Supporting Survivors: A Complex Legal Journey
At Jannawi Family Centre, we are committed to supporting families facing complex and often deeply traumatic circumstances. Our work extends beyond crisis response — we walk alongside families through long-term challenges, ensuring they receive consistent, ethical, and trauma-informed advocacy when it matters most.
More than a decade ago, Jannawi supported a family who arrived in Australia seeking asylum after experiencing government persecution in their home country. As newly arrived refugees with limited English and little understanding of Australian systems, the parents faced overwhelming barriers.
During this time, a misunderstanding led the parents to believe that choosing homelessness would result in access to housing support. Instead, their four children were removed. This was a devastating experience for the family. Through close collaboration with the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ), Jannawi supported the parents to navigate the child protection system, and within months the children were successfully restored to their parents’ care.
Years later, the family’s story has taken another difficult and distressing turn. The mother has disclosed a history of sexual violence perpetrated by the father. He has since been charged and remains in custody awaiting trial.
As part of the legal proceedings, the defence has subpoenaed Jannawi’s historical records and requested testimony from Jim, who was the family’s counsellor at the time of their initial involvement with our service.
Jim has spoken with both the prosecution and the defence, providing important professional context regarding delayed disclosure. At the time of Jannawi’s original involvement, the mother’s primary focus was the return of her children following their removal. The distress and fear associated with that experience meant disclosure may not have felt safe or possible.
As a newly arrived refugee with no English, minimal support, and limited understanding of Australian legal and service systems, the mother faced significant barriers to speaking out. Her experience highlights the complex realities many survivors face — particularly when safety, child protection, migration stress, and trauma intersect.
During this process, it also became apparent that the father expected Jannawi to provide a character reference on his behalf. This request was firmly declined. Jannawi does not provide character references in legal matters, and we remain clear and consistent in upholding ethical, survivor-centred practice.
Jim is scheduled to give evidence in the coming days, and we will continue to provide updates as the legal process unfolds.
This case underscores the importance of understanding delayed disclosure, recognising the systemic challenges survivors face, and ensuring that legal processes are informed by trauma-aware perspectives. It also highlights the vital role of community organisations in advocating ethically and responsibly, even years after initial involvement.
At Jannawi Family Centre, we remain unwavering in our commitment to protecting and supporting those who need it most — with care, integrity, and respect.
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