Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre appoints advocate Lula Dembele as director

Illawarra Mercury – Natalie Croxon When Lula Dembele was in her early 20s, she began looking for somewhere to help her address the trauma that stemmed from her childhood sexual abuse. She had also experienced domestic violence as an adult, knew there was a pattern and didn’t want that continuing throughout her life – but […]

Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre set to open this year after grant agreement signed

Illawarra Mercury – Natalie Croxon The groundbreaking Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre is set to deliver services to victim-survivors of domestic, family and sexual violence by the end of the year. The Illawarra Women’s Health Centre and the federal government on Monday signed a grant agreement for $25 million over five years for the centre’s operational […]

Experts say secure rentals, not home ownership scheme, needed for domestic violence victim-survivors

Illawarra Mercury – Natalie Croxon Illawarra experts on domestic violence say the state government needs to focus first on providing secure, affordable rental housing for victim-survivors, rather than home ownership. The NSW government has announced it will establish a taskforce to investigate extending the Shared Equity Home Buyer Helper program to victim-survivors of domestic violence, including […]

Police and our justice system have got to pass the pub test and quickly

Illawarra Mercury – Karen Iles Reading the media coverage of the Police and Department of Prosecutions Inquiry into the handling of the trial of Bruce Lehrmann one thing jumped out at me this week. The submissions of Mark Tedeschi SC in his representation of Shane Drumgold, the ACT Director of Public Prosecutions. Tedeschi pointed out […]

Inside the Australian Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Recovery and Healing Conference

ABC Illawarra – Kelly Fuller A passionate call has gone out for a greater focus on recovery and healing as momentum grows for prevention and crisis support for victim-survivors of domestic, family and sexual violence. More than 350 people gathered for the inaugural Australian Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Recovery and Healing Conference in Wollongong this week. […]

Illawarra women still being told abortion is illegal by some doctors: health advocate

Illawarra Mercury – Kate McIlwain More than three years after abortion was decriminalised, some Illawarra women are still being told by health workers that the procedure is illegal, reproductive health advocates say. Through her community liaison role at the Illawarra Women’s Health Centre, Miranda Batchelor sees around five women a day – up from an […]

Illawarra Women’s Health Centre up for the fight on behalf of all women

Illawarra Mercury – Judy Daunt For over 35 years, the Illawarra Women’s Health Centre has supported girls and women to understand and address their health needs. We provide this service in a professional, caring and empowering way. We assist all women who walk through our door, regardless of age, ethnicity, sexuality or ability and they […]

Why the digital space is important for women and equality

Illawarra Mercury – Natalie Croxon So much of modern life is lived in the digital space: we use it for work, education, banking, communicating and more. Yet 259 million fewer women have access to the internet than men worldwide, while a study of 51 countries revealed 38 per cent of women had experienced online violence. […]

‘Let down’: Uncertainty over land promised for women’s trauma recovery centre

Illawarra Mercury – Kate McIlwain Women’s health advocate Sally Stevenson says she feels “let down” by the NSW Government amid a rising domestic violence health crisis, and is concerned negotiations regarding the land for a world-first trauma recovery centre have stalled. Ms Stevenson said she felt there was “very real risk” the government would not […]