Client Impact Story: Sarah’s Role in Turning Crisis into Stability
Support Worker Sarah has played a critical role in helping two women, Jackie and Abby, navigate the complex systems and emotional aftermath of domestic and family violence. Jackie, who was homeless following hospitalisation and years of abuse, found herself sleeping on a friend’s couch with no clear path forward. Sarah stepped in to accompany her to Legal Aid for divorce proceedings, secured a temporary shelter placement through Bridge Housing, and supported multiple applications for a citizenship certificate (which had been taken by her perpetrator) and safe housing. These actions were instrumental in providing Jackie with not only physical safety but also the legal and financial foundation for rebuilding her life.
In Abby’s case, Sarah responded to an emergency intervention scenario involving a coercive control environment. When Abby fled her home with two children, leaving her teenage son in the care of the perpetrator, Sarah led extensive safety planning and coordinated immediate access to Centrelink support streams. The situation highlighted significant service gaps—such as the challenges shelters face in housing boys over 12—and Sarah worked quickly to establish alternative solutions. She also ensured the family received trauma-informed support and legal protections, including a mediation exemption to prevent forced contact with the perpetrator.
Both clients were facing overwhelming trauma and were deeply entangled in bureaucratic systems that often overlook the realities of DFV survivors. Sarah’s understanding of these systemic barriers enabled her to provide warm handovers, emergency shelter referrals, and thorough case histories that reduced the need for clients to repeatedly retell their stories. Her coordination with agencies like Bridge Housing, Centrelink, DCJ, and psychological services ensured wraparound care. Sarah’s work illustrates the necessity of skilled case workers who not only meet immediate needs but also provide a lifeline to long-term recovery, safety, and dignity for women and children escaping violence.
