Glasshouse woman helps women find strength in face of domestic violence
By Kirra Livingstone
A DOMESTIC violence (DV) survivor from the Glass House region has joined forces with social housing group Coast2Bay to connect women in the hinterland facing abuse with crucial support services. The initiative, known as CLove, aims to offer social refuge for women impacted by DV, teaching them how to identify early warning signs in relationships.
Named in honour of Monique’s late greatgrandmother, Nanny Clove, a resilient voice from an era when such strength in women was rare, the project reflects a legacy of courage and empowerment.
“We want to bring female DV survivors together in a supportive social group, allowing them to connect and engage in activities like bowling and other social opportunities” Monique said.
“Once they’re comfortable, we’ll introduce more intensive workshops on spotting red flags, understanding narcissistic traits, and recognising warning signs early—before violence escalates.
“We want to try to plan for prevention, if you can identify the warning signs then you can get out of there before it gets worse.” Supported by Coast2Bay, Monique received a unique opportunity to establish this impactful program.
“One of my passions is ensuring safe storage solutions for women who are relocated due to DV, so they don’t have to start over, losing all their belongings like I did,” she shared.
“I’ve fully immersed myself in this opportunity. To be honest, I feel like I’ve been a bit intense with Coast2Bay with all my big ideas, but they’re being very supportive and have been encouraging me by telling me to take it step by step.”
While domestic violence can be a lonely and scary experience, Monique highlighted the importance of having a unique support system like CLove.
“It’s really important for women DV victims to connect because the last thing you want to do is talk to someone who hasn’t really experienced it, as a lot of the time you can be judged for going back to your abuser, I know I did,” she said. “There’s also some things women don’t want to talk about with anybody.
“I think when you start talking about those issues with people who have also been in that situation, it just doesn’t make you feel so alone.” While CLove will initially serve Coast2Bay clients, Monique has ambitious plans for national expansion, including support for male DV victims.
“There’s an overwhelming need for accessible DV support, and I want to make sure no one has to go through it alone,” she added. CLove is expected to be operational by April 2025. For further information, contact Monique at moniquerig007@gmail.com.
