Perth Metro Regional Q1 Update 2026
The Metro Community Engagement team had a strong and active quarter, expanding outreach services, strengthening partnerships, and increasing sector visibility across Metro and Peel.
Fortnightly outreach recommenced at the Willagee Community Resource Centre (Melville) and the Champion Centre (Armadale), improving access to AFLS services for local community members. A new weekly outreach was also established at Pramana Medical Centre in Gosnells, where 26 people were supported in just 16 hours of attendance. This important partnership was established by Natalie Grubb and highlights the impact of strong collaboration with health services.
Outreach was further expanded with the commencement of monthly visits to Waroona, supporting the Pinjarra office, and renewed engagement with the Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service Elders Yarning Group and the Langford Aboriginal Association Men’s Yarning Group. These groups expressed strong interest in future AFLS Community Education and Community Legal Education sessions, with Darryl Eades re‑establishing these valuable relationships.
Ochre Ribbon remained a key focus this quarter. The team delivered five successful Ochre Ribbon events, ranging from internal staff sessions to community‑based engagement. The Ochre Ribbon Morning Tea at Pramana Medical Centre was a standout, raising awareness among staff about family and domestic violence, coercive control, and the role AFLS plays in prevention and support. Staff engagement was high, with thoughtful questions and appreciation for resources to share with patients.
The Metro team also delivered two Ochre Ribbon community engagement sessions focused on coercive control and family and domestic violence, facilitated by CEW Nicky Frewen alongside Bev Eades and Renee Erikson. These sessions used culturally safe, trauma‑informed approaches to create respectful spaces for open discussion.
A highlight was the “Strong Hearts, Safe Love” workshop delivered in partnership with MaOchre Aboriginal Art Gallery in Midland, combining community education with creative art‑based therapy. The smaller group setting supported deeper reflection and meaningful conversation. Another well‑attended session was held at the Walyalup Aboriginal Cultural Centre, where local elders engaged in a coercive control presentation followed by morning tea, reinforcing understanding that family violence is not always physical.
The team also attended five Aboriginal Justice Open Days hosted by the Department of Justice, providing accessible opportunities for community members to come together for a yarn and connect with services close to home.
In addition, Bronwyn Farrell represented AFLS at an International Women’s Day Panel in Boorloo, contributing powerful, culturally safe, and trauma‑informed insights grounded in lived experience and frontline practice. Her participation elevated Aboriginal women’s voices, strengthened AFLS’s reputation as a leader in advocacy and truth‑telling, and reinforced key messages about systemic barriers, the importance of community‑led solutions, and the need for sustained investment in Aboriginal‑led organisations.
To further strengthen visibility and access, the team also commenced an Engagement Drive Project, aimed at increasing awareness of AFLS services across Metro and Peel and supporting ongoing community development.
Despite strong engagement outcomes, the team continues to face challenges related to limited resources and funding, impacting the ability to consistently deliver and sustain high‑quality outcomes across the region.
Attendance at the “Strong Hearts, Safe Love” workshop was also lower than hoped, largely due to delayed promotion, which reduced reach across some community networks.
To address these challenges, the team is focusing on stronger strategic partnerships, targeted outreach, and improved promotion to maximise impact with available resources. Planning has been strengthened to ensure outreach locations, timing, and delivery better align with community availability while maintaining culturally safe and trauma‑informed practices.
Future engagement will include earlier promotion, greater use of community networks, and continued use of smaller group settings where appropriate, supporting participant safety and deeper conversations around sensitive topics.
Next quarter will build on newly established and re‑established partnerships, continue the Engagement Drive Project, and deliver further education on coercive control and non‑physical forms of family violence. The team is preparing activities aligned with Reconciliation Week, National Law Week, Mother’s Day, and NAIDOC, with Law Week identified as a key opportunity for further community education and engagement.
. 
