CREATING CONVERSATIONS

Creating Conversations sessions are designed to create opportunities to participate in cross-sector conversations - listening and responding to domestic, family and sexualised violence. The conversations draw from Insight Exchange insights and resources. Each session invites you to consider how your work (and our collective efforts) respond to people who are silent about, or silenced by, violence and abuse. There is no one preference or path for support. Every responder, community and industry matters.

This page outlines what Creating Conversations have happened, what materials were in focus, and the range of sectors involved in the conversations. Click on the coloured tiles below (opens in a lightbox) featuring examples of responses from participants involved in Creating Conversations sessions in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Gold Coast and Perth.

If you have a question about Creating Conversations sessions you are welcome to reach out via Contact Us.

Creating Conversations PARTICIPANT INSIGHTS (Insight Exchange)

Title Slide

“Previously if someone told me they were experiencing violence or abuse, I would have just referred them on. Next time I am going to stop and listen and ask, 'what else can I do to support you?' first.”

Participant Insights

“Before I had read the ‘TALK’ resource I would have jumped in and unwittingly reinforced all the myths about disclosure.”

Participant Insights

“I walked away changed and eager to learn more, I'm glad you passed along those resources so I can extend them to my network.”

Participant Insights

“It was an absolute pleasure to be there, I’m still processing all the discussions! It was wonderful to engage with such a diverse group and feel the passion - it has reminded me the positive impact that these sessions can have to sustain and inspire us.”

Participant Insights

“I was grateful to be able to participate and listen to different stories and memories shared by the group. The resources are really amazing, and we will be working on discussions within our business to bring them to light to continue to support our colleagues.”

Participant Insights

“It was very moving and great to be so close to victim-survivors experiences and their wisdom, as our work in agencies can often feel very abstracted.”

Participant Insights

“It was really insightful and so productive having conversations that stemmed from such thought provoking, nuanced and considered resources.”

Participant Insights

“I value your resources and wish I had known about these when I was in my past relationship. I have learnt so much in these sessions and will use my learnings every day to help others and even myself in times when I retell my lived experience.”

Participant Insights

“It was incredible to meet and connect with so many people who brought a lot to the table with their rich experiences, learnings, and insights.”

Participant Insights

“To meet and discuss with people with such diverse backgrounds relating to domestic and family abuse was simply an immense eye opener and unforgettable experience.”

Participant Insights

“The session made me aware of the many ways in which people choose to use violence and abuse, beyond physical assaults. I had not previously stopped to think about things like economic or systems abuse.”

Participant Insights

“Since attending the session, I am more tuned in to things… like I’m even noticing controlling behaviours in relationships with friends and family members.”

Participant Insights

“The feedback has been overwhelming positive with messages of support and ideas of what we can do next.”

Participant Insights

“Knowing that all of this information comes from the voices of people with lived experience makes it so much more important to know than I first thought.”

Participant Insights

“I think it is important to share this material with our teams, in regards to how we can make people more confident to disclose. By talking about this work, by sharing these resources, we can set the scene for our teams to know that that as leaders, we are here.”

Participant Insights

“I can, in my role, share this material digitally and I will do that.”

Participant Insights

“We often go to police when there is a crisis, but what happens when they don't do anything, or say there is not enough for them to do anything…Can we go to them proactively and share this ...maybe even inviting them to look at this material with us.”

Participant Insights

“The session was powerful. It has planted important seeds for continued conversations and actions across our hotels.”

Participant Insights

“Today’s session reinforced the idea that hotels are more than places of service. Our teams are social responders, and every interaction has the potential to contribute to someone’s safety, dignity, and recovery.”

Participant Insights

“It is a reminder that every person has a story and that we need to listen without judgement.”

Participant Insights

“A victim of violence requested a room to be in away from her partner. We gave her a room alone for the next couple of days. But when it was time for them both to check out, after all that, she left with him. I was feeling like 'was that worth all the effort to keep her safe?’ But now when I think of that, I know that we did the right thing ...we responded to what she needed at the time.”

Participant Insights

“This has broadened my understanding of what constitutes violence and abuse – it’s so much more than physical assaults.”

Participant Insights

“I don’t think that our current support options for victim-survivors’ are known widely enough…we need to communicate these more and at all levels of the organisation.”

Participant Insights

“Reflecting on what we have learnt today, I am going to follow up and check in on people if we have referred them to other services – I’ll be asking, how did that go, was it useful, how else can I help?”

Participant Insights

“I am thinking that we need to ‘look at the familiar differently’ – just like we do when we look at how can we improve our guests’ journey – maybe we can create a ‘check in’ with staff periodically to give people an opportunity to tell us how they are travelling, if they want to.”

Participant Insights

“When reading this resource, it made me think that it is important to not make assumptions about the choices someone makes. When a person in the hotel might ask for help, it’s what they need there and then. I shouldn't assume that what they need won't change, because it does.”

Participant Insights

“I was really struck by the statistics - that so few victim-survivors actually go to police or to a formal responder. It really challenges my perception.”

Participant Insights

“When responding to domestic violence, we need to rethink our solution focused approach – we need a real gear change, to just first listen to people’s experiences and then be guided by the victim-survivor.”

Participant Insights

“This made me reflect on the many reasons why, in the past, people who I knew were experiencing violence, choose not to speak up about it in the workplace. My offers to help were declined and I had to reconcile within myself that ensuring they kept their job at the hotel was in itself, an important support.”

Participant Insights

“It’s not about us influencing victim-survivors’ decisions – it’s about following their lead – we need to support them where they are at. It is their journey not ours.”

Participant Insights

“We need to be showing victim- survivors that we stand with them – not only in a time of crisis, but by calling out below the line or sexist comments in the tearoom, in meetings or in any interactions. If we don’t respond to that, why would victim – survivors trust we will stand with them.”

Participant Insights

“We want to create an environment that allows people to speak up if they choose to.”

Participant Insights

“It’s not what we do as managers or staff when there is an issue or a crisis, it’s what we do and how we do it all of the time that matters. Trust is built in the everyday interactions.”

Participant Insights

“It’s about being ok with silence…people will come to or share more with us if they choose to.”

Participant Insights

“Sometimes it is difficult when reporting concerns (to Police). The response is often that there ‘is no evidence’ or ‘that nothing serious has happened. ‘ What I am thinking about now is including in my call to Police, that we are calling because we are concerned and we want to prevent something from happening. We need the Police to follow our lead too.”

Participant Insights

“It is important to be relational all the time as Managers, to be genuinely interested in our team members…that way we are demonstrating that we are approachable and can be attentive to things big or small, and not only in a moment of crisis.”

Participant Insights

“I think this opportunity needs to be offered to all leaders in the business, if not mandatory.”

Participant Insights

“I am aware of the welfare and self-care of our staff. This is important in being able to be present in responding to others. Sometimes we just don’t know if they will be OK when they leave us…we keep thinking about if they are OK.”

Participant Insights

“I wish I had known more about all of this and had access to these materials when I previously worked in hotels in regional areas and in cities.”

Participant Insights

“We need to check back in with people to see how they are going – is there anything else I can support with? Was the referral to the support service or EAP useful?”

Participant Insights

Creating Conversations sessions are designed to create opportunities to participate in cross-sector conversations - listening and responding to domestic, family and sexualised violence. The conversations draw from Insight Exchange insights and resources. Each session invites you to consider how your work (and our collective efforts) respond to people who are silent about, or silenced by, violence and abuse. There is no one preference or path for support. Every responder, community and industry matters. www.insightexchange.net/creating-conversations/

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CREATING CONVERSATIONS 2024 - 2025

In 2024 & 2025 Creating Conversations sessions provide opportunity to participate in Hotel Industry conversations responding to Insight Exchange insights and materials.

November 2025 (Melbourne) – The second session held in Melbourne for the Hyatt Hotel group. Facilitated by Insight Exchange the session included 30 leaders from within Human Resources, Hotel General Management, Food and Beverage, Engineers, Security, Housekeeping and Reservations services. Together we explored and responded to the resources: Hotels Lab, Follow My Lead, TALK and My Safety Kit as well as Voice of Insight Collection.

October 2025 (virtual WA & QLD) - the first virtual Creating Conversations session, including team members from Karratha (WA), Geraldton (WA) & Mt Isa (QLD) for the Accor Hotel group. Facilitated by Insight Exchange, the session engaged 6 team members from Hotel General Management, Duty Managers, Reception and Accommodation services from across four regional hotels. Together we explored and responded to the insights and materials: Hotels Lab, Follow My Lead, TALK and My Safety Kit as well as a number of voices from the Voice of Insight Collection.

September 2025 (Melbourne) – the first Creating Conversations session to be held in Victoria for the Hyatt Hotel group. Facilitated by Insight Exchange, the session engaged 23 guests – leaders from within Human Resources, Hotel General Management, Head Chefs, Engineers, Security, Housekeeping and Accommodation services from three hotels in Melbourne. Together we explored and responded to the resources: Hotels Lab, Follow My Lead, TALK and My Safety Kit as well as Voice of Insight Collection.

August 2025 (Sydney) – the first Creating Conversations session in Sydney with 30+ Accor Group leaders and executive. The session was hosted by Pullman Sydney Hyde Park and facilitated by Insight Exchange. Guests included leaders working in 16 different hotels in NSW, as well as leaders working in Pacific region and Executive in Corporate Office functions. Examples of the roles participants hold include - General Managers, Area/Cluster Management, Legal Counsel, Financial Controller, Hotel Performance, Apartments and Reality, People and Culture. Together we explored and responded to the resources: Follow My Lead, TALK and My Safety Kit, and explored the Voices of Insight Collection, I am I can. Participants were also introduced to Our Actions and the Hotels Lab.

August 2025 (Sydney) – the first Creating Conversations session with Hyatt Hotels in Sydney, hosted by Hyatt Regency Sydney and including team from Hyatt Regency Sydney, Park Hyatt Sydney and Caption by Hyatt Sydney (new). The session was facilitated by Insight Exchange involved 30+ guests – people working in Hotel Management, Rooms, Security, Human Resources and more. Together we explored and responded to the resources: Hotels Lab, Follow My Lead, TALK and My Safety Kit, the Voices of Insight Collection.

July 2025 (Palm Cove) – the third Creating Conversations session to be held in QLD, hosted by Accor Group and facilitated by Insight Exchange involved 21 guests – leaders from within Apartments and Reality, Hotel General Managers, Human Resources, Food and Beverage and Housing Keeping Managers from hotels in Cairns, Palm Cove and Port Douglas. Together we explored and responded to the resources: Hotels Lab, Follow My Lead, TALK and My Safety Kit, the Voices of Insight Collection and I am I can. Participants at this session shared examples of helpful responses from hotels for both guests and team members, highlighting examples of issues for victim-survivors that are exacerbated in regional communities and emphasised the need for individualised responses.

July 2025 (Brisbane) – the second Creating Conversations session to be held in QLD, hosted by Accor Group and facilitated by Insight Exchange involved 11 guests – national and local leaders from within Apartments and Reality, Talent & Culture and Hotel General Managers from hotels in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast. Together we explored and responded to the resources: Hotels Lab, Follow My Lead, TALK and My Safety Kit as well as the Voices of Insight Collection. Participants at this session have highlighted the need for a deeper understanding of the experiences and needs of victim-survivors. This group expressed that given how many people are silent or silenced, there is a critical need for broad communication of flexible and tangible supports within workplaces and communities.

May 2025 (Adelaide) – the first Hotels Lab Creating Conversations session in Adelaide and was hosted by Accor Group and facilitated by Insight Exchange. The session involved 16 guests – leaders from within Apartments and Reality, Talent & Culture and Hotel General Managers from hotels in Adelaide. Together we explored and responded to the resources: Hotels Lab, Follow My Lead, TALK and My Safety Kit as well as Voice of Insight Collection. Participants at this session have highlighted the need for exploring and using ways to broaden the access to professional development materials through online learning platforms. Given that many victim-survivors are ‘silent’ about or ‘silenced’ by violence and abuse, participants also highlighted the importance of proactive communications that demonstrate the business stands with victim-survivors of violence and abuse.

April 2025 (Perth) – the first Creating Conversations session to be held in WA, this session was hosted by Accor Group and facilitated by Insight Exchange. The session involved 25 guests from Executive Leaders, Legal Directors, Apartments and Reality, Hotel General Managers, Talent & Culture, Safety and Diversity leaders from a number of hotels in Perth and some attendees who joined from other states. Together we explored and responded to the resources: Follow My Lead, Talk and My Safety Kit as well as the Voices of Insight Collection. Participants at this session have highlighted the need for an exploration of opportunities to support regional WA Accor teams to participate in Creating Conversations sessions.

March 2025 (Gold Coast) – the first Creating Conversations session to be held in QLD, this session was hosted by Accor Group, facilitated by Insight Exchange, and involved 40 guests including Executive Leaders, Legal Directors, Apartments and Reality, Hotel General Managers, Talent & Culture, Safety and Diversity leaders from a number of hotels in Surfers Paradise. Together we explored and responded to the resources: Follow My Lead, Talk and My Safety Kit as well as the Voices of Insight Collection. Guests raised a number of positive ideas for next steps to uplift responses within this business.

October 2024 (Sydney) - Building on the engagement of the hotel industry to uplift understanding and responding, this session in Sydney was hosted by Accor Group, facilitated by Insight Exchange and involved 15 guests including Hotel Management, Food and Beverage and Guest Services. Together we explored and responded to the resources: Follow My Lead, Talk and My Safety Kit as well as the Voices of Insight Collection.

September 2024 (Melbourne) | Building on the engagement of the hotel industry to uplift understanding and responding, this second session in Melbourne was initiated by Accor Group and facilitated by Insight Exchange and involved 12 guests from three parts of the Hotel Industry - Apartments and Realty, Hotel Management and Guest Services. Together we explored and responded to the resources: Follow My Lead, Talk and My Safety Kit as well as the Voices of Insight Collection.

July 2024 (Melbourne) | The session, initiated by Accor Group and facilitated by Insight Exchange, involved 40 guests from the Hotel Industry. Together we explored the resources: Follow My Lead, Talk and My Safety Kit as well as the Voices of Insight Collection. The guests included people working in three Hotel Groups, including roles in managed hotels, apartments and leases, sales and hospitality services and Qantas lounges, and peak body participation.

CREATING CONVERSATIONS 2023 - 2024

In 2023 & 2024 Creating Conversations sessions provide opportunity to participate in cross-sector conversations responding to Insight Exchange insights and materials.

July 2024 (Adelaide) | Together in this session we explored the following resources: Follow My Lead, My Safety Kit, Being Safety and an Introduction to economic abuse, as well as the Voices of Insight Collection. The guests included 42 people working in hospitality, security, health, education, primary industries, research, police, corrections, animal welfare, specialist services, peak bodies, medical, men’s behaviour change, communications, finance, transport, peak bodies and legal services.

May 2024 (Paramatta) | The session involved 34 new and returning guests. Together we explored the resources: My Dignity - My body is mine, Intimate Dignity, Reproductive Dignity and Working with distressing content. The guests included people working in Hotels, Clubs, Police, Support Services, Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Research, Service responses for men who use violence, Australian Human Rights Commission, National Helplines, Arts, Research, Children's Hospital, Restorative Justice, University Teaching, Local Council, Community & Faith Based services, National Helplines, Humanitarian Agency, Women's Health NSW, and DCJ.

April 2024 (Bankstown) | This session, hosted by Bankstown Sports Club and supported by Insight Exchange involved 40+ responders from the local Bankstown community including people working in youth, legal and community services, health staff from Lidcombe and Bankstown Hospitals, local and neighbouring Clubs industry team, local businesses and specialist services. Together we explored Follow My Lead, My Safety Kit, TALK, Dad Your Choice Hurts me and Introduction to economic abuse, as well as the Voices of Insight Collection.

Oct 2023 (Sydney City) | To build on these insights and conversations, together with new and returning guests we explored the resources below (May 2023), as well as I am I can and new resources: Dad - your choice hurts me & Being Safety and an Introduction to economic abuse. The session involved 47 people working in Aboriginal Community Housing, Arts, Australian Human Rights Commission, Community Restorative Services, Corrective Services, Education, Men's Behaviour Change, Royal Agricultural Society, Security Industry, Women’s Health and Equality, Centre for Women's Economic Safety, Children's Services, Department of Communities and Justice, Gaming Industry, Helplines (National), Retail Industry, Workplaces, Hotel Industry, Insight Exchange, Police Services, University & Research, Support Services (NSW & QLD) & Clubs Industry.

May 2023 (Sydney City) | The session involved 31 people working in Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Research, Service responses for men who use violence, Clubs, Forensic Medical, Support Service, Community Restorative Work, Australian Human Rights Commission, National Helpline, Arts, Research, Security, Corrective Services, Local Health District, Hotel Industry, Restorative Justice, University Teaching, & Police. Together we explored the resources: Talk, Fear, An Imperfect Letter and Follow My Lead (Workplace Sexual Harassment).

CREATING CONVERSATIONS 2017 - 2018

In 2017 - 2018 'Creating Conversations' events were designed to:

Provide an opportunity for people and organisations that wouldn’t normally intersect or come together.
Create the conditions for conversations that enable sharing and learning about each other’s challenges, contexts and contributions.
Discover the possibilities for individual, organisational and collective responses and pathways for progress.

In 2017 Insight Exchange hosted its first Creating Conversations session involving fifty guests from across different sectors to exchange insights about understanding of and responses to violence and abuse. The first three Creating Conversations sessions (2017-2018) featured guest speakers Dr Linda Coates and Dr Allan Coates from the Centre for Response Based Practice. These sessions were recorded and made digitally available in short videos supported by digital facilitator Gavin Blake. The videos were available for the period 2017/19 to 2024/25 and are now archived.

Our Social Responses Nov 2017
Resistance, Response and Evidence – July 2018
Resistance, Safety and Language – August 2018