1000 Voices: A New Chapter for Women’s Justice Network in Canberra
Secretary of WJN, Dr Kath Hall (Secretary), Rachel Sirr, CEO of WJN, Gloria Larman, Dr Marisa Paterson MLA.
CANBERRA - The Women’s Justice Network (WJN) marked a powerful new chapter this month — launching their #1000Voices campaign alongside the announcement of their expansion to the ACT.
The evening carried the kind of quiet energy that comes when something meaningful is beginning. As the CEO later reflected in a message to supporters, it was “such a pleasure to meet new supporters, engage in meaningful conversations, and soak up the positive energy in the room.”
WJN has long championed women and girls affected by the criminal law system, with a vision of a future where they can live free from violence and discrimination, be treated with dignity and respect, and have the opportunities they need to thrive — in their own way, at their own pace.
Why 1000Voices Matters
The new #1000Voices campaign is about building the secure, sustainable foundations needed to make that vision real. Each person who joins becomes part of a committed community of supporters, giving WJN the certainty to plan ahead, invest in long-term change, and remain a steady source of support for women who are rebuilding their lives.
As the CEO put it, this support means the team can “spend less time chasing funding and more time doing what matters most: supporting women to rebuild their lives.”
Frances’s Story
The night’s most powerful moment came when Frances Drake shared her personal story — a deeply honest account of her journey through the justice system and back into community. After leaving prison, Frances faced stigma, isolation, and the fear that her past would define her future.
Through WJN’s mentoring program, she was paired with someone who believed in her. Week by week, they rebuilt trust. Frances secured safe housing, enrolled in study, and slowly pieced her confidence back together. Today, she is employed, mentoring other young women, and proving every day that change is possible when women are supported rather than shamed.
Her story, as the CEO noted, “powerfully illustrated the impact of our Mentoring Program.”
The Numbers Behind the Urgency
Recent data underscores just how urgent the work of the Women’s Justice Network is. As of June 2024, Australia had over 44,000 adults in prison, with women rising faster than men — an 8% increase from the previous year. A major CEDA report warns that by 2030, continued trends could push government spending on corrective services past $7 billion annually. Disturbingly, in Victoria over half the women held in custody are unsentenced. These aren’t just statistics — they are reflections of justice delayed, lives disrupted, and families hurt. It’s why initiatives led by lived experience — like #1000Voices — are vital.
Women are the fastest-growing group across nearly every jurisdiction, with female incarceration rates climbing faster than men’s — particularly in Tasmania, WA, Queensland and NSW.
These numbers are more than statistics — they represent women’s lives, families disrupted, and communities under strain. For the ACT, where services are fewer and stretched, WJN’s arrival could be the difference between a woman cycling back through the system — or breaking free from it for good.
Why Canberra Needs This — and Why Its Future Is Uncertain
CEO of WJN, Gloria Larman, Dr Marisa Paterson MLA.
WJN’s decision to expand into Canberra reflects what frontline workers have seen for years: rising numbers of local women and girls entering — or at risk of entering — the criminal justice system, often after lifetimes of trauma, poverty, and social exclusion.
Bringing WJN’s lived-experience-led model here means these women will no longer have to walk that road alone. They will have access to mentors, practical support, and an organisation that sees their potential — not just their past.
But the future of WJN’s work in the ACT remains uncertain. To create meaningful change, the organisation needs at least five years of secure funding — enough to build trusted relationships, break cycles of reoffending, and create pathways back to community. So far, ACT Minister for Women and Justice Dr Marisa Paterson has not committed to this long-term investment.
Without it, WJN’s work risks becoming another short-lived pilot — despite the evidence that consistent, sustained support is what keeps women out of prison.
More Than Charity — A Movement
WJN is clear that #1000Voices is not just about fundraising — it’s about changing the story. It’s about replacing silence and stigma with connection, dignity, and hope. It’s about ensuring that women and girls are not defined by the worst thing that ever happened to them — or the worst thing they ever did.
Because when women are supported to heal, build stability and reconnect with their communities, they don’t just change their own lives — they change the trajectory for generations to come.
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