News
Our blog posts capture important legal updates, trends, good news, notices and speak to our advocacy campaigns.
‘Speaking Out’: Podcast episode with Larissa Behrendt and Karen Iles
Karen Iles joins ABC Radio’s Speaking Out with Larissa Behrendt to discuss her campaign to end violence against First Nations women and children.
Rethinking Silence: Understanding Confidentiality Clauses in Settlement Agreements
Standard Non-Disclosure Agreements, while often beneficial, also cause victim-survivors significant harm in workplace sexual harassment matters.
International Women’s Day Podcast: ‘Mainstreaming misogyny’ ends today
On International Women’s Day, Violet Co Director & Principal Solicitor, Karen Iles spoke to Angela Priestly & Women’s Agenda for their podcast: ‘Mainstreaming misogyny’ ends today.
MEDIA RELEASE Australian Law Reform Commission into Justice Responses to Sexual Violence Inquiry delivers welcome recommendations
We welcome the recommendations, and urge State and Federal government to take action to ensure their tangible, positive impact on the experiences of victim-survivors of rape and sexual violence with the justice process.
2025 NSW Women of the Year Awards Finalist, Karen Iles
Violet Co Director and Principal Solicitor, Karen Iles, has been announced as a finalist for the 2025 Premier’s NSW Woman of Excellence Award.
Mediation: Preventing Sexual Harassment & workplace issues
Thinking through how you prevent workplace sexual harassment? Contemplating negotiations with a Trade Union or employer? Looking for ways to better understand your workforce or resolve conflict? Mediation can have an incredible impact. Here’s how.
First Nations women in business pro bono program - 2024 dates
Doing Business Our Way: 2024 dates announced for pro bono program (First Nations women in business)
Job opportunity with Violet Co Legal & Consulting
We are looking for a Personal Assistant and Legal Secretary to join our team based in Sydney!
The role is 2.5 days per week working out of our office in Darlinghurst with some flexibility to work remotely.
‘Disappointed but not Surprised’: A Week of Sexual Assault and Misogyny in the News
Urgent reforms are needed to provide women with confidence that the police and justice systems work for those who have survived the horrific reality of gender-based violence and rape.
We are finalists for the Law Society of NSW’s Pro Bono Service Award!
We are thrilled to announce that the team at Violet Co has surpassed our own personal best pro bono record in FY22 and is now a finalist for the Law Society of NSW’s Pro Bono Services Award 2022! Here’s a closer look at the outcomes we have achieved for our pro bono clients.
Boards, directors, governance and workplace sexual harassment
Boards have an important role to play in taking proactive steps to eliminate and prevent workplace sexual assault and harassment. Read Karen Iles perspectives in an excerpt from the Australian Institute of Company Directors Magazine (September 2022)
International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 2022
The 9th of August is International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples! At Violet Co, we are proud to support First Nations people every single day.
Looking to integrate social enterprises into your business model?
When you work with Violet Co you work with an Indigenous-led social enterprise certified by Social Traders and Supply Nation.
Over half our profits go towards providing pro bono legal and consulting services to women and Indigenous people. In addition we partner with a range of social justice organisations to help them achieve their objectives.
A New Positive Duty to Prevent Workplace Sexual Harassment – How to Get Your “House in Order”
Our new Federal Government has committed to implementing all 55 of the Respect@Work recommendations. A positive duty to prevent sexual harassment in Australian workplaces will demand a transformative shift in employers’ obligations. Find out how you can "get your house in order" ahead of these changes.
Health Justice for First Nations Peoples - no excuses
“The nation needs to stand up and do something about this tragic and totally preventable cause of death before more of our young people are killed. Communities are ready and many are already taking action,” Vicki Wade, Director RHDAustralia
The lack of health justice for First Nations’ peoples is stark. Rheumatic Heart Disease is preventable and we must act now.
Action to tackle gender-based violence in Australia & UK
Violet Co Principal Karen Iles was invited to attend the Australia and UK Roundtable ‘Supporting Women’s Personal Security in All Settings’.
Hosted by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Marise Payne and Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs and Minister for Women and Equality, the Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP, the Roundtable provided an opportunity to share experiences on ending violence against women and girls.
Spotlight: Strategy through storytelling
First Australian’s Capital’s new 10-year strategy presents a different way of doing strategy; through storytelling.
“Strategy is a series of stories woven together to create a landscape, a map, an appreciation of where we are now and heading.
Our strategy is framed around storytelling, truth-telling, reconciliation, and a generational outlook.”
Dismantling Workplace Sexual Harassment with Refinery29
What can you and your organisation do to support First Nations Women in disclosing sexual assault or harassment at work? If it has happened to you - where and how can you raise your voice.
Trauma-informed practice: What is it and how do we *actually* integrate it in our work at Violet Co?
The concept of Trauma-informed practice is getting a lot of attention - and rightfully so! As legal practitioners and victim-survivor advocates we aspire to work in a client-centred way. Find out more about how we work with businesses, organisations and individuals to work through options and solutions to sexual assault, sexual harassment, gender or race-based violence, harassment and discrimination.