Content warning: domestic abuse and violence. 

Domestic abuse is not just something that happens to other people—it is the story of all of us. But before we can fix it, we need to see it for what it really is. We have to understand The Trap.

Features: social workers from the Brisbane Domestic Violence Service, Geraldine Bilston, Dr Torna Pitman, Dr Janja Lalich, Karina Hogan, Lisa Aronson Fontes, and a number of victim-survivors whose identities are protected. 

Content warning: domestic abuse and violence. 

Nothing is quite as intoxicating as first love—and it’s in these early relationships where patterns of abuse often begin.⁠

Features: Chanel Contos, Maree Crabbe, Richie Hardcore, and a number of victim-survivors whose identities are protected. ⁠

Content warning: domestic abuse and violence

How does a boy go from being loving and compassionate, to cruel and controlling? And is it possible for abusers to change?

This episode features real-time audio of abuse that may be especially distressing to some listeners. This audio starts at 14:57 and ends at 19:12 should you wish to skip through it.

Features: David Nugent, Maggie Woodhead, Phil Jones, Terry Real and a number of victim-survivors whose identities are protected.

Content warning: domestic abuse and violence

It’s one of the most misunderstood questions around domestic abuse—why don’t they just leave? The answer goes to the heart of the problem of the trap.

Features: Kay Schubach, CB Mako, Dr Karen Williams, Russ Vickery, Geraldine Bilston, workers from Safe Steps (Victoria’s statewide family violence helpline), and a number of victim-survivors whose identities are protected.

Content warning: domestic abuse and violence

What actually happens when victim-survivors report to the police? Do they receive the help and protection they need, or something else entirely?

Features: Karina Hogan, Frank Caridi, Chloe McCardel, Paula Smith, and a number of victim-survivors whose identities are protected.

Content warning: domestic abuse and violence

When domestic abuse is perpetrated by the police themselves, how do we hold them to account?

Features: Mark Wynne, Paula Smith, Alex Roslin, Frank Caridi and a number of victim-survivors whose identities are protected.

Content warning: domestic abuse, violence and child sexual abuse

Domestic abuse isn’t only caused by individuals—it’s embedded in and sustained by our public systems too.

Features: Ruth Stearns Mandel, David Mandel, Susan Lackner, Grant Wyeth and a number of victim-survivors whose identities are protected.

Content warning: domestic abuse and violence

Domestic abuse relies on situations of power-over, rather than power-with—and that way of thinking permeates every aspect of our culture, from our homes to the halls of Parliament.

Features: Mary Crooks, Bob Pease, Russ Vickery, June Oscar and Dr Mary Graham.

Content warning: domestic abuse and violence

We know what domestic abuse is and where it lives—so what power do we all have to end the trap?

Features: Mary Crooks, Chanel Contos, Terry Real, Peter Robinson, Joplin Higgins, Kim O’Reilly, Carmel O’Brien

Content warning: domestic abuse, violence, sexual harassment

What role might we play—in our workplaces, public institutions and political systems—to free ourselves, and those we love, from the trap?

Features: Christine Nixon, Marcia Neave, David Martin, Kathleen Foley, Phil Cleary, Josh Bornstein