Betty Taylor (born Elizabeth Anne Frost, 1949 in Queensland) is an Australian community advocate and domestic violence prevention campaigner.2020 Queensland Greats list celebrates our local heroes: Betty Taylor, The Courier Mail. Retrieved 9 June 2020.2020 Queensland Greats recipients: Betty Taylor, Queensland Government. Retrieved 9 June 2020.

Early life and education Taylor graduated in sociology from Monash University in 1997. She began her career as an outreach worker on the Gold Coast, establishing the Gold Coast Domestic Violence Prevention Centre and since then has represented various domestic violence agencies and review boards.

Career Taylor has achieved considerable success with the implementation of initiatives which aim to end domestic violence in Australia. She is a veteran campaigner against domestic violence with a particular interest in preventing the violent deaths of women, stalking and the objectification of women. Taylor is the founder and currently chief executive officer of the Red Rose Foundation which campaigned for and achieved the establishment of a Domestic Violence Review Board in Queensland and the introduction of a new offence for non-lethal strangulation. This work also resulted in an Australian Institute for Strangulation Prevention which provides training and research into intimate partner strangulation for professionals working with domestic violence and sexual assault.

The Red Rose Foundation holds a public red rose rally following domestic violence deaths. Taylor has also initiated the red bench project, where park benches are installed in locations across Australia as a reminder of domestic violence within our community, each bearing a plaque that reads:"Domestic Violence - Let's change the ending".

Her role as an anti-domestic violence campaigner sees her frequently comment on stories in the media relating to the issue of domestic violence in Australia.Guest, Annie (28 October 2011) Katter raises ire of domestic violence workers, PM. Retrieved 9 June 2020.(10 September 2015) Qld domestic violence deaths prompt action, SBS News. Retrieved 9 November 2020.Hinchcliffe, Jessica (30 July 2019) 'Let's change the ending': Red park benches hold simple message to call out domestic violence, ABC News. Retrieved 9 June 2020.Bavas, Josh (11 October 2019) GPS trackers for domestic violence offenders may not be as reliable as first thought, ABC News. Retrieved 9 June 2020.Crockford, Toby; Dennien, Matt; Lynch, Lydia (21 February 2020) Top cop apologises for detective's Camp Hill comments, condemned as 'victim-blaming at its worst', Brisbane Times. Retrieved 9 June 2020.Horn, Allyson (26 February 2020) Queensland Opposition proposes nation's strongest laws to combat domestic violence, ABC News. Retrieved 9 June 2020.Marszalek, Jessica; Macleod, Andrea (8 April 2020) Domestic violence help: Premier announces $5.5m to help victims, news.com.au. Retrieved 9 June 2020.

As chairperson of the Ministerial Domestic and Family Violence Council, Taylor established the Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Week initiative which was eventually extended to an annual month-long campaign.

In 1995, Taylor chaired the Domestic Violence Council - an advisory body to the Department of Family and Community Services. In October of that year she travelled with Torres Strait islander woman Kailang Dorante to remote areas in Cape York and Torres Strait to consult with indigenous women on domestic violence in their communities.

In 2002, Taylor was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to investigate multi-agency interventions to domestic violence in the United States and Canada.Taylor, Elizabeth Anne (2002) Report by Elizabeth Anne Taylor to the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust . Retrieved 9 June 2020. In 2004, Taylor conducted a study tour of the United States and Canada where she researched domestic violence death review boards. Later she played a part in setting up the Domestic Violence Death Review Action Group in Queensland and the Domestic Violence Death Review Board.

In 2017, Taylor was appointed as an independent mediator to lead a reconciliation process for women who were wrongfully sent to the Wolston Park Asylum as "delinquent girls" and the Queensland Government.(4 April 2017) Anti-violence advocate appointed Queensland mediator, Brisbane Times. Retrieved 9 June 2020. Following the publication of a report written by Taylor entitled Child Placements by Queensland Government in Adult Mental Health Facilities, which was tabled in state parliament, the women were financially compensated by the Queensland Government.Taylor, Betty (2017) Report to Queensland Government Reconciliation Plan: Stage 1 for Child Placements by Qld Government in Adult Health Facilities, Queensland Parliament. Retrieved 9 June 2020.Marszalek, Jessica; Condon, Matthew (18 October 2017) Wolston Park abuse victims win ex gratia payouts from Queensland Government, The Courier Mail. Retrieved 9 June 2020.Robertson, Joshua (19 October 2017) 'It's been such a battle': Wolston Park survivors win shock payouts, The Guardian. Retrieved 9 June 2020.

Taylor was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2024 King's Birthday Honours for "significant service to the community through domestic violence initiatives and organisations".

Positions held

Gold Coast Domestic Violence Prevention Centre, founder Gold Coast Domestic Violence Integrated Response, oversaw the development Queensland Domestic and Family Violence Council, chair for two terms. Gold Coast Centre Against Sexual Violence, board member Queensland Death Review Board, board member Child Death Review Board, board member TAVAN Institute (2008), owner and founding director Child Death Review Panel, member Literature and Evidence Review, consultant Women's Legal Service, Brisbane, board member Red Rose Foundation, CEO and founder

Awards In 2001, Taylor received the Centenary Medal for her significant contribution to domestic violence provision.Award: Ms Elizabeth Anne Taylor, Australian Honours Search Facility, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 9 June 2020.

In 2002, Taylor was awarded a Churchill Fellowship.

On Queensland Day in 2020, Taylor was named as a Queensland Great.

Publications

Becoming free from domestic violence, Taylor, Betty, was published in 1995 in Home Therapist: A Practical, Self Help Guide for Everyday Psychological Problems, p.367-370 Dying To Be Heard, discussion paper on domestic violence and death, 2008 Dying to Be Heard, media kit, 2009 Literature and Evidence Review of Women's Services in Queensland (info required) Domestic violence and the workplace : training manual / developed for the Office of Status of Women The Duluth Model, what it is and is not: Clarifying and correcting common misconceptions

References