MEETING THE CHALLENGE

A NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH THE WOMEN’S AND GIRLS’ EMERGENCY CENTRE IS STELLA INSURANCE’S LATEST STEP TOWARDS GENDER EQUALITY

Building a business that supports women and gender equality is a formidable goal. But for Stella Insurance, it’s one they have embraced with determination during their first year of launch - and which has set them apart from many other car insurers.

Focusing on both business and ‘progressive change’, they have recently partnered with the Women’s and Girl’s Emergency Centre (WAGEC) to support their service which accommodates a staggering 200 women and children each night.

Domestic and family violence is the leading driver of homelessness among women and children in Australia. By having a safe place, women can take the first step towards building a safe future. To address the gender-based drivers of violence, WAGEC empowers individuals, communities and systems to take action that will build gender equality. Their approach is firmly anchored in volumes of research and Our Watch’s Change the Story framework, a national approach to ending domestic and family violence in Australia. Collectively, we need to know why it happens, how to identify it and the importance of female independence. As a community, we also need to better support those already caught in cycles of gendered abuse. This is why Stella and WAGEC are partnering, with the goal of empowering individuals and communities to end gender-based violence in a generation.

This year, International Women’s Day (March 8) has a theme of ‘choose to challenge’, which is particulary relevant to Stella and WAGEC’S partnership.

Through their business, Stella offer support for women affected by domestic violence with a specific feature in their insurance policy. They also continue to drive the need for education and community discussion that will help evolve a more equal future for all women in Australia.

If you or someone you know has been affected by domestic violence, call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) for support.