WWYW Growth Statement

Written By What Were You Wearing Aus .

A MESSAGE FROM WHAT WERE YOU WEARING (WWYW)

At What Were You Wearing, we’ve always believed in the power of lived experience, purpose-driven advocacy, and bold systems change. What started as a grassroots movement has grown into a national force for awareness, education, and reform - reaching nearly half a million people across Australia and igniting vital conversations around sexual, domestic, and family violence.

With growth and visibility come challenges - and we meet them head-on. Over the past year, we’ve been focused on building a stronger, more sustainable WWYW. We’ve evolved our systems, expanded our leadership, and reaffirmed our commitment to integrity, accountability, and care.

Here’s what we’ve achieved:

Human Resources

  • In September 2024, we introduced formal HR systems, including multiple complaint pathways - both anonymous and named - to ensure every team member feels safe, heard, and supported.

  • Since then, we’ve received zero complaints across our national volunteer network - a reflection of the culture we’ve intentionally cultivated.

Operations & Leadership

  • WWYW is now led by a skilled, multidisciplinary leadership team with clear communication systems and structured onboarding, offboarding, and leave processes.

  • In the coming weeks, we’ll welcome an external, majority-professional Board of Directors to guide our strategic growth and governance.

Finance & Transparency

  • We continue to operate with full financial oversight through an independent bookkeeper, a volunteer Treasurer, and publicly available financial reports.

  • We’re in the final stages of securing official ACNC charity registration - a major milestone that reflects our long-term vision.

Learning from the Past, Leading into the Future

Like many young organisations, our beginnings were raw and rooted in lived experience. We acknowledge that not everything was done perfectly. But we’ve never shied away from reflection - and we’ve taken clear action:

  • Public apologies and offers of mediation where harm occurred

  • Leadership reflection and restructuring

  • A deliberate rebuild rooted in ethical, professional systems

We’ve learned. We’ve listened. And we’ve grown. This growth is ongoing - and it’s led by people who show up every day with courage, compassion, and clarity.

If you ever have a concern or question, we encourage you to come to us directly. Our entire leadership team remains open to constructive, respectful dialogue. To allow us to continue to do this and our work, we will not be engaging with disinformation, online harassment, or defamatory attacks. We believe everyone deserves the opportunity to demonstrate growth and prove meaningful change.

WWYW is not defined by where we began. We are defined by our willingness to evolve, the integrity of our actions, and the impact we continue to deliver.

Thank you to everyone who stands with us - not just in solidarity, but in action.

With gratitude,

The WWYW Team


What Were You Wearing Aus .
Next

Statement.