How women’s voices are shaping our therapeutic approach at the Illawarra Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre
A therapeutic model shaped by women who use it has been released by the Illawarra Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre, marking a new phase for the Australia-first service. The updated therapeutic framework supports the Centre to implement its model of care and captures what the Centre has learned since opening in September 2024, drawing directly on […]
Movement Classes Coming Soon to the Illawarra Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre
The Illawarra Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre is preparing to expand its healing programs by introducing supportive movement classes at its new movement space. The purpose-designed studio is a welcoming, empowering environment where women can rebuild strength, both physical and emotional, through safe, guided movement and shared activities. The classes will focus on gentle coordination activities […]
Changing the narrative: Illawarra services shift focus onto perpetrators in domestic violence response
A new training initiative is strengthening how local services respond to domestic, family and sexual violence in the Illawarra. Workers from the Illawarra Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre and the Illawarra Women’s Health Centre are completing a four-day Safe & Together program designed to prioritise children’s safety and place responsibility for harm on the person using […]
Survey seeks Illawarra voices on domestic, family and sexual violence workforce
A national push to better support domestic, family and sexual violence workers is underway, with Illawarra staff and volunteers being urged to contribute their experiences to a new workforce survey. The National Family and Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence Workforce Survey will collect information on the skills, experiences, and well-being of people working in prevention, […]
What to expect during your first conversation with the Illawarra Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre
For many women, the hardest part of seeking support isn’t deciding to reach out but feeling unsure about what will happen next. Questions about what will be asked, who will be involved, and how the information will be used can cause worry and confusion. This article aims to clarify what to expect when you first […]
Illawarra records 15 coercive control cases as new NSW data reveals slow path to charges
Fifteen incidents of coercive control have been reported to police across the Illawarra in the first year since NSW criminalised the behaviour, with new figures exposing both increasing recognition of the abuse and the challenge of turning reports into charges. The latest monitoring report from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research shows 386 […]
How paid family and domestic violence leave works – and what’s stopping women from using it
Two years after Australia introduced 10 days of paid family and domestic violence (FDV) leave, research shows many workplaces still aren’t set up to support people to use it safely. The leave, introduced in 2023 under the National Employment Standards, is designed to help workers experiencing family or domestic violence maintain their employment and financial […]
Call to strengthen domestic, family and sexual violence services as Illawarra records 1,120 assaults
The Illawarra recorded 1,120 domestic violence assaults in the year to September 2025, as specialist services across NSW warn women and children are being left waiting for help, with average delays of up to two months reported for people seeking domestic and family violence support. Domestic Violence NSW (DVNSW), the peak body for specialist DFV […]
Study reveals hidden brain injury impacts of intimate partner violence
A new Australian study has found that repeated head injuries and strangulation during intimate partner violence can lead to long-term memory and learning difficulties for women. The peer-reviewed research, led by Monash University and published in the Journal of Neurotrauma, compared the thinking and memory skills of women with no history of partner violence to […]
New digital alert pilot aims to improve safety for victim-survivors
A new digital service designed to keep victim-survivors of domestic, family and sexual violence safe and informed is being trialled in New South Wales. DV Notify sends real-time text and email alerts to victim-survivors when an alleged perpetrator is released from custody. Notifications begin at the point of arrest and continue through key court milestones, […]