Jolene Ellat is Director and Founder of the Domestic Abuse Resource and Training Group (DART) Institute.

Jolene is a domestic family violence (DFV) and sexual violence specialist with over 15 years of experience. She provides research, workforce development consultancy, professional training and supervision for government and non-government agencies and community groups. She provides policy and practice expertise in prevention, early intervention, perpetrator intervention, supervision and trauma recovery. She has a special interest in cultural diversity and competency when working with families from diverse backgrounds.

During her early career, Jolene worked with family law services in coordinated response and managerial roles. She provided women’s advocacy across Western Australia, conducted clinical interviews and wrote forensic reports to the Department of Justice.

Jolene is experienced in perpetrator intervention research and training. She facilitated and coordinated the Connect and Respect, men’s behaviour change program for the Department of Justice. She worked with peak bodies implementing the COVID-19 response (funded through the Department of Communities’) to ensure perpetrator visibility across Western Australia throughout COVID-19 and into economic recovery.

Jolene has a track record for leading multi-agency and multi-disciplinary approaches to FDV intervention. Recently, she conducted research into supporting the Family Domestic Violence Response Teams (FDVRTs) and facilitated cross-sectorial professional development with Police (WAPOL), child protection and the Coordinated Response Service (8 specialist sector agencies).

As a leading Safe and Together trainer, Jolene has personally delivered CORE training to over 600 practitioners across Australia. She has also designed and delivered professional training in prevention, early intervention, tertiary intervention and perpetrator intervention for the Department of Communities, Justice Department and WA Department of Health. Jolene has also customised programs such as supporting children recovering from FDV and FDV informed practice supervision training. She designs and delivers a series of webinars across Australia.

Jolene has an impressive academic and research record. She has led national projects, including the evaluation and recommendations towards the ACT’s Family Violence Safety Action Pilot. Jolene is an active contributor to academic publications. She presents nationally and internationally at conferences and is invited as a guest speaker on live panels.

Jolene is well qualified with a Bachelor of Arts Education/Psychology from Edith Cowan University, A Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Studies and Human Rights from Curtin University; a Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy from Notre Dame; and a Professional Certificate in Childhood Trauma from the University of South Australia.

Alison Evans is the Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for Women’s Safety and Wellbeing. Prior to this, Alison was the Director of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence at CWSW. Other roles include Executive Director of the Women’s Community Health Network WA.

Alison is a member of numerous bodies including a Board member of the National Association of Services Against Sexual Violence. Alison has substantive knowledge of violence against women and its implications for women’s health and wellbeing, life chances and choices and access to services and supports. Alison is committed to collaborative practice and supports the leadership of victim survivors to amplify their voices and create change. Alison is a woman with a disability and a survivor of domestic and sexual violence, which are integral to her approach to leadership.

Debbie is currently the Manager at Men’s Outreach Services Aboriginal Corporation (MOSAC) in Broome, where she has worked for the last 5 years.

Her role requires her to oversee and lead a range of community-based programs and services for Aboriginal men, and for the most part, this work has been specific to men’s behaviour change and family domestic violence work. Debbie was responsible for managing the very popular Change Em Ways program in Broome for 4 years, before her promotion to more senior management at MOSAC.

Originally from the United Kingdom, Debbie trained as a Probation Officer overseas and then continued her career in Western Australia initially as a senior practitioner, where she worked with complex and high-risk offenders, many of whom were perpetrators of FDV. She then progressed into more senior leadership roles before transitioning into the not-for-profit sector. Debbie is passionate about supporting men to make positive changes in their lives, increasing the safety of women and children.

David completed his Advance Diploma as an Aboriginal Health Practitioner in 2000. This was follow-up with completing his Advanced Diploma in SEWB, and with a Diploma in counselling.

David spent 19 years working in the Kimberley Region before relocating to Geraldton in 2019 and is currently the GRAMS We Can Together Men’s Behaviour Change Coordinator and Health Promotions Officer.

The We Can Together Program is a Brief Intervention program that hold me accountable for Violence Against Women and Children.

Stephen Morrison is a Noongar man on his mother’s side with connections to Katanning, Woods from his Father’s side both from the South West of WA, and Gooniyandi on his Father’s side with connections to Fitzroy Corising and Hallas Creek, Kimberly Region of Westerb Australia. Stephen is the  Justice and Community Manager and strives to create safer and stronger communities through education and relationship-building. Based at Mara Pirni Healing Place, Stephen oversees the men’s program, which supports participants to address their social, emotional and mental health challenges, and ultimately prevent incidents of family and domestic violence.

Supporting the work of Mara Pirni Healing Place, Stephen has overseen the development of the Men’s Bush Trip program which is designed to be a safe space for men to connect and be connected with relevant community services. Stephen believes that family and domestic violence brings fear to our families and takes opportunities away from them. The approach of the Men’s Bush Trip is that men can work to do the opposite; bring peace to situations of trouble and arguments and create opportunities for our families. Not all participants of the Men’s Bush Trips use family violence, but all have come together to build a good support network for men in our community.

Stephen is currently working towards a Bachelor of Applied Science (Indigenous Professional Practices), Centre for Aboriginal Studies.

Dr Jennie Gray is the CEO of Women’s Legal Service WA. Jennie’s professional career in the community sector has spanned practice, management, research and policy roles, in a variety of contexts. This includes many years designing and delivering services in regional and remote Western Australia and being employed as the Deputy CEO, at the WA Council of Social Service. Jennie is passionate about redressing gender inequality, which is at the heart of making things better for women.

Merissa Van Der Linden is the CEO of the Patricia Giles Centre for Non-Violence, a leading Western Australian organisation supporting women and children experiencing family and domestic violence. With nearly 30 years’ experience across the human services sector, she brings extensive expertise in executive leadership and governance spanning mental health, multicultural services, disability, community services, FDV, community legal services, state government, and a national peak body.

Previously CEO of the Association for Services to Torture and Trauma Survivors, Merissa is recognised for leading organisations through complex reform, strengthening service systems, and driving sustainable growth and impact. She is known for her values-driven leadership and her commitment to trauma-informed, client-focused practice, particularly for victim-survivors with complex needs.

Merissa is an active contributor to governance and sector leadership. She serves as a Board Director at MIDLAS, supporting access to legal and financial advocacy for vulnerable communities, and participates on the Committee of the WA Women’s Hall of Fame. Through these roles, she champions strong governance, equity, and recognition of women’s contributions.

She holds various qualifications including a Master of Human Rights, MBA, Diploma in Governance, and undergraduate qualifications in psychology. She is a strong advocate for collaboration and evidence-informed reform.