MWA was honoured to be part of the 5th World Conference of Women’s Shelters (5WCWS) – the world’s largest gathering of grassroots workers united to end gender-based violence. This global forum was held on 15-18 September at the International Convention Centre in Sydney, hosted by WESNET  and brought together colleagues from around the world to connect, challenge, and change the systems that allow violence against women to continue.

Day 2 of the conference opened with MWA CEO, Hajeh Maha Abdo OAM, who delivered a deeply moving keynote on the “Currency of the Heart” – reminding attendees that compassion, dignity, and justice must remain at the centre of our work. Hajeh Maha was also part of the Closing Plenary Panel alongside Julie Oberin AM and Natasha Stott Despoja, reflecting on collective wisdom and courage while reminding us of the voices still missing from these spaces.

MWA was also proud to contribute to the poster exhibition with “Paving the way: A proud history of empowering the community. Since 1983”. This provided a space to showcase the story and identity of MWA, and to foster meaningful dialogue with colleagues from across the world.

On Thursday 18 September, MWA hosted a Post Conference Study Tour: “Multicultural Study Tour: Setting Standards and Breaking Barriers – Over 40 Years of MWA Excellence”. This Study Tour offered delegates the opportunity to engage with over four decades of work by MWA, exploring how MWA has developed and sustained culturally responsive, faith-informed models of practice that address the needs of women and families from diverse backgrounds.

Delegates were introduced to MWA’s operating models and strategic approach, including:

• An overview of MWA’s history and evolution within the broader domestic and family violence and multicultural sectors
• An introduction to the Saving FACE (Faith and Cultural Empowerment) model, which has seen the development and delivery of key prevention activities to encourage men in preventing violence against women and children
• Engagement with the in-house research team, including discussion on how programs and services are co-designed using both lived experience and evidence-based approaches
• A site visit to one of MWA’s crisis and transitional accommodation spaces, offering practical insight into the delivery of wraparound support services.

For over four decades, MWA has worked at the intersections of domestic and family violence, settlement, and community services, continually striving to set standards of excellence in meeting the needs of women and families from diverse backgrounds. The 5WCWS was a reminder that while our contexts may differ, our shared vision of a violence-free future unites us. The work continues – to build shelters, yes, but also to build bridges, amplify silenced voices, and ensure the heart remains at the centre of everything we do.