Centring First Nations Women in Their Own Safety, They Don't Just Survive They Thrive
Tracks
Ballroom 2: In-Person Only
| Tuesday, November 24, 2026 |
| 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM |
| Ballroom 2 |
Overview
Jacqualine Elwell, First Nations Lived Experience Advocate
Three Key Learnings
1. Cultural safety must be at the centre of support systems
People are more likely to seek help and stay connected to services when they feel respected, understood and culturally safe. Effective pathways to safety are built through trust, relationships and community-led approaches.
2. Safety looks different for everyone
There is no single pathway out of family and domestic violence. Each person’s experience, needs and circumstances are unique, and responses must be flexible, trauma-informed and guided by the individual’s voice and choice.
3. Collaboration creates stronger outcomes
Meaningful partnerships between community, frontline services, government and lived-experience advocates help remove barriers and create clearer, more accessible pathways to support, healing and long-term safety.
Speaker
Ms Jacqualine Elwell
Self
First Nations Lived Experience Advocate
Centring First Nations women in their own safety, they dont just survive they thrive
Presentation Overview
Pathways to safety are not always straightforward, especially for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, families and communities. Safety is more than leaving violence — it is being able to access support without fear, shame, judgement or further harm. For many of our people, the systems designed to protect us can also feel overwhelming, culturally unsafe or disconnected from our realities and lived experiences.
Real pathways to safety must be built on trust, culture, community and connection. They need to recognise the impacts of intergenerational trauma, colonisation and systemic disadvantage, while also acknowledging the incredible strength and resilience that exists within our families and communities. Too often, people experiencing family and domestic violence are expected to navigate complicated systems while already in crisis. We need responses that are simpler, more compassionate and led by genuine understanding.
A culturally safe approach means listening to community voices, valuing lived experience and ensuring services are designed with us, not for us. It means creating spaces where people feel seen, heard and respected. It also means recognising that healing and safety can look different for everyone. Sometimes safety starts with one trusted conversation, one person believing you, or one service taking the time to walk beside you rather than directing from a distance.
Strong collaboration between community organisations, government services, frontline workers and lived experience advocates is essential. When people work together with respect and accountability, pathways become clearer and more accessible.
Safety is not just the absence of violence. Safety is dignity, connection, healing and hope. Our responsibility is to ensure every person, regardless of their circumstances, can access support that empowers them to move forward safely and with strength.
Real pathways to safety must be built on trust, culture, community and connection. They need to recognise the impacts of intergenerational trauma, colonisation and systemic disadvantage, while also acknowledging the incredible strength and resilience that exists within our families and communities. Too often, people experiencing family and domestic violence are expected to navigate complicated systems while already in crisis. We need responses that are simpler, more compassionate and led by genuine understanding.
A culturally safe approach means listening to community voices, valuing lived experience and ensuring services are designed with us, not for us. It means creating spaces where people feel seen, heard and respected. It also means recognising that healing and safety can look different for everyone. Sometimes safety starts with one trusted conversation, one person believing you, or one service taking the time to walk beside you rather than directing from a distance.
Strong collaboration between community organisations, government services, frontline workers and lived experience advocates is essential. When people work together with respect and accountability, pathways become clearer and more accessible.
Safety is not just the absence of violence. Safety is dignity, connection, healing and hope. Our responsibility is to ensure every person, regardless of their circumstances, can access support that empowers them to move forward safely and with strength.
Biography
Jacqui Elwell is an Aboriginal advocate, speaker and emerging leader who brings lived experience, cultural strength and a deep commitment to community into every space she enters. Over the past five years, she has contributed to conversations across leadership, family and domestic violence awareness, cultural safety, resilience, Indigenous workforce wellbeing and community empowerment.
Drawing on both professional and personal experience, Jacqui speaks with honesty and authenticity about the importance of identity, healing, strong families and creating safer systems for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Her work and advocacy also extend Country, water and Indigenous-led approaches community and environmental wellbeing.
