfast television and making resources freely available online, these powerful first-person narratives extend beyond practitioners to reach the broader community, demonstrating how prevention work can be both accessible and impactful when led by those with lived experience.