A Short-Term Intervention Creating Long-Term Change

This story reflects a short-term intervention that supported a mother and her young child to move away from family violence into safety.

The mother, caring for her two-year-old child, had recently experienced severe family violence resulting in significant physical and emotional harm, including a miscarriage. The violence was ongoing and escalating, creating serious and immediate risks for both mother and child.

Following a crisis response, a Jannawi Family Counsellor worked closely with the mother over seven weeks. Due to safety concerns and the controlling behaviour of the partner, the mother’s access to communication was restricted, including her phone being taken. Contact was therefore only possible when she was able to safely initiate it.

To maintain engagement while ensuring safety, the counsellor arranged discreet weekly meetings in locations where the mother would not be seen or placed at further risk. These sessions became a critical point of connection, offering practical support and emotional containment for both mother and child.

Throughout this period, the mother did not wish to involve police. Jannawi respected her autonomy while continuing to provide clear information about risks, safety options, and the impact of violence on children. The team also maintained communication with child protection services following a Reportable Risk of Significant Harm (ROSH), ensuring coordinated oversight.

A key part of the work involved gently exploring the gap between the mother’s hopes for the relationship and the reality of her lived experience, while also helping her recognise the impact of violence on her child, who was showing signs of trauma-related distress.

When the mother planned an interstate family visit, the counsellor supported her to explore this as a potential pathway to safety and permanent relocation. Together, they developed a safe exit plan, including access to a Centrelink crisis payment, removalist support, and strategies for leaving safely and discreetly.

Once the mother relocated, she was supported to connect with local services, ensuring continuity of care and reducing isolation during transition.

This intervention demonstrates that even within a short timeframe, flexible, consistent, and safety-focused practice can create meaningful change. Safety is rarely achieved in one step; it is built through small, careful decisions made alongside families.

In this case, those steps supported a mother and child to move from crisis into safety and stability.