Global attention will turn to Melbourne in April as the Oceanic Pacific region hosts the Women Deliver 2026 Conference, with organisers placing community-led solutions at the centre of the agenda.
The conference, known as WD2026, will focus on feminist approaches shaped by lived experience and grounded in local knowledge. Organisers say the aim is to highlight practical models that respond to the realities women face, rather than relying solely on policy driven frameworks.
One example often cited ahead of the event is Moroccan Soup Bar in Narrm, founded by social entrepreneur Hana Assafiri. Operating as a social enterprise, the restaurant has created employment pathways for women, including those leaving violent relationships or facing financial insecurity. Over the years it has employed hundreds of women and supported many into longer term work.
Assafiri argues that everyday community spaces can shape how women experience safety. She says many women, particularly those facing marginalisation, find support in places where they are recognised and treated with respect, rather than through formal systems alone.
The emphasis on local leadership is reflected in research pointing to the effectiveness of community driven responses to gender based violence. Migrant and refugee women are often disproportionately affected, facing barriers such as language differences, discrimination and uncertain visa status.
Shweta Kawatra Dakin, Manager of Resilient Communities at GenWest, says approaches rooted in communities can help bridge gaps between services and those who need them. According to GenWest, its Multilingual Health Education program has engaged more than 1,250 women from over 30 cultural backgrounds since 2022, using health education as a starting point for broader conversations about gender, power and violence.
At WD2026, Dakin will appear alongside Nimo Ahmed, co founder of The Sisterhood, in a session examining how migrant and refugee women are reshaping support systems. In Indonesia, The Sisterhood runs Sisters in Justice, a survivor led initiative working with women in long term displacement without legal status.
Advocates say these models improve engagement with services and build trust, though some policy analysts caution that community programs require sustained funding and coordination with government systems to ensure consistency and reach.
The conference will also include a session led by Community First Development, focusing on self determination and First Nations leadership. Chief Executive Stephanie Harvey says gender equity strategies must be intersectional and grounded in place, with communities defining their own priorities.
Examples highlighted include partnerships with Indigenous Women in Trades and Blackdoll Role Models, projects designed to support locally led change and economic participation.
Women Deliver conferences have historically drawn policymakers, advocates and development agencies from around the world. As Melbourne prepares to host the 2026 gathering, the focus on community leadership reflects a broader shift in global gender equity discussions, where grassroots initiatives are increasingly positioned alongside national and international reform efforts.
Registrations for WD2026 are now open.
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