The challenge ahead

Dr Emma Fulu is making a difference with one of the most insidious problems of our time.

Winner of this year’s InStyle and Audi Style scholarship, Dr Emma Fulu is a beacon of hope for women and girls around the world with her pioneering research into violence.

Story by James McRory

1 June, 2016

AM: Obviously there are different cultural factors that play a part both here in Australia and more so in other countries.

Emma Fulu: There are lots of factors that have to be tackled in different cultural contexts. It could be the issue of honour and shame in some parts of South Asia or the rights of women in marriage and divorce … we need to understand these first, so we have to do the research to understand the different cultural factors and drivers.

AM: How do you stay sane in such a confronting environment?

Emma Fulu: Well, I have three children who keep me very sane, and I also feel that I work in a position where I feel I can have a positive impact. But I’m not a front line worker and I think I would find that very challenging. There are people who do absolutely amazing work that I don’t think I’d be able to do. From crisis counsellors to social workers and police … there are lots of people who've got it a lot harder than I do.

I’ve got a great team around me, and I’ve got a great family and I try to keep things balanced.

I think I’d feel far more depressed if I wasn’t trying to do something about it.

AM: You started the Equality Institute to help combat this problem. What are your next steps?

Emma Fulu: We’re growing quite rapidly, so we’re looking to continue expanding our partnerships here and overseas. We’re doing some exciting work with the United Nations (UN) and the World Health Organisation (WHO). We’re looking to build our volunteer program, but I guess in the medium term I’d like to see us getting to the stage where we have the base funding to develop our own specific projects and campaigns, particularly in Australia.

We see that there are some gaps and we want to start a much more mainstream conversation.

AM: There’s obviously no quick fix here, but do you see a time in the foreseeable future where violence against women becomes the exception?

Emma Fulu: It’s very much a long term problem, that requires generational change, but I do see a time when violence against women will be the exception instead of the norm.

I think that the more people talk about it and the more people come together, the less daunting it feels. I think if you’re standing out there alone it seems like an impossible task … but there are more and more people who are really committed to making a positive change so I think that is really hopeful.

I do see a time when violence against women will be the exception instead of the norm

The challenge ahead

Dr Emma Fulu is making a difference with one of the most insidious problems of our time.

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