White Ribbon Australia goes into liquidation

A prominent Adelaide anti-domestic violence advocate has expressed his shock at the sudden collapse of White Ribbon Australia.

A prominent Adelaide anti-domestic violence crusader has expressed shock at the sudden collapse of White Ribbon Australia.

The organisation announced on Thursday it had gone into voluntary administration after an “analysis of the organisation’s future sustainability”.

Abuse survivor and Adelaide City Councillor Arman Abrahimzadeh, whose mother, Zahra, was killed by his father in 2010 after he had subjected the family to years of abuse, said he was “just devasated” to hear the news.

“I had no idea this was coming and it is extremely sad news,” he said.

“The first thing to wonder about is who is going to pick up the pieces. There is a great need for the work they were doing.”

M Abrahimzadeh is also an ambassador for the Our Watch movement and said they may be able to fill some of the gap.

He noted White Ribbon Australia was part of an international movement which started in Canada and as well as raising awareness, it ran accreditation courses for businesses to ensure their policies and procedures were attuned to domestic violence issues and gender equality.

The foundation for the charity was established is 2007 and Australian entertainer and former lawyer Andrew O’Keefe was named chair of the board.

“They did wonderful work and that work needs to keep going,” he said.

“We actually have Australia’s biggest White Ribbon breakfast here in Adelaide and have some great people on the ground here doing good work at the grassroots level, and that will need to continue.”

White Ribbon officials posted a note on their website saying the liquidation was in the hands of Worrells Solvency and Forensic Accountants in Sydney.

“It is with profound sadness that the Board of White Ribbon Australia informs the community and supporters that it has taken the very difficult decision to close its doors,” it stated

“This decision became necessary following an analysis of the organisation’s future sustainability.”

The notes urged supporters to continue to campaign to eliminate violence against women, and for those already planning for White Ribbon Day on November 22 to continue to do so with the international White Ribbon movement.

State Government employees undergo White Ribbon Australia accreditation.

It has been reported the not-for-profit charity was more than $840,000 in debt last year.

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