At Bonnie’s this year, we have been learning a lot about the Safe and Together Addressing Complexity (STACy) model (developed by the Safe and Together Institute) to work effectively with survivors of domestic and family violence. One of the things that I’ve learnt from studying this model is the value in professionals having a very […]

I grew up in the Parramatta area where there’s a strong connection to the local Aboriginal community. My mother is a librarian and as a young child, she would bring books back from her library. Often these books were Dreamtime stories that explained the creations of the world and gave meaning to why flora, fauna […]

Kidz Space at Bonnie’s is a place where kids can come to share and learn about themselves in a safe environment. It’s for kids aged 7-11 who have witnessed domestic violence but haven’t had a chance to speak about it. Kidz Space gives them the chance to do this, diving in and reflecting on what’s […]

The Mothering Job © Marian N. Kehrley I watched my Mom fill out an application. I looked at the line that asks about past professions. I thought to myself, that space is too small To write down what she’s been, to cover it all. She was a nurse when I fell and scraped my knee. She […]

Almost two years ago, Bonnie’s committed to actively join the journey to reconciliation with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander brothers and sisters. The whole team at Bonnie’s, including our staff and our Board, have been working towards this together since then. The commitment comes from the bottom up – as well as from the […]

We have many volunteers helping at Bonnie’s behind the scenes. Some of them clean and help fix things, others hand out food and spend time with the women and children. The other day I met a woman who was volunteering with us who not so long ago, had received support from Bonnie’s. Every Friday she […]

Podcasts are the perfect escape for those days you just want some alone time, or are maybe strapped for cash but want to listen to some awesome women talking about stuff that matters. Podcasts can be your friend, your educator or just someone to make you laugh. Ranging from discussions around consent and body image, […]

On April the 11th we at Bonnie’s will be launching our very first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). Our RAP has been a long time in the making, and we are immensely proud to have had the guidance of community leaders, Norma Burrows from Liverpool Council, and Delphine Leslie from South West Sydney Local Health District, […]

I was helping a young mum of two beautiful little girls; one of these girls was only 2 weeks old. This woman was escaping domestic violence, fearful for her life and the life of her daughters. She couldn’t believe that she was at this point – having to hide and with a newborn in arms. […]

I welcomed another woman to Bonnie’s last week who, like so many before her, asked me questions that I found hard to answer. They went like this: how did I end up here? What did I do to deserve this? Why does this keep happening to me? Where did it all go wrong? Shortly after […]

I’ve been so moved lately. Hearing about women coming together, listening and giving space to one another, to talk about challenging experiences, has made me hopeful for our future. Sharing our stories and connecting with each other is the first step to healing and that’s exactly the journey we’ve started. The #MeToo movement has been […]

I watched a great documentary the other night called ‘The Porn Factor’ and it got me thinking. I have often heard a lot about how pornography affects young people’s sexual development. The Porn Factor says that 90% of boys view pornography by the age of 16 and 60% of girls view pornography by the time […]