The Sisterhood of the Travelling Wheelbarrow.

As part of our North Queensland Roadshow: Navigating DFV & Family Law, the team visited Cannonvale!

NQWLS delivered a workshop covering domestic violence orders (DVOs) including understanding the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012 (Qld), and the family law framework including an overview of the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth), focusing on the legal foundations for both property and parenting matters.

Thank you to everyone who attended and took the time to provide feedback and a special thanks for hosting us.

Keep an eye out for our next roadshow stop 📍

If you missed us this time, check out our DVO fact sheet series on our website www.nqwls.com.au/fact-sheets-other-resources

🔜Family Law Fact Sheet Series coming soon!

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Did you know coercive control is a criminal offence in Queensland?

This means it is illegal for an adult to use abusive behaviours to control, scare, isolate or dominate their current or former partner, a family member, or an unpaid carer.

These behaviours can be physical or non physical, including things like:
💸 Financial abuse
📱 Technology abuse
💔 Emotional abuse
📍 Stalking

If an adult intentionally uses these behaviours to control another person, they can face up to 14 years imprisonment.

If you're worried that you may be experiencing coercive control or know someone who may be experiencing it there are resources, help and support available.

For information on coercive control laws and support options visit https://www.qld.gov.au/community/getting-support-health-social-issue/support-victims-abuse/need-to-know/coercive-control/coercive-control-laws

[Image description: A graphic with a blue background with a header saying "Coercive control is a criminal offence in Queensland." There is more text saying "It is illegal for an adult to use abusive behaviours towards their current or former intimate partner, family member, or informal (unpaid) carer with the intention to control or coerce." There is an illustration of a man gesturing towards an upset woman sitting with her knees up to her chest.]

Pregnancy should be a time of care and safety - but for many women, it’s a period when intimate partner violence escalates.

A recent ABC News report highlights a confronting reality: abuse often increases during pregnancy and after birth, when women are at their most vulnerable.

What we need to understand:
➡️ Women are at higher risk of violence during pregnancy and postpartum
➡️ Abuse can intensify through control, jealousy, isolation, and financial restriction
➡️ 42% of women who experience partner violence report it during pregnancy
➡️ 17% say it began for the first time while they were pregnant.

The impacts are serious - for both mother and baby:
Premature birth, low birth weight, long-term health conditions, PTSD, anxiety, and depression are all linked to violence during pregnancy.

Abuse can look like control over movement, money, medical care, food, and even the pregnancy itself.

Many victim-survivors don’t recognise what’s happening at the time, or feel unable to disclose due to shame, fear, or pressure to “keep the family together.”

Read more: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06-10/why-pregnancy-is-a-time-of-increased-risk-for-domestic-violence/106757890
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic and family violence, support is available:
🚨In immediate danger? Call 000
📱DVConnect (24/7): 1800 811 811
📱1800RESPECT (24/7): 1800 737 732
📱13YARN (24/7): 13 92 76 (for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)

⚖️Free DFV legal help – WLSQ’s Statewide Helpline: 1800 957 957 (Mon–Fri 9 AM–4:30 PM)

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“They just sat back and let the cameras roll.”

As the most-watched show on Australian TV, Married at First Sight Australia (MAFS) this year reached more than 16 million viewers - or over half the population - making the concerns raised in this article impossible to ignore.

A report from The Guardian includes former contestants alleging coercive control, psychological abuse, isolation, and a lack of adequate safety while filming.

Allegations also include physical violence, non-consensual touching, and the casting of individuals with known domestic violence histories.

Some participants report lasting harm long after filming:
“Four years on… I am still suffering from PTSD, bullying and death threats.”

This is not just “reality TV drama”. It reflects domestic and family violence (DFV) dynamics - including coercive control, intimidation, and psychological abuse - being reportedly normalised on screen.

CEO Patty Kinnersly of Our Watch has also raised concerns about the show repeatedly depicting coercive control, misogyny and emotionally abusive behaviour.

DFV is not only physical. The impact is real and long-lasting.

Read the full article here: https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/jun/06/mafs-australia-stars-say-the-show-is-not-safe-for-contestants-they-just-sat-back-and-let-the-cameras-roll-ntwnfb?CMP=share_btn_url
If you need support:
🚨In immediate danger? Call 000
📱DVConnect (24/7): 1800 811 811
📱1800RESPECT (24/7): 1800 737 732
📱13YARN (24/7): 13 92 76 (for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)

⚖️Free DFV legal help – WLSQ’s Statewide Helpline: 1800 957 957 (Mon–Fri 9 AM–4:30 PM)

Every year, we reach out to local businesses for sponsorship, and every year we are overwhelmed by the generosity and support we receive.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being a Platinum sponsor for the 4th year. We look so amazing in our shirts and wear them with pride thank you.

The Cairns community is incredibly fortunate to have businesses like these that choose to give back with kindness, compassion, and a genuine commitment to helping others. Their support helps us raise vital funds for Ruth’s Women’s Shelter Cairns, providing safety, advocacy, and hope for vulnerable women and children when they need it most.

Every dollar donated makes a difference. Every sponsorship helps provide shelter, support, and a pathway to a safer future for women and families experiencing crisis.

Our little team simply could not achieve what we do without the incredible support of these businesses. They are a huge part of our fundraising success, and we are so grateful to have them standing alongside us.

We would love it if you could show them some support too. Please give them a follow, and the next time you need a product or service, remember their names and support the businesses that support our community. 💛

Thank you for helping us turn every kilometre into hope.

Every year, we reach out to local businesses for sponsorship, and every year we are overwhelmed by the generosity and support we receive.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being a Major sponsor for the 4th year. Lauren and the team Eakins Finance & Insurance are the absolute best!

The Cairns community is incredibly fortunate to have businesses like these that choose to give back with kindness, compassion, and a genuine commitment to helping others. Their support helps us raise vital funds for Ruth’s Women’s Shelter Cairns, providing safety, advocacy, and hope for vulnerable women and children when they need it most.

Every dollar donated makes a difference. Every sponsorship helps provide shelter, support, and a pathway to a safer future for women and families experiencing crisis.

Our little team simply could not achieve what we do without the incredible support of these businesses. They are a huge part of our fundraising success, and we are so grateful to have them standing alongside us.

We would love it if you could show them some support too. Please give them a follow, and the next time you need a product or service, remember their names and support the businesses that support our community. 💛

Thank you for helping us turn every kilometre into hope.

🏁 A massive thank you to Shell V-Power Racing for their incredible donation of a Hot Lap Experience at Ipswich!

This amazing prize became one of the highlights of our fundraising raffle and helped generate an incredible $2,000 in raffle ticket sales for Ruth’s Women’s Shelter Cairns.

Your generosity has gone far beyond donating a prize — it has directly contributed to raising vital funds that provide safety, support, advocacy, and hope for vulnerable women and children in our community.

On behalf of the Sisterhood of the Travelling Wheelbarrow team, we are truly grateful for your support. Partnerships like this show the power of community and the impact that businesses and organisations can make when they choose to give back.

Thank you for helping us turn every kilometre into hope and every raffle ticket into a chance to change lives.

If you love motorsport as much as we do, be sure to show your support for Shell V-Power Racing and follow their journey on and off the track. 🏎️💨

A huge thank you to all of the incredible businesses and individuals who donated prizes to our fundraising raffles this year.

Your generosity plays a vital role in helping us raise funds for Ruth’s Women’s Shelter Cairns and supports vulnerable women and children in our community when they need it most.

Every raffle prize donated helps us raise more money, create more opportunities for support, and make a real difference in the lives of those experiencing crisis. Your kindness and willingness to give back does not go unnoticed.

The Cairns community is so fortunate to have businesses like these that continually step up to support local causes with compassion, generosity, and community spirit.

From all of us at Sisterhood of the Travelling Wheelbarrow, thank you for standing beside us and helping us turn every kilometre into hope.

We encourage everyone to support the businesses that support our community. Please give them a follow, show them some love, and keep them in mind the next time you need a product or service. 💛

Together, we are making a difference.