ICMS Australasia (ICMSA) helped to deliver the world’s largest conference by and for those working at the grassroots level of women’s services and whose goal is to end gender-based violence
Event brief
Held for the first time in the Southern Hemisphere, the 5th World Conference of Women’s Shelters (5WCWS) was hosted at the ICC Sydney from September 15 to 18, 2025.
The primary objective of 5WCWS was to provide a platform for learning and sharing experiences, and to contribute to a worldwide systemic approach to ending violence against women and their children.
The host body had a target of exceeding 1,000 attendees. Through ICMSA’s pre-event marketing campaign, the final result was 120 per cent above expectations, with delegates attending from more than 60 countries.
Event highlights
Delegates participated in pre-conference workshops leading up to the Welcome Ceremony, which included a pre-recorded address by Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese.
The conference ran for three days, following a clear format: each day began with a morning plenary session delivered by local and international experts, followed by up to 11 concurrent presentations. The complete cohort returned each afternoon for a final plenary.
Keynote speakers were a mix of international and national experts, distinguished by strong representation from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. Highlights included talks by Cecilia McKenzie (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander policy and engagement manager at Domestic Violence NSW); singer/songwriter Shellie Morris, and Kyllie Cripps (director of the Monash Indigenous Studies Centre).
On Day 2, Tanya Plibersek, the federal minister for social services and federal member for Sydney, delivered a keynote address announcing the government’s commitment of an additional A$8.5 million (US$5.6 million) to boost programmes compelling domestic violence perpetrators to recognise and change their behaviour.
“The reason is simple: we can’t end domestic and family violence without holding those responsible to account,” she said.
The final night Gala Dinner, managed by ICMSA, took place at Watersedge at Campbells Store in The Rocks (opposite the Opera House). Delegates were transferred by boat from the ICC Sydney at Darling Harbour.
The conference concluded with a variety of Study Tours on the final day, giving delegates opportunities for specialised learning.
These included a visit to Sydney’s Women and Girls’ Emergency Centre Women’s Refuge; the Muslim Women Australia Multicultural Study Tour; the Jesuit Refugee Service Australia Study Tour; a tour of Australia’s National Research Organisation in Women’s Safety; and an introduction to Full Stop Australia’s 50-year history of services and activism to end gender-based violence.
Challenges
One of ICMSA’s biggest challenges was accommodating attendees from more than 60 countries, many of whom spoke English as a second language.
A relatively tight budget prevented the possibility of a complete translation service, a constraint largely due to the Host Body’s priority of sponsoring as many international delegates as possible.
ICMSA overcame the language barrier by implementing a new AI-powered translation system, boosting the accessibility and inclusivity of all presentations. This solution allowed delegates to engage with the content through multiple formats, including real-time translated audio streamed to their devices, translated subtitles, same-language captions, and access to transcripts and summaries in their chosen language. This was achieved for just over A$5 per delegate.
The availability of the translation system was the decisive factor for a considerable number of international attendees, according to ICMSA’s survey data.
Event 5th World Conference of Women’s Shelters
Dates September 15 to 18, 2025
Organiser ICMS Australasia
Venue ICC Sydney and Watersedge at Campbells Store
Attendance 1,200 delegates
