About Us / Herstory
BSwS (Brisbane Southwest Support) in Richlands is a free and feminist service for women and gender diverse people who are survivors of sexual violence. We offer confidential counselling, housing and accommodation support, and advocacy for survivors of sexual violence as well as support groups, prevention education and training.
BSwS is a partnership of four services:
- Zig Zag Young Women’s Resource Centre
- Murrigunyah Family & Cultural Healing Centre
- Immigrant Women’s Support Service
- Brisbane Rape and Incest Survivors Support Centre.
Brisbane Southwest Support’s collective mission is to empower survivors to live full and healthy lives and to improve the social and community understanding of sexual and family violence.
Our practice framework is founded on a commitment to partnerships, learning, advocacy and community engagement.
We acknowledge the current and historic systemic abuse of First Nations people and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. We are committed to reducing the power imbalances that exist in our society that create these oppressive and unsafe structures. We ensure that the spaces we work in are culturally safe by bringing this awareness to all aspects of our work.
We recognise and value the diverse lived experiences of community members and we are committed to ensuring that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and young people are engaged in the design and delivery of services to best meet their needs. We recognise the importance of practices that involve diverse cultural perspectives, values, and knowledges as preferred ways of working and we are committed to the ongoing learning and development of our staff in this regard.
We are committed to undertake individual and systemic advocacy and appropriate social action such as providing knowledge and consultation for policy development and best practice responses, to meet the diverse needs of women and gender diverse people who have experienced sexual violence.
We commit to developing and upholding relationships with local community members and community groups, Elders, and local service providers to ensure the development of community driven, responsive services for women and young people who have experienced sexual violence.
Our practice framework also recognises the importance of working holistically in culturally respectful ways to promote social, emotional, physical and spiritual wellbeing.
View our Practice Framework.
