Turnell Consulting

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Turnell Consulting

Working to keep children safe with families, not from families.

An approach that leads with action based safety plans, utilising natural networks, focused on belonging as an organising motif for transformational change within Childrens services agencies

13/03/2026

Grace Tame started her presentation this week at the No To Violence conference in Hobart with this slide and the accompanying statement
“With the greatest respect, f**k trigger warnings”
She went on to talk about the criticality of being able to lean into difficult conversations, to speak and to listen - even when it feel really uncomfortable
This is so important.
Domestic violence is an every person issue.
Talking about it is really uncomfortable. And that feels like an understatement.
For those of us with a lived experience this can feel terrifying - and we are waiting for the judgement, disbelief or even neutrality
For men who have chosen violence - with shame as a significant and driving emotion around power and control - the conversations are a whole lot more than uncomfortable. I imagine they feel terrifying and threatening.
For professionals - they are also scary and steeped in fear of getting it wrong and creating lore danger for everyone.

But. If we don’t. Then we accept the status quo.
And we simply cannot afford to do that. Not if we believe men’s violence toward women and children can be stopped

11/03/2026

Today (and tomorrow) I attended the No To Violence conference via zoom into Tasmania.
The introduction from Mark (Stopping Family Violence. WA) the key note from Thomas Mayo and the panels that followed were skilled intelligent informative and well facilitated.
There was so much learning for me today.
And this is one of the comments that stood out.
I do a lot of working and thinking about guiding principles, assumptions that shapes how we work - and I’ll be adding this gem from Tessa Boyd-Caine from ANROWS (Australian National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety)
It is a statement that creates hope. And vision.
For a world where women are safe from men hurting them.
“Men’s violence is not inevitable” we can work hard to have a world free from men’s violence. And both men and women will only benefit from that.
This is social change work, justice work, hard work. And it is absolutely essential 🙏🏼

02/03/2026

Made a post on LinkedIn.
Protective factors do not necessarily equate to safety.
In cases of domestic abuse.
Thought it was pretty straightforward.
It’s a thing practitioners can get caught in. In CP. But often in other supporting agencies.
Lots of protective factors and lots of high emotion, a strong sense of not punishing women for men’s violence, can result in dangerous situations for kids.
And then.
Jake enters the conversation. 🤦
Hmmmm. You ok Jake?

Is it too much to ask for a nuanced conversation, grounded in research, statistics, evidence and experience?
Apparently yes.

I’ll say it again for this struggling to get it.
Yes. Women can and do use violence. I get it. And. Mostly it’s men. Against women. And children.

Male violence is grounded in power and control.
Women’s violence is (not always..) is reactive and resistive.

I’m glad Jake isn’t a children’s services social worker 😉

21/01/2026

Can we please stop referring to cases / situations of domestic abuse as an ‘abusive relationship’

The ‘relationship’ is not abusive.

The person in a relationship choosing to use violence is abusive - not toxic, not ‘unwell’, not afflicted with a personality disorder - abusive. As a choice.

A relationship is a social construct.

Domestic abuse is a choice a person
(Usually a man)
makes to control, intimidate, instil fear in and harm or even kill their intimate partner (usually a woman but not always) and - if they have them - their children.

Say what you mean. Language is important.

*photo not relevant. Just me chilling by the pool. In Bali. As ya do!

06/12/2025

It’s important to keep up with all the complexities we face when we work with domestic abuse cases. Knowing the intersections, being clear on the tactics of abusers, the impacts - immediate and secondary - the indicators of increasing risk, is so important in how we gather and make sense of the information (this is analysis!)
The links between gambling and domestic abuse are clear and need to be talked about and explored more

Link to research article in comments.

15/11/2025

Scrolling through LinkedIn while waiting for my flight this morning I came across a post that shared this linked article.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/magscambridge_in-my-very-new-article-for-abc-australia-activity-7393539171954425857-gxst?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios&rcm=ACoAAD0v26UB1ZuDfsKGYG-zKhX_v8gDCG0zkL4

It’s a well written and simply articulated piece about the intentionality of domestic abuse.

I am struck by the empathic curiosity Mags (the author) models in her positioning of the question posed to her at the conference she presented at.

Working in (residential) men’s behaviour change I have found the balance between a trauma informed, therapeutic approach and holding men accountable and responsible for their behaviours is one that constantly needs reflecting on, interrogating with ourselves and each other.

Like trying to stand and balance board, tipping one way and back the other - trying to be centred.

As we say in Child Protection - we need to compassion of Buddha and the mind of a steel trap. Too far either way is simply dangerous.

14/11/2025

In September and I facilitated two training sessions in Kamloops, BC.
One of the participants sketched this and handed it to me at the end of the day.
Me. Always at the whiteboard! And participants working
The diversity of the talent and creativity in children’s árboles workforce never ceases to impress me
This also happened to be my birthday ☺️

Address

Perth, WA
6009

Telephone

+61408944611

Website

http://www.turnellconsulting.com.au/

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