What happens when Aboriginal women seek help with domestic and family violence?

When an Aboriginal woman phones for help or walks into a police station, how do police respond?

What's the role of DCJ, the NSW Department of Communities and Justice, when family violence is reported by a mum?

What does healing mean for Aboriginal women?

Mudgin-Gal Yarns is a 5 part series releasing weekly. It's hosted by Ashlee Donohue, a proud Dunghutti woman, born and raised in Kempsey on the mid-north coast of New South Wales, Australia.

This is an edited version of the one of four yarning circles, done as part of social impact research by Ashley Donohue and Jane Wangmann. You won't hear about the violence itself.

You'll hear what happens when inner city Aboriginal women in Sydney, Australia, try and get help for themselves and their families with domestic and family violence. And our ideas on what can change.

These yarning circles took place at Mudgin-Gal Women's Place in 2023 and 2024.

Yarning Circle participants: Donna, Jamie-Lee, Kowana, Selena, Stacey, Tanay and Tracy.

Host Ashlee Donohue: current CEO of Mudgin-Gal Women's Aboriginal Corporation, an Aboriginal led and run women's centre in Redfern, Sydney.

Jane Wangmann: Associate Professor, Faculty of Law UTS and family violence researcher

These yarning circles were part of social impact research by Ashley Donohue and Jane Wangmann.

Artwork by Vicki Golding.

Mudgin-Gal Yarns is produced by Jane Curtis of UTS Impact Studios.

Sound engineering by John Jacobs.

Impact Studios Executive Producer is Sarah Gilbert.

Our theme music is Intertwined, written by Nardi Simpson and performed by The Stiff Gins.

In Australia, there's a long history of making policy that affects Aboriginal people without involving us or really listening to our voices.

In this 5 part podcast series, a group of inner city Aboriginal women yarn about domestic and family violence.

You won't hear about the violence itself. You'll hear what happens when our women try and get help for themselves and their families.

• Who do we turn to?
• What works?
• What fails us and why?
• What do us inner city Aboriginal women think could work better?

Host Ashlee Donohue is a proud Dunghutti woman, born and raised in Kempsey on the mid-north coast of New South Wales, Australia.

Ashlee is the current CEO of Mudgin-Gal Women's Aboriginal Corporation, an Aboriginal led and run women's centre in Redfern, Sydney.

You'll hear the voices of inner city Aboriginal women in Sydney, between 18 and 65, who shared their stories over four yarning circles: Debbie, Donna, Jamie-Lee, Jess, Kowana, Lucy, Selena, Stacey, Tahlia, Tanay and Tracy.

There were other women who generously shared their stories in the yarning circles and chose not to be in the podcast.

These yarning circles took place at Mudgin-Gal Women's Place in 2023 and 2024.

As well as host Ashlee Donohue, you'll hear Jane Wangmann, family violence researcher and Law professor at the University of Technology Sydney.

These yarning circles were part of social impact research by Ashley Donohue and Jane Wangmann.

Artwork by Vicki Golding.

The podcast is produced by Jane Curtis of UTS Impact Studios.

Impact Studios Executive Producer is Sarah Gilbert.

Our theme music is Intertwined, written by Nardi Simpson and performed by The Stiff Gins.