A history of domestic violence, refuges and exclusion in Australia

This book describes the experiences and circumstances around the establishment of the first refuges for women and the events of the subsequent ten years. Elsie Women’s Refuge was opened in New South Wales in 1974 to any homeless woman and child. This episode was a breakthrough for the perception of women’s position in society. A number of services began to be available for abused women and children, and domestic violence was recognised as a primary social issue. Several obstacles impeded a comprehensive protection for Australian and overseas victims: lack of funding, ignorance, disbelief and intolerance prevented the provision of appropriate assistance. Urging a solution, the author concludes by comparing nineteenth- and twenty-first-century domestic violence strategies.