How we can support you at the
Illawarra Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre
Warm, airy, welcoming, calming, enveloping. These are just some words used to describe the Illawarra Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre in Shellharbour.
The Centre is a place for women to heal and rebuild their lives after experiencing domestic, family and sexual violence.
A place where women can feel safe and supported and access free services, programs and groups to help them navigate their recovery journey.
The model of care we use was co-designed by women who have experienced domestic, family or sexual violence and recognises the need for care to go beyond crisis intervention to address the long-term traumatic impact of domestic, family and sexual violence and abuse.
By investing in the safety, health, and healing of women, the Centre works toward breaking cycles of violence and abuse to prevent intergenerational transmission of trauma. You can read more about our model of care here.
Since the Women’s TRC opened in September 2024, the team has established a program of healing support services, community groups and practical services, including counselling, massage therapy, music groups and self-compassion workshops.
Your GP or health provider can refer you, or you can self-refer if you have experienced domestic, family and sexual violence. Please contact us for a confidential conversation about your needs.
Once you contact us, our intake officer will call you by phone. Please allow 45 minutes for this conversation and ensure you have a safe, quiet space.
We can then arrange for you to book an appointment with our team, if we see our Centre can offer you the support you need.
Please note we are not a crisis service; for urgent assistance, please call 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or Police on 000.
Many women visit the centre for counselling, but we can offer a wide variety of services to support you, including practical support for domestic, family and sexual violence, legal advice, financial counselling, NDIS and Centrelink help, healing support services like massage and aromatherapy, and employment guidance.
We know how important it is to build community and connection, and we have a variety of social groups to help women feel supported, including our walking, music, arts and crafts and board games.
All our services are free and are led by women in our fit-for-purpose space in Shellharbour.
Women who are focused on rebuilding their lives deserve a beautiful space to do it in. Opened in September 2024, our award-winning Centre was architecturally designed by Edmiston Jones in partnership with women who have lived experience of domestic, family and sexual violence and our Aboriginal Women’s Reference Group to develop a calming, secure environment.
As you arrive at the Centre, you’ll sign in at our reception and will be asked to wait in our comfortable waiting area.
You will then be invited into one of our consultation rooms.
If you have children, you can be seen in our specially designed room, which has a view into our safe playroom to allow you to keep an eye on your little ones.
Contact our compassionate and friendly team to see how we can help you.
They will be with you every step of the way on your recovery journey.
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The Illawarra Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre is situated on the land of the Dharawal Nation. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land and we pay our respects to Elders past and present for they hold the memories, traditions and hopes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australia. This land is, was, and always will be traditional Aboriginal land. We acknowledge that we work in the context of generations of resilient, strengths-based, holistic resistance to violence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. We commit to actively supporting and promoting the voices of Aboriginal people and organisations in our work. We fully support the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
