Jo Sainsbury is Kicking Ass in 2022 to change domestic violence rates
Alarming domestic violence figures have inspired a coal train driver, an inspiring smasher of stereotypes, to step up and advocate for awareness and change.
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A coal train driver is smashing more than just gender stereotypes as she organises a new gala event to curb alarming domestic violence figures in Mackay.
Ms Sainsbury is not only an author, radio host, podcaster, public speaker and coal train driver but an advocate for spreading awareness about domestic violence in Australia, and in her own backyard, Mackay.
She said Mackay had an “astonishingly” high rate of domestic violence reports.
“During 2021 there was an estimated 4000 new client contacts for specialist counselling in Mackay alone for domestic violence,” she said.
“Absolutely horrendous.
“Mackay Women’s Services has seen a 25 per cent increase in demand for support since Covid-19 began.”
Ms Sainsbury is a member of Women’s Network Australia, and in May will be participating in Dancing CEOs, one of Brisbane’s biggest fundraising events for Women’s Legal Service Queensland.
The Women’s Legal Service Queensland supports women and children affected by domestic violence.
Ms Sainsbury is organising the inaugural Shades of Women female-only gala in Mackay to support her fundraising efforts for the Dancing CEOs event.
She said the gala was a great opportunity to spread awareness to the community about the alarming domestic violence statistics in the region and the services available to those women and children impacted.
“It is a ladies event only to provide support to the female community but highlight there is assistance and support and for them to pass the message on if they know of someone who is in a situation like that,” she said.
“We will have Linda from Mackay Women’s Service speaking on the night.
“Hopefully we will have a QPS officer involved in that area.”
Shades of Women will be held on Saturday March 19, at the Magpies Sporting Club Mackay in Glenella from 6pm to midnight.
Tickets are $165 for a single entry, to book or for more information click here.
Ms Sainsbury is also the founder of Kickass Women, a network encouraging women to pursue careers and roles in non-traditional female industries such as mining, rail and construction.
She said Kickass Women was inspired after many women were surprised to find out she was a coal train driver.
The Mackay resident worked for 30 years in corporate roles in administration, human resources and project management, but made the bold decision to move into the rail industry, despite it being a ‘man’s world’.
She wrote her book ‘From High Heels to High Vis’ on her transition from working in a corporate environment to the rail industry.
“I kept getting asked how I could get a job like that,” she said.
“And the responses I would get from women would be, ‘I wouldn’t be able to do that’.
“And I wrote a book on my transition from high heels to high vis, encouraging women that they can go out and get these jobs.”
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