Breaking the cycle of domestic and family violence, together.
Breaking the cycle of
domestic and family
violence, together.
Who we are
Strong Women Talking is a grass roots movement of First Nations sisters and aunties who are passionate about breaking the cycle of family and domestic violence through women’s support groups for domestic violence survivors. We provide First Nations domestic violence support through creating a culturally safe space to educate, equip and empower one another, to walk in our dreams for the future.
PARTNERING & SUPPORTED BY:
How we support First Nations women, children and families
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Domestic Violence Support
We work collaboratively with and provide support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.
Through our services and women’s domestic violence support group network, our mission is to educate, equip and empower First Nations’ Women to take control of their lives and heal from past trauma.
We achieve this through:
Safety Planning:
Our team helps women create safety plans to protect themselves and their families from further violence.
Advocacy:
We advocate for the rights of First Nations’ women and work towards systemic change to address the root causes of family violence.
Cultural Support:
Our programs are grounded in culture, providing a safe space for women to connect with their identity, spirituality and community.
Safety Planning:
Our team helps women create safety plans to protect themselves and their families from further violence.
Advocacy:
We advocate for the rights of First Nations’ women and work towards systemic change to address the root causes of family violence.
Cultural Support:
Our programs are grounded in culture, providing a safe space for women to connect with their identity, spirituality and community.
Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention, Support & Education Programs
Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention,
Support & Education Programs
Our Core Mission
EDUCATING
Women about the different forms of abuse and the cycle of violence. We believe education is the key to preventing cycles of violence for future generations.
EQUIPPING
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women with new coping mechanisms and tools to be able to heal from trauma.
EMPOWERING
Women to come into a deep revelation of self worth and self love. Having a strong sense of belonging and identity to be able to live out their dreams and destinies.
“We are honoured to walk with our sisters, in their strength, wisdom and cultural knowledge and see the resilience of our old people, our Elders and matriarchs shine through us”
ABORIGINAL WOMEN AGAINST VIOLENCE
Bio & Words From Our Founder
“Aunties and Elders provide wisdom, guidance and support. Strong connections to Culture, Country and Community grounds our work creating safe, culturally appropriate spaces for women to heal, learn and grow.
It’s a great feeling when you’re surrounded by the sisterhood of First Nations’ women and aunties to help you on your healing journey, who believe in you.
We love the work we do, we love our sisters in the community and we love the vision to educate, equip and empower our families to see our communities living free from the cycle of violence.”
~ Sono Leone-Weatherall
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR
Culturally Safe Education & Confidential Support Services
Healing Journey
Our 8 week program is tailored for First Nations women over 18 years who have experienced Family & Domestic Violence. Workshops are designed to be delivered in a culturally safe setting to empower women to be able to speak openly with experienced Facilitators and Elders. Workshops are trauma informed and also incorporate an Aboriginal cultural framework.
Elders Connect
The Elders Connect program provides ongoing support to women who are isolated from their families and communities. Led by First Nations female Elders, this unique initiative creates a culturally-safe space where women feel valued, respected, and cared for. By maintaining relationships with graduates of the Healing Journey, Elders Connect helps women continue breaking the cycle of violence and reduces the likelihood of returning to violent relationships. Key themes include mutual kinship, community connection, and reinforcing self-worth.
Sisters Connect
Upon graduating from the Healing Journey, women can join our fortnightly Sisters Connect support groups in Brisbane . This program aims to empower First Nations women by fostering personal growth and community connection through workshops and group sessions focused on skills development, emotional well-being, and cultural revitalisation. Participants gain valuable tools, share their stories, and engage in activities that strengthen their sense of identity and belonging. Sisters Connect promotes sisterhood and mutual support, helping women build confidence, resilience, and the capacity to lead positive change within their families and communities.
Cultural Capability Building
Strong Women Talking’s Education and Engagement Team offers tailored Cultural Capability training to build capacity in the DFSV and Human Service Sector.This training is in line with Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) Standards under Principle 5—Ensuring that services are culturally safe for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and aims for Staff to recognise their own cultural biases and seek to understand the lived experience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in dealing with domestic and family violence. Staff will maintain and build their cultural competency and ensure respectful relationships and culturally safe practice through training recognising the diverse nature of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.By educating service providers on cultural practices, we ensure better outcomes for First Nations women accessing mainstream services.
Domestic & Family Violence Consultation
Strong Women Talking offers customised domestic and family violence consultation tailored to your organisation’s needs, including dedicated one-on-one sessions with Founder and CEO, Sono Leone-Weatherall. We provide culturally-specific advice on DFV policies and raise awareness to ensure your service providers understand and implement cultural safety practices. By partnering with us, you can address systemic racism and power inequalities affecting Aboriginal families, Torres Strait Islander families and communities. Together, we can tackle the drivers of violence against First Nation women and children and support culturally-safe, community-led solutions.
Counselling Support
We partner with qualified First Nations specialists to offer a culturally safe outlet in the form of Cultural Supervision, Counselling and Narrative Therapy.
Guest Speaking
CEO Sono Leone-Weatherall, with over 10 years of experience in the prevention of domestic and family violence (DFV), is available as a keynote or guest speaker for your conference or forum. As a proud survivor advocate, she founded Queensland’s first First Nations gendered DFV prevention organisation – Strong Women Talking, and developed the Healing Journey Workshop. Sono also served as an Advisory Group Member for Our Watch’s “Changing The Picture,” a national resource supporting the prevention of violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children. Her extensive experience in leadership, c ommunity development, and governance makes her a highly sought-after national speaker.
Our Support Location:
We are based in Brisbane.
We are able to provide services outside of Brisbane. If you would like to find out more please call us on (07) 3292 3500.
Understanding the Complexities
of Domestic and Family Violence
Family violence is a complex issue that affects individuals, families and communities from all backgrounds. However, for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities, there are specific factors that contribute to the prevalence of First Nations’ people experiencing family violence. These include intergenerational trauma caused by colonisation, ongoing systemic discrimination and racism, and social inequalities such as poverty and inadequate access to services.