Margaret* knew violence from a young age. As a child, she witnessed her mother suffer constant physical and verbal abuse. It was all she knew, and to her, it seemed normal. How could a child understand that this volatile environment wasn’t what other families experienced?

That early trauma followed her into adulthood. Without ever seeing what a healthy relationship looked like, Margaret entered a series of abusive partnerships. Having never learned constructive ways to resolve conflict, she sometimes responded with violence herself, behaviour that ultimately led to her arrest and a custodial sentence for assault.

When Margaret was released, her future felt uncertain. Anxiety and unresolved childhood trauma began to surface. It was through her Parole Officer that she first heard about the Women’s Justice Network (WJN) and its Mentoring Program. “I didn’t know what to expect. I felt scared, but my caseworker listened and was so kind to me,” she recalls.

After being matched with a mentor, Margaret began meeting regularly. Those catch-ups became a turning point. She started to gain confidence, learnt new coping strategies, and engaged in therapy for the first time, where she was diagnosed with PTSD. 

With WJN’s support, Margaret secured permanent housing and built a life with strength, dignity, and free from violence. Today, she lives in a safe and stable home, continues her regular catch-ups with her mentor, whom she now considers a trusted friend.