Wollongong District Court to pilot ‘ground rules’ hearings for sexual assault proceedings
Women giving evidence in adult sexual assault trials in Wollongong could face clearer limits on questioning and fewer demands to repeat their accounts under reforms proposed by the NSW Government. Women who report sexual assault can wait months or years to give evidence in court, knowing they will have to describe what happened and face […]
How groups support different paths to healing at the Illawarra Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre
Every woman heals from domestic, family and sexual violence in different ways. It could be finding connection with others, trying something creative or feeling more comfortable in your body. The Illawarra Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre’s groups program offers space to explore these experiences, with support to choose what aligns with their healing goals. The program […]
National report calls for more funding for domestic and family violence recovery services
Governments must invest more in long-term recovery services if Australia is to change the trajectory of domestic, family and sexual violence, a major national report has found. The Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission’s 2026 Yearly Report to Parliament warns that increased effort and investment are still not delivering change at the scale or pace […]
Building a blueprint for trauma recovery: what the Illawarra has learned
There was no blueprint for the Illawarra Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre when it opened two years ago, but a new report shows how the service it has built is making a difference for women recovering from domestic, family and sexual violence. The Early Insights Report brings together women’s feedback, service data and findings from an […]
Illawarra Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre recognised in Federal Parliament
Federal Member for Whitlam Carol Berry has recognised the work of the Illawarra Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre in Federal Parliament, as she called for communities to take collective responsibility for ending violence against women and children. Speaking in Parliament, Ms Berry described domestic and family violence as “one of the most serious challenges facing our […]
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park launches next chapter for Illawarra Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park has reaffirmed the importance of the Illawarra Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre and its work supporting women to recover from domestic, family and sexual violence. Mr Park joined women with lived experience, community leaders, supporters and dignitaries at the Centre in Shellharbour on Friday to officially launch the Centre’s first Strategic […]
Join our program to learn how to use your voice for change
Women with lived experience of domestic, family and sexual violence are being invited to join a new 10-week advocacy and leadership program through the Illawarra Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre. Supported by GM³, the Change Makers Collective is for women who want to use their voice to help improve the systems, services and responses that affect […]
Illawarra Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre maps blueprint for lasting change
The Illawarra Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre has set its course for the next three years, unveiling its vision to strengthen recovery services for women during a launch event on Friday, September 11. CEO Elise Phillips said the Centre’s new strategy reflects a growing recognition that while crisis responses save lives, recovery requires a different kind […]
Growing demand drives call for long-term Illawarra Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre funding
Two years after opening, growing demand for the Illawarra Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre is strengthening the case for long-term investment in specialist recovery from domestic, family and sexual violence. More than 300 women have accessed the Australian-first service since it opened in 2024, with more than 100 women on its waiting list between January and […]
Why we’re backing the call for pre-recorded testimony for sexual assault survivors
Survivors of sexual assault can wait years to give evidence in court, living with the knowledge that one day they will be asked to relive the most traumatic moments of their lives. The Illawarra Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre says it shouldn’t be this way. The Centre has joined more than 26 advocacy organisations, legal experts […]