New resource bridges the gap for people with disability experiencing domestic and family violence
Uniting Local Area Coordination
People with disability are twice as likely to experience violence than the broader population, prompting Uniting Local Area Coordination (LAC) to create a groundbreaking resource to help frontline workers recognise and support at-risk people.
Although women with disability represent 20 percent of the Australian population, they make up nearly half of all domestic violence victim survivors, according to The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability.
In response, Uniting LAC has launched A New Chapter: Persona Pack, developed in collaboration with esteemed disability advocate Tricia Malowney OAM. This first-of-its-kind resource uses evidence-informed personas (fictional profiles based on real experiences) to help frontline workers better understand the experiences of people with disability affected by domestic and family violence.
Designed for use by educators, emergency services, disability workers and other frontline professionals, the personas are informed by safe, disability-appropriate conversations with people experiencing domestic and family violence, and insights from support services. The personas provide practical examples of how violence can affect wellbeing, behaviour, participation and safety.
Said Tricia Malowney:
“When we design services without thinking about women with disabilities, they may be left out. Personas help us move beyond our own assumptions and include all marginalised women, from the start.
Personas help us understand how people who use violence may exploit a woman's disability to control or harm her. This helps us create services that are safe and accessible, and work for everyone.”
Uniting LAC Project Officer Kristie McCarthy said the resource builds understanding:
"We’ve seen just how many barriers people with disability can face when experiencing domestic and family violence. Some are obvious, but many are not - things like communication needs, reliance on others for care, social isolation, inaccessible services, or fear of not being believed can all make it harder to seek support. The Persona Pack helps workers step into someone else's shoes and consider challenges they may never have encountered before.”
Uniting LAC Project Officer Juliana Hoy said the resource responds to an urgent need:
“Many workers acknowledge their need to better understand how domestic and family violence presents in different contexts. Our resource helps bridge that gap.”
Importantly, the personas do not replace safeguarding procedures or professional judgement. Instead, they provide a framework for understanding individual experiences and prompting more inclusive wellbeing and safety conversations.
Find out more about Uniting LAC at https://www.uniting.org/services/lac.
Notes to Editor:
- Kristie McCarthy, Juliana Hoy and Tricia Malowney are available for interview.
Key statistics:
- The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability reported that although women with disability represent 20% of the Australian population, they make up nearly half of all domestic violence victim survivors.
- A 2021 inquiry reported in Women’s Agenda found that 90% of women with intellectual disability have experienced sexual abuse, with 68% experiencing this before age 18.
- Disabled People’s Organisations Australia (2019) reports that three women per week are hospitalised with a brain injury resulting from family violence.
- A 2023 People with Disability Australia (PWDA) report found that 71% of women with disability did not feel welcome when accessing DFV services.
- Domestic Violence NSW (2025) reported that regional and remote DFV services operated at almost 300% of funded capacity.
- Only 44% of services felt they had even somewhat adequate training to support clients with disability.
About us:
About Uniting Local Area Coordination
Uniting Local Area Coordination (LAC) supports more than 63,000 people with disability, including 57,000 NDIS participants, to access the right support and live life the way they choose. Find us in Southern NSW, the Illawarra-Shoalhaven, Nepean-Blue Mountains, Northern Sydney and Western Sydney regions and Hunter New England. We engage with communities to promote the strengths of people with disability and facilitate greater inclusion. Our team is committed to employing people who live with disability, carers and people with lived experience.
About Uniting
Uniting NSW.ACT contributes to the work of the Uniting Church in NSW and the ACT, through social justice advocacy, community services and spiritual care. We provide services for people through all ages and stages of life, and drive solutions to systemic issues so people experiencing disadvantage can live their best lives. Our purpose is to inspire people, enliven communities and confront injustice. We value diversity and always welcome everyone exactly as they are.
Contact details:
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Media contact:
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Karina Juncal |