Advocate inducted into women’s honour roll

ONE of Australia’s leaders in the campaign to eradicate violence against women, Bendigo’s Julie Oberin, has been inducted into the 2024 Victorian Honour Roll of Women.

Ms Oberin was among 21 women inducted into the roll by Minister for Women Natalie Hutchins in a ceremony at the Arts Centre Melbourne last month.

She was one of nine women named in the Change Agent category.

Ms Oberin is a noted advocate for eradicating violence against women, experiencing family violence herself and ultimately dedicating her life to the battle against it.

She is CEO of Annie North, a women’s refuge that she was instrumental in founding, and has served as chair of women’s services network WESNET – the peak body for domestic violence services in Australia – and remains on the board.

Ms Oberin has also served on national and international boards and has participated in forums such as the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.

She played a pivotal role in the first national plan to reduce violence against women and their children and has been a member of the Council of Australian Governments advisory panel on reducing violence against women and their children.

Ms Oberin was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2021.

Regarded as a pioneer in changing Victorian refuges, championing core and cluster refuge models, Ms Oberin said it was an honour to have been nominated for the roll.

She said she was “very chuffed” to be formally inducted.

“You don’t do this work to have that recognition, but it is nice to have it recognised,” she said.

“So many people do this work and it’s not recognised, so it does shine a light on the grassroots workers who are working away behind the scenes.

“Our work’s not done; it’s also good for women’s work to be acknowledged because women have often been invisible throughout the centuries.”