The Western Region Centre Against Sexual Assault (WestCASA) has a new CEO, an important appointment for reasons beyond just the position itself.
Annette Vickery is the first Indigenous person to lead WestCASA or any other centre against sexual assault, the significance of which isn’t lost on her.
“It’s elevating First Nations women’s voices, particularly in an area where First Nations women over represented,” said Ms Vickery who began the role weeks ago.
WestCASA is a community based not-for-profit sexual assault counselling service that both supports victim/survivors and runs education and training programs aimed at preventing it.
The service operates right across the western suburbs, an area Ms Vickery knows well.
“I’ve lived here for 22 years now, which, in western metropolitan terms makes me a blow-in still,” laughed the Sunshine resident who also spent three years in Melton while studying psychology and working as a reconciliation officer and spent 10 years as chairperson of the Western Aboriginal regional Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committee.
Beyond her knowledge of the western suburbs, Ms Vickery explained the legal, health and social justice expertise she brings to the role.
“I’ve worked in Koori courts. I worked for Victoria Police as the Aboriginal advisory unit manager, and I was the deputy CEO of the Victorian Aboriginal legal service for six years. For two years, I was the CEO of Thirrili which is a suicide prevention organization,”
Given her own background, Ms Vickery is understandably keen to work with the Indigenous communities in the west, along with the region’s vast multicultural population.
“The board has been really clear that they want to have confidence that we’re engaging with every community sector, and making sure everyone knows that the two kinds of service we provide,” she said.
“We provide the reduction of trauma for people impacted by sexual violence. And we do education and capability building in communities around around eliminating sexual violence.”
Ms Vickery said a particular focus of WestCASA’s education programs would be around consent.
“I’m very keen to get into high schools, sporting groups, any kind of young adult groupings, getting in there and talking about what affirmative consent is. I think a lot of sexual harm happens because of a lack of understanding from young people,” Ms Vickery said.
Ms Vickery is based in Werribee and said due to its size and growth, Wyndham, along with Melton and Brimbank, would be where a lot of WestCASA’s work is focussed.
For more information visit: https://westcasa.org.au/
