Beyond Crisis Response: Supporting Long-Term Recovery and Thriving After Family Violence
Tracks
Ballroom 4: In-Person Only
| Wednesday, November 25, 2026 |
| 9:45 AM - 10:05 AM |
Overview
Marie Mcleod, Thrive Ability
Three Key Learnings
1. Recovery from family violence requires more than crisis stabilisation and safety planning; victim-survivors also benefit from strengths-based approaches that rebuild wellbeing, connection, confidence, hope, and agency over time.
2. Group-based wellbeing education grounded in trauma-informed practice, positive psychology, and neuroscience can complement traditional case management by strengthening protective factors, reducing isolation, and supporting sustainable recovery.
3. Community and health services have an opportunity to embed innovative, evidence-based recovery approaches that build long-term wellbeing capability for both clients and the workforce, while supporting more sustainable and connected service systems
Speaker
Ms Marie Mcleod
Director
Thrive Ability
Beyond Crisis Response: Supporting Long-Term Recovery and Thriving After Family Violence
Presentation Overview
Family violence has profound and long-lasting impacts on mental health, identity, connection, confidence, and hope. While crisis response and case management are essential, many victim-survivors continue to experience trauma, isolation, reduced self-worth, and uncertainty about the future long after immediate safety has been established. Services also face the challenge of supporting women to transition from intensive support into sustainable recovery without increasing dependence on already stretched systems.
This presentation explores an innovative partnership between GenWest and Thrive Ability, piloting a strengths-based wellbeing education program designed to complement family violence case management and support longer-term recovery.
Grounded in positive psychology, neuroscience, and wellbeing science, the program uses the BEACON framework (Belonging, Engagement, Accountability, Compassion, Optimism and Nurture) to help women rebuild confidence, connection, agency, and hope. Delivered in a psychologically safe group setting, the program integrates reflective discussion, nervous system regulation practices, strengths-based activities, self-compassion, boundary setting, and practical wellbeing strategies.
The program aims to bridge a critical gap between crisis stabilisation and sustainable recovery by providing structured peer connection, wellbeing literacy, and practical recovery tools that women can use beyond formal case management. Importantly, the approach recognises victim-survivors not only through the lens of trauma, but also through their strengths, capabilities, and capacity for growth and healing.
The presentation will include participant stories and reflections, alongside evaluation findings from Central Queensland University examining the program’s impact on wellbeing, confidence, connection, hope, and recovery. It will also explore broader implications for family violence and community health sectors, including opportunities for earlier intervention, recovery-oriented practice, workforce capability building, and strengths-based approaches that complement existing trauma-informed and crisis response models. It will also interrogate challenges in the pilot, reflecting on
questions relating to: the timing of recovery support; navigating competing practice approaches across frameworks; striking the balance between human connection and professional boundaries.
This presentation explores an innovative partnership between GenWest and Thrive Ability, piloting a strengths-based wellbeing education program designed to complement family violence case management and support longer-term recovery.
Grounded in positive psychology, neuroscience, and wellbeing science, the program uses the BEACON framework (Belonging, Engagement, Accountability, Compassion, Optimism and Nurture) to help women rebuild confidence, connection, agency, and hope. Delivered in a psychologically safe group setting, the program integrates reflective discussion, nervous system regulation practices, strengths-based activities, self-compassion, boundary setting, and practical wellbeing strategies.
The program aims to bridge a critical gap between crisis stabilisation and sustainable recovery by providing structured peer connection, wellbeing literacy, and practical recovery tools that women can use beyond formal case management. Importantly, the approach recognises victim-survivors not only through the lens of trauma, but also through their strengths, capabilities, and capacity for growth and healing.
The presentation will include participant stories and reflections, alongside evaluation findings from Central Queensland University examining the program’s impact on wellbeing, confidence, connection, hope, and recovery. It will also explore broader implications for family violence and community health sectors, including opportunities for earlier intervention, recovery-oriented practice, workforce capability building, and strengths-based approaches that complement existing trauma-informed and crisis response models. It will also interrogate challenges in the pilot, reflecting on
questions relating to: the timing of recovery support; navigating competing practice approaches across frameworks; striking the balance between human connection and professional boundaries.
Biography
Marie McLeod is a global leader in human thriving, a Positive Psychotherapist, and the founder of ThriveAbility.
With over 25 years’ experience across social work, education, and positive psychology, she has worked with individuals, teams, and organisations to create lasting change.
Marie is best known as the central expert in the acclaimed documentary How to Thrive, and as the creator of the BEACON framework - a practical approach that builds wellbeing literacy.
She’s renowned for translating complex wellbeing science into simple, everyday tools, and her warm, down-to-earth style that creates safe, engaging spaces where people can grow, learn, and thrive.
