Jodie Belyea (Dunkley, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

This morning I sat in the chamber and listened to Minister Plibersek's announcement about the inquiry into domestic, family and sexual violence related suicide. As she spoke, my lived experience of domestic violence, stalking and predatory behaviour quickly rose to surface. It triggered memories of a time in my 20s when I contemplated suicide in order to flee the fear associated with domestic violence—violence that had me trapped mentally and physically because of stalking and violent behaviour requiring me to move residence five times. At that time talking about domestic or family violence was taboo. There were limited services. The shame of this experience meant that I kept it in the closet. My lived experience informed my career with Family Life and Anglicare in Victoria, working in the family violence sector and then founding the Women's Spirit Project.

The Women's Spirit Project supports women dealing with trauma to recover and heal. I welcome this inquiry and use my voice and my lived experience to highlight the importance of recovery programs for women, men, young people and children—programs that enable victims to survive and thrive and not choose suicide as an option.

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