The campaign to create a Women's Trauma Recovery Centre for the Illawarra region is building momentum on the back of the Resistance. Resilience. Recovery. photographic exhibition unveiled in Wollongong last week.
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The exhibition, which features survivors of family and domestic violence, was on display at Wollongong's Project Contemporary Artspace in Keira St and finished on the weekend before its planned move to Shellharbour.
The images are the work of the Illawarra Mercury's award-winning photographer Sylvia Liber on behalf of the Illawarra Women's Health Centre. The exhibition launched the #VoicesForChange campaign calling for the construction of an Australian-first Women's Trauma Recover Centre in the Illawarra.
"The exhibition has been received really well,'' Illawarra Women's Heath Centre general manager Sally Stevenson said.
"The feedback from visitors has been that the exhibition is incredibly moving and powerful and that it is something that should be seen wider than Wollongong.
"We've been really happy with the response to the articles via the Mercury and other media and through our own social media. It's been tremendously positive."
Ms Stevenson said there had even been expressions of interest to take the exhibition to the Far South Coast and the Hunter region.
"That just shows the reach we've had," she said. Ms Stevenson said the exhibition had the desired impact of people supporting the push for a trauma recovery centre.
"A lot of people have expressed surprise there isn't already a service like a recovery trauma service, that there isn't anything like that already available," she said.
"It has galvanised people to work towards the centre. A lot of people have offered their services pro bono to make this happen.
"It has definitely inspired people to take action."
A selected number of images from the exhibition will be on display at the Imaginariium in Shellharbour Village from December 7-12.
From there the full exhibition will be on display at Stockland Shellharbour in January.
Later next year, with the support of the Member for Shellharbour Anna Watson, the exhibition will have a special showing at NSW Parliament House.
"The response and the support we've got across the Illawarra really demonstrates how strong a community we have and how when we work together we get things done," Ms Stevenson said. "It's a real community effort, it really is."
If you would like to know how to support the #VoicesForChange campaign please visit https://womenstraumacentre.wordpress.com/