Aboriginal women sharing their work: Conversations inside a women’s domestic and family violence shelter

Colonial systems and structures have influenced the lack of attention to, and documentation of, Aboriginal ways of responding to family and domestic violence. Detailed and contextualised data, and related theorising, of such work is necessary to realise fully, support, and strengthen the Aboriginal workforce. Through an in-depth focus group with Aboriginal women working in a family and domestic violence women’s shelter, this article contributes to the building of such knowledge by providing a nuanced analysis of the nature and experience of domestic and family violence work by Aboriginal women for Aboriginal women. The findings highlight the material reality of the work through descriptions of day-to-day tasks and challenges; navigating the enduring structures and practices of colonisation; and celebrating Aboriginal culture and survivorship.

IMPLICATIONS
-Enabling feelings of identity and inclusion in community is critical in domestic and family violence work for Aboriginal workers and Aboriginal women fleeing violence.
-Aboriginal ways of knowing, being, and doing make it possible for healing work and crisis work to coexist.