Many people wonder why women stay with obsessive controlling men or how they get involved with them in the first place. The descent into an abusive relationship is often slow and subtle. What may seem like a normal romance to start with, gradually turns into a controlling and intimidating relationship and escalates into a pathological […]

The other day I was at the doctor’s with a mum from Bonnie’s. She was very focused on her youngest child who was screaming and crying as he was getting his bandages removed. Her other child who’s 3yrs old was calling for her mother to get her a balloon. I tried to help but I […]

Family and domestic violence is generally thought of as physical, emotional, sexual and psychological abuse. But there is another insidious abuse experienced by many women. This abuse can be difficult to talk about and its ramifications can last well after women have escaped the relationship. I am talking about financial abuse and coercive debt. Women […]

Often people don’t really know that they have a legal problem until they see a lawyer. They don’t understand the consequences of the problem. And often they’re unsure where to get help. They think that it’s going to cost a fortune to get a lawyer involved. But community legal centres give free advice. The Women’s […]

The time leading up to Christmas is quite lovely here at Bonnie’s. Workers begin to decorate their offices and are provided with an Advent calendar. Our group activities usually finish just before Christmas so there are end of group lunches and celebrations happening. There are also many Xmas treats at hand – We’ve had to implement […]

I was recently asked to write a blog about my experience at Bonnie’s… It’s Tuesday early evening. I’m sitting behind the quiet of my computer after everyone has left the building. As I do so, I begin to wonder if any of the women who had excitedly camped on the floor to ‘occupy’ the first […]

I was standing in Bonnie’s kitchen during our Halloween celebration and I was asked if the party pies were Halal? They were. Then someone asked me, ‘What is Halal?’. I didn’t really know what to answer. So I did some research. I was surprised to learn that Halal holds more meaning than just to describe […]

Untested and unsafe medical implants have caused women to suffer, causing many complications and chronic pain. Women fitted with contraceptive devices, mesh implants and breast implants, have come out in force against pharmaceutical companies by organising a class-action lawsuit against them. These companies have often marketed these devices with very little checks and approvals. At […]

“They’re only children, they don’t understand” or, “They weren’t hit” is often said by parents, carers and members of the community. But research shows that the impact of domestic violence on children is real and can be detrimental to their growth and development. The younger the child, the more impact they absorb. Children do not need to be […]

Young people are fearless, dynamic and self-confident. They are filled with hope, ideas and aren’t afraid to ask the hard questions. They have become problem solvers and have increased the momentum to generate a positive social change across the world. The number of young people across the world who are pushing for change, pushing for […]

It came as a surprise to me, that my four-year-old came home the other day from her childcare, performing an acknowledgement of country. She proudly recited the words off by heart. She then proceeded to tell me that they acknowledge country every day at her childcare. It gives me hope to hear some of our […]

Bonnie’s new partnership with the Women’s Legal Service comes after 5 years of wrangling to find the resources to make it happen. It means that we are now lucky enough to have weekly visits from one of their feisty and fabulous lawyers, Katrina Ironside. Katrina comes every Thursday to Bonnies to support our clients and […]