Forced Marriage is a serious breach of human rights, which affects millions of girls and women (as well as boys and men) worldwide, including Australia.
80% of those experiencing forced or early marriage in Australia are under the age of 18.
Proceeds from the events will support our Impact Partner, The Salvation Army's Trafficking and Slavery Safe House who provide the only supported accommodation service for victims and trafficking and slavery in Australia, including those experiencing forced or early marriage.
The Safe House provides safe and secure housing, comprehensive case management, psychological support and medical treatment, as well as professional legal support for victims and access to a local peer support model working with survivors.
Amidst the stature and elegance of Doltone House at Jones Bay Wharf in Pyrmont, we invite you to join us for the inaugural PROJECT FUTURES High Tea to be hosted on Sunday 12 November in Sydney.
Between sips of perfectly blended tea, mouthfuls of deliciously handcrafted sweet treats and playful fundraising antics, we begin our exploration of the very serious issue of forced and early marriage in Australia.
Forced and early marriage affects millions of girls, women (and boys) globally, and unfortunately Australia is no exception. You will hear from a panel of three experienced speakers offering their unique perspectives on the issue and how we can address it.
This event is an opportunity for men, women and children to come together to learn and grow as a community, for without the respect of all who live and love, we will not see change.
Date: Sunday 12 November 2017
Venue: Doltone House | Jones Bay Wharf
Level 3, 26-32 Pirrama Road, Pyrmont
Time: 1pm - 4pm (Pre-drinks from 1230pm)
Cost: $95pp or $900 for a table of 10
($85 for children aged 12+ only)*
Cost includes unlimited champagne, full tea and coffee service, as well as a range of delectable sweet and savoury treats.
NOTE: If you have any specific dietary requirements, please email contact@projectfutures.com at the time of your booking or at least two weeks prior to the event.
Laura Vidal is a Social Worker with a Master’s Degree in Human Rights Law and Policy, a Churchill Fellow and a member of the Australian Association of Social Workers.
For eight years, she has dedicated her time to supporting men, women and children who have experienced human trafficking and slavery in Australia, with a current focus on developing best practice solutions for individuals facing early and forced marriage.
She worked as a social worker developing and delivering support programs to survivors at The Salvation Army’s Trafficking and Slavery Safe House for four years, before taking on the position of National Projects Coordinator for The Freedom Partnership-to End Modern Slavery in 2014.
During this time, Laura also travelled to Jordan on assignment with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to provide technical assistance and training for government, embassies and community organisations working with exploited migrant domestic workers.
Helen is an award-winning Australian writer, with her poems and essays published in national newspapers and magazines, anthologies, as well as online.
Published in in 2016, Promising Azra was Helen’s first novel. Based on extensive research, interviews, legal cases and anecdotal stories, the book explores the issue of forced child marriage in contemporary Australia through the eyes of fictional character, Azra Aimal.
Promising Azra was supported by a mentorship from the Children’s Book Council of Australia (NSW), as we as two fellowships through the NSW Writers’ Centre and Varuna – the National Writers House.
Helen has worked in many fields, from politics to PR, and she has also taught creative writing workshops at Birrong Girls High School in Western Sydney.
*Detective Superintendent Daniel Evans is the Coordinator in charge of the Australian Federal Police, Crime Operations-Victim Based Crime portfolio in New South Wales.
*This portfolio is responsible for providing a law enforcement response to a range of crime types including people smuggling, human trafficking, child sex offences, unauthorised disclosure, war crimes, electoral fraud and other Commonwealth offences including corruption and politically sensitive referrals
*Daniel has a Masters in Leadership and Management (Policing) and a diverse history in the victim based crime area which includes time in people smuggling, child protection and as the Liaison Officer based in Sri Lanka with responsibility for Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the Maldives.
*In this role Daniel developed and delivered the first South Asia People Smuggling and Human Trafficking Conference in Bangladesh which brought nine countries together to combat the threat to the region.
WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR EVENT SPONSORS