Sarah Williams is a proud Awabakal woman and founder and CEO of What Were You Wearing Australia (WWYW), a not-for-profit organisation fighting to end sexual violence. In 2023, Sarah led a nightlife safety campaign where she collected more than 20,000 signatures on a petition to the NSW Government. This resulted in mandated drink spiking education for all venue and bar staff in NSW, amending Responsible Service of Alcohol laws. In January 2024, Sarah also successfully amended the ACT RSA too. WWYW has attracted more than 250,000 followers on social media, where it shares information on sexual violence, consent, and human rights issues.
Sarah in 2022 developed Australia’s first sexual assault service for music festivals. This is a safe space for people affected by sexual assault or harassment, and is now in place at more than 30 festivals a year.
Sarah volunteers more than 50 hours a week to run survivor healing groups, monitor festival safe spaces and educate people on sexual violence. In recognition of her work, she was named Newcastle Woman of the Year 2023, won the Community Service Award at the NSW/ACT Young Achiever Awards 2023, was a finalist in the Australian Human Rights Awards – Young People’s Award 2023 and is a current finalist of the NSW Young Woman of the Year Awards!