Helen Freris
(She / Her)
Statewide Disability Inclusion Advisor
Practice and Sector Development Unit
Based in the Response, Policy and Evidence Unit, Helen works systemically in collaboration with Women with Disabilities Victoria (WDV) and other partner agencies to provide workshops, training, communities of practice and other sector development activities to support specialist family violence services to improve responses to victim survivors with disabilities.
Prior to starting with Safe and Equal, Helen was the Advocacy Lead at WDV where she managed the Sharing our Expertise Project, promoting economic participation of women with disabilities. She also worked as the Health Services Program Manager at WDV and managed the Experts In Our Health project, promoting the rights of women with disabilities to safe, accessible and inclusive health services.
Despite concerted advocacy, violence against women and gender diverse people with disabilities persists as a serious, prevalent and preventable human rights violation. Victim survivors are entitled to safety, respect and autonomy. I want these concepts to be second nature in response practice until violence against women is ended.