When Benz (pseudonym) arrived at the SASSI women’s refuge in Nowra, her primary concern wasn’t her own health, and it hadn’t been for a long time.
Like many women affected by family, domestic and sexual violence (FDSV), Benz spent years prioritising the needs of others above her own. Caring for her children and finding somewhere safe to live left little room to focus on her own health.
Difficult experiences with the health system, particularly related to reproductive and mental health, only reinforced that pattern. They left her feeling judged, unheard, dismissed, traumatised and reluctant to seek help.
“No one listened. No one heard me,” she says.
That began to change when she connected with Connect Well, a free program bringing health clinics directly into crisis accommodation services.
Connect Well Nowra nurse, Jess Dawson, says many women attending the clinic have experienced years of disruption to their health.
“A lot of domestic violence perpetrators prevent women or children getting healthcare as a form of control,” she explains.
In regional communities, accessing care can be even more difficult due to long waiting lists, financial and transport barriers and limited access to specialist services.
Women and children escaping FDSV often have overlapping health needs, ranging from overdue preventative care through to specialist treatment, dental care, mental health support and management of chronic or life-threatening conditions.
The Connect Well team includes a GP, nurse and Health Linker, who work together to provide care, coordinate referrals, and support ongoing engagement. The Health Linker is a crucial role, helping women navigate appointments, referrals and ongoing care.
“We’ve created a safe space here for women that they can come, even if they don’t have an appointment, just to chat or sit here and debrief,” says Jess.
For Benz, that sense of safety and support made all the difference.
“They make you feel comfortable. They make you feel safe.”
Once trust was established, she began tackling health concerns she had put off for years. Fear had kept her away from the dentist for more than a decade, despite knowing she needed substantial treatment.
“If it wasn’t for them, I’d still be putting off the dentist,” she says.
Through Connect Well, Benz was supported to begin major dental treatment and access specialist gynaecological and pregnancy care.
“The only ones that heard me were Connect Well. They got my referral done. I went to my appointment. Everything happened,” she says.
The difference wasn’t simply that health services were available. It was the feeling that people were genuinely working alongside her.
“They work with the client, not against us,” she says.
“They’re not setting us up to fail. They’re setting us up and setting goals with us that we know we’re going to accomplish.”
Jess says these small steps often lead to bigger changes over time.
“You start to see women booking appointments themselves,” she says.
“They’re gaining trust in the system and getting confidence to take care of their health.”
For Benz, the biggest barrier was feeling safe enough to trust medical professionals.
“If the client feels safe, you’re going to get the right answers from the client,” Benz says.
“If I don’t feel comfortable, I will tell them a completely different story to the reason why I’m actually there.” Connect Well is demonstrating that when health care is safe, accessible and built on trust, women are more likely to engage with the care they need and prioritise their wellbeing. Through trusted relationships and practical support, the program is helping women reconnect with healthcare and, in many cases, put their own health first for the first time in years.
Connect Well is part of a six-PHN pilot funded by the Australian Government, bringing primary healthcare into crisis accommodation services for women and children impacted by FDSV. In South Eastern NSW, the program operates at SASSI in Nowra, SEWACS Budjangal in Moruya and Anglicare NSW South, NSW West & ACT in Goulburn.
Each site has a dedicated GP, Practice Nurse and Health Linker who support women and children to access healthcare, referrals and ongoing care.
Learn more: Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence | COORDINARE – South Eastern NSW PHN
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