Ellipsis launches free not-for-profit service

A new program is providing free communications support to non-profit organisations working to eliminate violence against women.

Launched on International Women’s Day 2025, Just Words is a community initiative created by consulting firm Ellipsis, created in response to the confronting reality that one in five women have experienced sexual violence since the age of 15.

Family violence is now the leading cause of homelessness for women in Australia, and the number of women seeking help is so high that many frontline services are at capacity. 

This has been made worse by housing supply, affordability, and cost of living issues. 

Ellipsis Director Shelley Brady said Just Words was designed as a free service to help “defend those whose health, livelihoods and lives are threatened every day". 

“With around 87% of incidents going unreported, the true numbers are far higher than the statistics show,” she said. 

Brady said the program was about acknowledging the impact that words can have on women’s safety. 

“Language can contribute to and accelerate violence against women by shaping societal attitudes, reinforcing gender stereotypes and inequality, and normalising disrespect,” she said. 

Research has also shown that rigid gender roles and strongly enforced norms of socially dominant masculinity increase the risk of violence against women. 

"It's a fact. Words do matter," Brady said.

“While language can be weaponised by those perpetrating violence, we also know that the right words can help combat it—challenging and changing harmful norms, attitudes, and behaviours."

Brady said she hoped the money saved by organisations using the Just Words program could be redirected into other important services. 

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Just Words is restricted to Australian not-for-profit organisations. Capacity limits apply.

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