This is a series about love, abuse and power. Hosted by Jess Hill, this podcast looks deeply at abuse that happens in private, and in public, searching the world for answers to the questions that continue to confound us. Why does domestic abuse persist? Why do people become abusive? And what can we do to prevent it? From the Victorian Women’s Trust, this is The Trap.
The Trap is a harm prevention podcast, created by the Dugdale Trust for Women & Girls (of which the Victorian Women’s Trust is Trustee). This project has been made possible thanks to the support of donors. Special thanks to the Phyllis Connor Memorial Trust of Equity Trustees Limited, Jo Baevski, a private donor, and The Bokhara Foundation.
We are indebted to everyone who courageously shared their stories and wisdom with us. Thank you all.
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Content warning: domestic abuse and violence.
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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.
Follow along with this podcast by downloading some resources that Jess Hill discusses and recommends.
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.
Follow along with this podcast by downloading some resources that Jess Hill discusses and recommends.
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.
Follow along with this podcast by downloading some resources that Jess Hill discusses and recommends.
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.
Follow along with this podcast by downloading some resources that Jess Hill discusses and recommends.
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.
Follow along with this podcast by downloading some resources that Jess Hill discusses and recommends.
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.
Follow along with this podcast by downloading some resources that Jess Hill discusses and recommends.
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.
Follow along with this podcast by downloading some resources that Jess Hill discusses and recommends.
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
Follow along with this podcast by downloading some resources that Jess Hill discusses and recommends.