108 Bargara Rd
Bundaberg East, Qld, 4670
Developed by psychologist Ursula Benstead, the Shark Cage program continues to support women healing from domestic violence and sexual abuse, with IMPACT Community Services’ Positive Start team recently facilitating the third round of the program for 10 local participants.
Through guided discussions and creative activities, Shark Cage supports women who have experienced childhood or adulthood abuse to rebuild their self-worth and develop emotional strength in a safe, supportive environment.
Facilitators Cat Pjevac and Kayla Wylie completed specialist training in the Shark Cage framework before commencing local facilitation of the program in July.
Cat said the program teaches women about healthy relationships, helping them recognise early signs of an abuser and break negative cycles.
“It's not only for their personal relationships with men,” Cat said.
“It’s also about family members and friendships and learning to understand what boundaries they need to put in place to keep themselves and their children safe.”
Over six weeks, participants created a mural filled with symbolic sea creatures and objects, using sharks to represent abusers, dolphins for friends, fish for themselves, treasure chests for self‑care, and seaweed for their rights and protections. They wrote on each symbol to express their feelings, identify ways to care for themselves, and define the rights that keep them safe.
Harmony, who finished the program earlier this month, has been on a journey of self-discovery since going through domestic violence with her children. The Shark Cage program has recharged her batteries and inspired her as she reinvents herself and creates a brighter future for her family.
Harmony stated, “I find it really empowering. All the issues bring you down, but being in an environment like this helps.
“Being around people who have gone through the same type of things makes you feel like you’re not alone and you’re not crazy,” she said.
Harmony’s no stranger to IMPACT, having been engaged on and off with the organisation since she was pregnant with her three year old. The team is currently helping Harmony regain her licence and boost her work-readiness, goals she hopes to fulfil before her youngest child starts school.
Tallara, who finished the program alongside Harmony, also has nothing but rave reviews of IMPACT and Shark Cage. While she was nervous before the program started, she’s come out the other side stronger.
Shark Cage has boosted her confidence, and she recommends the program to those in similar situations.
“I reckon this program is good for people that have experienced abuse and have no one to talk to or nowhere to go,” she said.
The entire group has come a long way, building friendships, healing from trauma and learning coping strategies that will support them into the future in all aspects of their life.
Cat said participants enjoyed Shark Cage so much that they didn’t want it to end, prompting facilitators to connect participants with PCYC’s Rise Up, Be Yourself (RUBY) physical fitness program as a way to maintain connection and wellbeing.
“They’re sort of sad that they finished the program because they’ve built some great friendships and they want to keep those going,” Cat said.
“We try to encourage them to go to the RUBY program so they can reconnect and have something else to look forward to.”
IMPACT Community Services facilitates Shark Cage locally twice a year, with the next round due to start on 14 July. To express your interest in joining, call 07 4153 4233 or complete the referral form on IMPACT’s website.
It’s an opportunity for women to let their guard down in a setting where their voices are heard, their experiences are understood and their feelings are validated.
"STRONGER TOGETHER" is a weekly column where Tanya explores key issues. This week Tanya discusses the crisis level of domestic and family violence in Bundaberg, highlighting the increasing reports and severity, while emphasising community efforts and hope for generational change.
By IMPACT Community Services Managing Director Tanya O'Shea
Each May, Queensland marks Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) Prevention Month to raise community awareness of DFV and to send a clear message that DFV in families and homes will not be tolerated. The tone of this week’s column is therefore a little more sombre than normal, as I use this opportunity to raise awareness of what is happening in our own backyard.
DFV in Bundaberg is at a crisis level, with year-on-year increases in the reporting of DFV incidents resulting in DFV being the number one call for police service in our region. The level of physical violence has escalated to a point not seen before, with every second job that police are called to now involving some form of DFV.
Take a moment and let that sink in. I guarantee that it won’t take you long to agree – these levels of violence in our community are unacceptable. The people in our community deserve better and we all have a role to play to create the change that is needed.
Because these are not just numbers; they represent real people in our community. Wives, husbands, children, girlfriends, boyfriends, grandparents, siblings, uncles, aunts, friends, neighbours—DFV knows no boundaries. It affects people from all walks of life, regardless of age, gender, or socioeconomic status.
The emotional toll on all involved is devastating, from the victim-survivors to their family, friends and work colleagues, the wider community, and police officers dealing with this day-in-day-out, shift after shift, week after week.
This DFV Prevention Month, I had the opportunity to sit down with Bundaberg Patrol Group Inspector Grantley Marcus as part of our Stronger Together podcast and find out more about his role as our local Chief Inspector and as the Chair of the Bundaberg DFV Free Community Working Group.
The current environment is filled with complexities and challenges that people are finding it increasingly difficult to navigate. According to Inspector Marcus, higher populations, rising cost of living stresses, homelessness, increased drug and alcohol use, and greater recognition and comfort of people reporting have all contributed to increased reports of DFV.
Yet, he also offered a beacon of hope.
DFV is becoming less of a private, personal issue behind closed doors. The community is now calling out that it's wrong, unacceptable, and must be stopped. Victim-survivors are finding the courage to report incidents, and there are more services available in community to support both victims and perpetrators.
Specialist police units, comprehensive training, close partnerships with community organisations, and the introduction of Safe Rooms—quiet, comfortable, and private spaces within stations—have helped police officers to better support victim-survivors in vulnerable situations with sensitivity and care.
The DFV Free Community Working group is a collaboration of local community members who are committed to creating a free from domestic and family violence. "It's bold...it's ambitious...[but] ultimately, that's what everybody wants...a safe community," said Inspector Marcus.
It's not going to happen this year, not even next year. It needs to be a generational change, much like previous campaigns to reduce skin cancer or tobacco use, but it's a start.
Because everyone deserves to feel safe at home. And because silence helps no one.
If you would like to listen to this episode of IMPACT’s Stronger Together podcast visit https://impact.org.au/podcast/
While reducing Domestic and Family Violence is not a simple nor easy feat in the Bundaberg community, there are numerous organisations and professionals working to do just that.
And now, there is a Bundaberg-specific framework which professionals can use to streamline language, principles, tools, and strengthen their network of organisations by Working Together.
IMPACT is proud to have collaborated with Family Law Pathways and the Family Relationship Centre to create the Working Together Commitment.
Having launched the framework during Domestic and Family Violence Prevention month at IMPACT, Intensive Family Support manager Staci Rae said this tool outlines the way our community aims to cooperate with each other, stay focused and communicate more effectively.
She said there were about 25-30 people from various professional background – social work, health, council, and childcare – who attended the launch.
“Collaboration is key to combating DFV in Bundaberg,” she said.
She said this commitment would work alongside the charter for children and young people’s wellbeing.
With high domestic violence rates in the community, Ms Rae said this framework is designed to support anyone who works with people in the community sector.
The recent launch provided an encouraging sign of dedication and hopefully reassurance for anyone who is experiencing or has experienced DFV, that they are not alone and there are people who can help.
For more information about the Working Together framework and how it could be integrated into your workplace, contact the Family Relationship Centre.
If you need help you can contact IMPACT’s IFS team on 4153 4233 between 8am and 5pm Monday to Thursday and 8am-4.30pm on Fridays.
Or phone one of the hotlines below if you need help now:
DV Connect: 1800 811 811
Edon Place: 4153 6820
Men’s Line: 1300 78 99 78
National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service 1800 737 732 (1800 RESPECT).
For all other domestic violence related matters, phone Policelink on 131 444, 24 hours, 7 days a week .
Child Safety Central Queensland Regional Intake Service (business hours): 1300 703 762
Child Safety (after hours): 1800 177 135
Family and Child Connect (FACC) 13 32 64 to share your concerns for families in your community.
Parentline: 1300 30 1300
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636
May is Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month – and at IMPACT Community Services support and prevention is something our Intensive Family Support team is dedicated to daily.
The IFS team provides support to families with children at risk of entering the Child Services system, families dealing with mental health and wellbeing matters, disability, child development, and issues with housing.
The majority of IFS clients have endured some form of Domestic and Family Violence, and someone who is on the frontline supporting the community is Family & Domestic Violence Specialist, case manager Sasha.
Sasha works with survivors, parents, children, perpetrators, police, and offers emotional support for people going through the court.
With experience working in this space in the United Kingdom, Sasha joined the IFS team in Bundaberg at the start of the year, bringing with her a wealth of expertise.
She said there were a lot of issues in the region and hopes more education about healthy relationships and boundaries could mean greater DFV prevention in the future.
Sasha said people need to be taught that hitting or abusing someone is not an appropriate way to get their point across.
She said people should also be aware of what stalking behaviour is.
As technology and social media creates a culture of sharing and accessibility, she said it can be difficult for some people to realise what stalking and controlling behaviour looks like.
When people are constantly sharing where they are, who they are with and what they are doing on social media, it may not be seen as controlling behaviour when a partner demands to know all this information; but it is.
Sasha said bullying and consent were two other major areas where education needed to be bolstered: understanding ‘no’, what is appropriate behaviour in a healthy relationship and personal boundaries are crucial to DFV prevention.
She said she would like to see the Love Bites educational program introduced in schools.
For anyone experiencing DFV, the IFS team wants to hear from you. They offer numerous support options to help anyone who may be experiencing or has experienced DFV.
One of the means of support is a survivor’s group which IMPACT runs with Churches of Christ, which focuses on psychoeducation, the effects of DFV, how to move forward, and safety planning.
Sasha also holds one-on-one education sessions for individuals who may be parents with learning disabilities and children who are dealing with the fall out.
The IFS team’s support has been likened to helping you ride a bike. They put the training wheels on and teach you how to ride; they take the wheels off and stand alongside you, supporting you until you’re ready to go off on your own – and they will be there should you ever need to come back.
To get in contact with IMPACT Community Services’ IFS team phone 4153 4233.
If you need help now – here are some useful hotlines:
Domestic Violence Services
DV Connect: 1800 811 811
Edon Place: 4153 6820
Men’s Line: 1300 78 99 78
National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service 1800 737 732 (1800 RESPECT).
How to report a DFV incident Visit Police Website, CLICK HERE or for all other domestic violence related matters, phone Policelink on 131 444, 24 hours, 7 days a week .
Family and child safety
Child Safety Central Queensland Regional Intake Service (business hours): 1300 703 762
Child Safety (after hours): 1800 177 135
Family and Child Connect (FACC) 13 32 64 to share your concerns for families in your community.
Parenting/mental health support
Parentline: 1300 30 1300
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636
When working with vulnerable people time truly is of the essence.
And one of the latest methods to ensure help arrives, fittingly, incorporates a watch.
IMPACT Community Services is collaborating with Hearts of Purple to deliver technology designed to support vulnerable people in the form of duress safety watches.
Staff working in IMPACT’s Intensive Family Support program will be kitted out with the watches for when they go into potentially dangerous environments to support families experiencing high-risk domestic family violence.
Unfortunately, DFV matters are not uncommon in the region.
More than 75% of IMPACT IFS families are being supported for current DFV or the impacts of DFV, and the rates of multiple and complex support needs for parents and children in the Bundaberg area have increased.
With local support service system under pressure, there are waitlists, delays, no housing options and DFV refuges are full.
The watches are also an option for clients who have been assessed as living in high-risk situations.
There are a range of features, such as monitoring and alarms connected to support services, which seek to improve safety.
Key collaboration
IMPACT’s IFS Manager Melissa Clarke said, “from a team perspective it’s about collaboration with Hearts of Purple around promoting women’s safety”.
“It's not only for the team but it’s increasing people’s safety and that direct access to the best technology,” Ms Clarke said.
“Sometimes we’re travelling four hours from Bundaberg and unless we’re in range, that’s the biggest thing, we could be walking into anything and everything in any single moment.”
The IFS team members have been exposed a number of times to not only violent situations, but those involving drugs, alcohol and other abusive situations.
Ms Clarke said they will order additional watches as needed.
While the watch is a great tool to get help, people still need to be hypervigilant and follow other security measures as the device itself is not necessarily going to save your life should violence occur.
For more information about IMPACT Community Service’s IFS program visit Home - Impact Community Services or call us on 4153 4233.
