What does it mean to be brave in our current social and political climates? How does one practice bravery when there are very real and immediate consequences that may ensue when we step into bravery? How does one do this on the backdrop of a global health pandemic and levels of exhaustion and burnout in the domestic violence sector never before seen? This presentation will explore what role bravely engaging, even with those we might consider our enemies, can have in our client centred practice and in breaking down barriers. In a world that feels more polarized every day, we will seek to demonstrate the power of brave engagement in the domestic violence sector as a way to move away from viewing the world in dichotomies. We will aim to understand the impact of bravery in our current world order as a necessity in order to remove the boundaries that keep groups divided or pitted against one another.

Drawing on our feminist agencies experiences of engaging in diverse settings with Men’s Rights Activists and those working to maintain the status quo of service delivery and provision this presentation will delve into the experiences of breaking down barriers with your enemies. We will explore the pre-conditions that are necessary to step into brave engagement including grounded and clear articulation of your values and beliefs, openminded and non-judgmental mindsets and a willingness to step into curiosity. This presentation will demonstrate the impact of stepping into brave engagement with our enemies in establishing common language and understanding, respect for diverse perspectives and broadened horizons. We will demonstrate the power of bravely engaging within the framework of reducing burnout and isolation and as a method towards understanding and removing barriers and a way to move from a “us vs. them” mentality.