For Her With Her

In this episode of For Her, With Her, we sit down with Barrister Clare Dart to explore the complexities of parenting after separation. Practising in family law, child protection, and domestic violence since 1997, Clare unpacks the key legal pathways for parenting arrangements, including recent amendments to the Family Law Act. We also debunk common myths, like the belief in a ‘magic age’ where children can decide, or that equal tim...

In this episode of For Her, With Her, we chat with Monique Dam, CEO of Lucy’s Project, to explore the link between domestic and family violence and animal abuse. Monique explains how perpetrators use threats or harm to animals as a tool of control, preventing victim-survivors seeking safety. We explore the barriers that make it harder for women to escape violence with their animals and the growing movement to make shelters, refuges...

In this episode of For Her, With Her, we talk to Michelle Royes, Interim CEO of DVConnect, to explore the realities of separation and safety for women experiencing domestic and family violence. Michelle explains why separation is often the most dangerous time and why leaving isn’t always the safest option for everyone. We unpack why statements like 'why doesn’t she just leave?' can do more harm than good, and why we need to reframe...

In this episode of For Her, With Her, we’re joined by Buffy Kerekes and Ersi Scarman from The Zahra Foundation to shine a light on financial abuse. One of the most common yet least understood forms of domestic and family violence, Buffy and Ersi share common experiences they hear from the women they work with, exposing how financial abuse can trap survivors and continue long after a relationship ends. We discuss the systemic barrie...

In this episode of For Her, With Her, we are joined by Vanessa Burn, Head of the Migration Law Practice at Women's Legal Centre ACT, to explore how domestic and family violence intersects with Australia's migration system. Vanessa shares how women on temporary visas are particularly vulnerable to coercive control and manipulation, often fearing deportation or losing their children if they seek help. We unpack myths around migration...

In this episode of For Her, With Her, we are joined by Penney Ferguson, CEO of the First Nations Women's Legal Service Queensland (FNWLSQ), to discuss the unique challenges First Nations women face when experiencing domestic and family violence. Penney shares her own story and the experiences of her community, highlighting how systemic discrimination, racism, and geographical isolation can create additional barriers to safety and j...

In this episode of For Her, With Her, we speak with Dr Freya McLachlan, research fellow at Griffith University’s ARC Centre for Excellence for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Drawing on her research on Intimate Partner Femicide, Dr McLachlan unpacks the issue of tech-facilitated abuse, explaining how technology like smartphones, social media, smart home devices and financial platforms, can be weaponised by perpetrators t...

In this episode of For Her, With Her, we chat with Inspector Mel Dwyer from the Queensland Police Service to talk about how police and the legal system are responding to domestic and family violence. Inspector Dwyer shares her journey from young police officer to specialist in DFV prevention, and new initiatives like specialist DV units, safe spaces in police stations, and the upcoming changes to coercive control laws, making it a ...

In our first ever episode of For Her, With Her, we sit down with Vanessa Fowler OAM, Chair of the Allison Baden-Clay Foundation, to talk about recognising the early signs of domestic and family violence,  including the hidden patterns of coercive control. Vanessa shares her family’s story after the tragic loss of her sister Allison,  how they've turned their grief into a mission to drive change through education and community aware...

Welcome to For Her, With Her, a podcast by Women’s Legal Service Queensland.

This series is for women seeking clarity, support, and strength while navigating domestic and family violence, the legal system, and the path to safety and independence. Each episode brings together voices from the frontlines—solicitors, social workers, advocates, and women with lived experience—breaking down com...