Baptist leaders take advocacy to Canberra

For three days in Canberra, Baptist leaders from across Australia came together with a shared purpose: to advocate for practical action to end violence against women and children by 2032. 

This year marked the 10th anniversary of Converge, a national Baptist advocacy initiative that brings together church leaders, service providers and policy experts to engage directly with Federal Parliament on some of Australia's most pressing social challenges. 

Bringing together leaders from Baptist churches, advocacy organisations and social service agencies, delegates met with more than 30 Members of Parliament and Senators to discuss how Australia can strengthen its response to family and domestic violence. 

Dr Robyn Sampson, General Manager Policy and Advocacy, said BaptistCare welcomed the opportunity to contribute its frontline experience to the national conversation. 

"Family and domestic violence remains one of Australia's most serious and preventable social challenges, with one in four women having experienced violence at the hands of a boyfriend, husband or intimate partner," said Dr Sampson. 

"Through specialist family and domestic violence services, BaptistCare supports thousands of people each year to find safety, stability and pathways to recovery.

"While anyone can be affected, women and children continue to experience disproportionate harm. Ending violence against women and children in a generation is ambitious, but achievable when governments, communities, churches and service providers work together." 

With two in five children exposed to domestic violence, a central focus of Converge 2026 was ensuring children are at the centre of prevention, healing and recovery efforts. 

Encouraging engagement across parliament

During the week, delegates advocated for five key policy priorities:

• Investing in the capacity of communities and community leaders to identify and respond to family and domestic violence.
• Funding wraparound services for people in crisis accommodation.
• Increasing the supply of social housing for victim-survivors.
• Expanding the availability and diversity of men's behaviour change programs, including support for boys and young men who are victim-survivors in their own right.
• Investing in healing and recovery services for children and young people. 

Delegates highlighted the role churches and faith communities can play in preventing family and domestic violence, noting that governments cannot solve the issue alone.

While Converge was not focused on securing a single policy announcement, delegates left encouraged by the level of engagement across parliament.

“One of the clearest messages from the week was that family and domestic violence is not a partisan issue," Dr Sampson said.

"While perspectives may differ on solutions, there was broad recognition that this remains one of Australia's most pressing social challenges and that sustained action is needed to prevent violence and support those affected.

"The conversations held in Canberra were encouraging, and maintaining that momentum will be essential if we are to achieve lasting change for women, children and families affected by violence.”