In this episode, survivor Janine Rees from Brisbane (AU), shares her harrowing story of living with and leaving an abusive partner after 3 decades of abuse. This episode includes details of sexual violence, domestic violence, and other forms of abuse.
For 30 years Janine Rees endured unspeakable abuse from her partner. Her journey is an odyssey of experiences and emotions that many survivors will find familiar - physical violence, marital rape, manipulation, fear, self-blame, denial, depression, escalating abuse, and so on. Upon leaving her partner following a near-death situation, the abuse continued with coercive control, gaslighting, financial abuse, and weaponizing the courts against her. Today, Janine shares her story publicly and campaigns widely to expose violence against women, the shortcomings of the justice system, and the failures of family courts in Australia, in an effort to support survivors and create meaningful, lasting change.
In her own words: About Janine Rees
I am committed to ending coercive control and abuse. We must hold perpetrators accountable for choosing to abuse. We must rebuild systems to be survivor-centric.
In order to nurture and support safe communities we must understand healthy and unhealthy behaviour through respectful relationships. This starts in the home, continues in schools, sporting and community groups and work places.
Respectful relationships built on equality and compassion are the basis for safe homes and communities. Systems of power over and oppression have been the norm. Patriarchal abuse can end and be replaced with a society built on true equality.
I am an expert by experience/lived experience advocate for changing outcomes for victim survivors of coercive control, post separation and systems abuse.
I facilitate workshops to empower individuals to identify their values and unique strengths, know their worth and develop strong interpersonal skills.
I am solution focused and future minded. I love supporting individuals, families, schools, sporting/community groups and organisations to nurture and support positive, respectful relationships where everyone thrives. True equality sets the scene for collaboration, innovation and transformation.
I love a challenge and making the seemingly impossible possible, working towards a safer, fairer, and more equitable world for all.