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No one should live in fear
We provide expert consultation and training services to individuals and agencies to hold domestic abuse perpetrators accountable, to increase safety for adult and child survivors, and to promote healing and growth.
Domestic abuse is any behaviour involving physical, psychological, emotional, verbal, spiritural, cultural, sexual and reproductive abuse. Domestic abuse is any form of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour.
Domestic abuse is a crime.
Empowering individuals and communities to address domestic abuse
Empowering Growth Team
Hayley Tuttle
Director
Consultation and Training
With over 20 years of experience in the welfare and child protection sector, Hayley has become a seasoned professional. She has worked closely with diverse populations, both in Queensland and the Northern Territory, gaining a deep understanding of their unique needs and challenges. Hayley's expertise is evident in her status as a Certified Safe and Together Trainer and Mentor, highlighting her commitment in creating safe and healthy environments for families. Her extensive education, including a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Masters' degree in Criminolgy, has equipped Hayley with valuable knowledge and skills to effectively support and guide individuals and families in need. Through her dedication and passion, Hayley has become a highly respected and trusted figure in her field, making a significant impact on improving the lives of those she works with.
Russell Jay
Director
Marketing and Sales
As a professional with significant experience in mentoring and supporting both individuals and businesses, Russell has developed a diverse set of skills in marketing and sales throughout his 30 years as a business owner. He has a deep understanding of the importance of effective marketing and sales strategies and has successfully implemented them in various business ventures. Through his guidance and advice, he has helped businesses achieve growth and success through promoting their products and services. Russell supports the Empowering Growth vision of helping to create safe and healthy environments for families.
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Upcoming events
Conferences
TBA
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Online Trainings
Understanding Domestic and Family Violence in Housing: Safe Homes, Safe Lives
This course is designed to equip housing staff with the essential knowledge and skills needed to confidently and compassionately address complex issues like family violence, domestic violence, and child protection. In the training session, you will learn how to recognise the signs, respond effectively, and do so in a way that is both safe for you and legally compliant. Your work is critical to a person’s ability to live free from violence, and this training is here to support you in that mission.
Offered in collaboration with Big Picture Training.
16 July 2026
12:00pm - 4:00pm AEDT
Cost: $250 inc GST per person
- The course is designed for housing professionals who are not specialist DFV practitioners, but who require:
- increased awareness and confidence,
- an understanding of risk and indicators,
- clarity around legal and organisational responsibilities, and
- practical guidance on responding, documenting concerns, and referring to specialist DFV services.
VIRTUAL WORKSHOP SERIES Applying Safe and Together Model with Risk Assessment & Management (RAMF): Strengthening the DFV Response Pathway in the Northern Territory.
This four-part professional learning series supports practitioners to strengthen their domestic and family violence (DFV) practice by integrating the Safe and Together Model and the Northern Territory Risk Assessment and Management Framework (RAMF) across the DFV response pathway. Through a combination of foundational and pathway-focused workshops, participants will explore how the two frameworks work together to support consistent, survivor-centred, and perpetrator-pattern-based practice in screening, risk assessment, and risk management. The series introduces Empowering Growth's DFV Response Pathway Integration Tool and provides practical guidance for applying these frameworks in everyday practice to improve responses to adults and children affected by domestic and family violence.
- Prerequisites:
- Participants must have completed:
- Safe and Together Model Core Training
- Northern Territory Risk Assessment and Management Framework (RAMF) Training
- Workshop 1 - Overview Required before attending Workshops 2 - 4 This introductory workshop provides an overview of how the Safe and Together Model and the NT RAMF work together across the domestic and family violence (DFV) response pathway. Participants will be introduced to the DFV Response Pathway Integration Tool and explore how the two frameworks align to support screening, risk assessment, and risk management. This workshop establishes the foundation for the pathway-specific workshops that follow.
- Workshop 2 - Screening This workshop focuses on integrating the Safe and Together Model and NT RAMF within screening practice. Participants will explore how to identify domestic and family violence, recognise patterns of perpetrator behaviour, and gather information that supports effective engagement, information sharing, and pathway decision-making.
- Workshop 3 - Risk Assessment This workshop examines the application of both frameworks to risk assessment. Participants will develop their understanding of how to assess the impact of perpetrator behaviour on adult and child victims, identify risk factors and patterns of coercive control, and use a structured approach to analysing risk and safety concerns. Workshop 4 - Risk Management This workshop focuses on translating assessment into action through effective risk management planning. Participants will explore strategies for enhancing safety, holding perpetrators accountable, and coordinating responses across services, while using the Safe and Together Model and NT RAMF to guide ongoing risk management and decision-making.
Current Workshop Schedule
Workshop 1 - Overview
Date: 8 September 2026
Time: 10am - 2pm ACST
Workshop 2 - Screening
Date: 15 September 2026
Time: 10am - 2pm ACST
Workshop 3 - Risk Assessment
Date: 22 September 2026
Time: 10am - 2pm ACST
Workshop 4 - Risk Management
Date: 29 September 2026
Time: 10am - 2pm ACST
In-Person Trainings
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Alice Springs, Northern Territory
Safe and Together Model 4-Day CORE Training
- The Safe & Together™ Model CORE Training equips professionals with a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to intervene in domestic violence cases effectively. This training emphasizes a "whole of family" approach, focusing on protecting children while empowering survivors and holding perpetrators accountable.
TBA
Cost: Free
Day 1 - TBA
Day 2 - TBADay 3 - TBADay 4 - TBA
9.00am - 4.00pm
NOTE: This training is funded to support the vital work of Non-Government Organizations (NGOs). Due to funding conditions, NGO registrations will receive priority. We will endeavour to accommodate NTG registrations where possible.
Darwin, Northern Territory
TBA
Cost: Free
Day 1 - TBA
Day 2 - Day 3 - Day 4 -
9.00am - 4.00pm
NOTE: This training is funded to support the vital work of Non-Government Organizations (NGOs). Due to funding conditions, NGO registrations will receive priority. We will endeavour to accommodate NTG registrations where possible.
Alice Springs, Northern Territory
Mecure Alice Springs
34 Stott Terrace
Cost: Free
Day 1 - 23 June 2026 Day 2 - 24 June 2026 Day 3 - 25 June 2026 Day 4 - 26 June 2026
9.00am - 4.00pm
9.00am - 4.00pm
NOTE: This training is funded to support the vital work of Non-Government Organizations (NGOs). Due to funding conditions, NGO registrations will receive priority. We will endeavour to accommodate NTG registrations where possible.
Alice Springs, Northern Territory
Cost: Free
Day 1 -TBADay 2 - Day 3 - Day 4 -
9.00am - 4.00pm
9.00am - 4.00pm
NOTE: This training is funded to support the vital work of Non-Government Organizations (NGOs). Due to funding conditions, NGO registrations will receive priority. We will endeavour to accommodate NTG registrations where possible.
Past Presentations
2025 - Safe and Together Institute Conference in MelbourneCoercive Control in Rural and Remote Contexts: Unique Challenges and Intervention Strategies
Coercive control is a pervasive form of domestic abuse that extends far beyond physical violence. It involves a range of tactics used by a perpetrator to isolate, intimidate, and degrade their partner, leaving them feeling trapped and powerless. This presentation will examine the multifaceted complexities of coercive control within rural and remote families and communities. We will explore how factors unique to these communities can exacerbate the impact of coercive control and hinder access to support services. Finally, we will discuss innovative approaches and strategies specifically designed to support families in rural and remote areas, considering these communities' unique challenges and cultural sensitivities.
2026 - Safe and Together Institute Conference in SydneyBeyond “He Said, She Said”: Using Pattern-Based Evidence in Family Law Cases Involving Domestic Abuse
Domestic abuse cases in family law often present complex and conflicting narratives that challenge legal professionals, child protection workers, and service providers. Traditional incident-based approaches—focused on isolated events—can obscure the broader context of abuse, misrepresent survivor responses, and fail to account for the cumulative impact on children. This presentation offers a practical, evidence-informed framework for reframing these narratives using the Safe & Together Model’s pattern-based approach.
Grounded in the principles of perpetrator accountability, child-centred practice, and recognition of protective parenting, this session will guide participants in identifying and documenting patterns of coercive control, emotional abuse, and non-physical violence. These behaviours, though often minimized or misunderstood in legal contexts, are critical to understanding risk and making informed decisions about custody, visitation, and child safety.
Participants will explore how to apply the Safe & Together Model with fidelity in family law settings, using tools that support consistent documentation, trauma-informed language, and cross-system collaboration. The presentation will highlight strategies for improving communication between legal professionals, child protection agencies, and domestic violence services—ensuring that survivor safety and child well-being are central to decision-making.
The session will use qualitative insights from practice and case reviews to demonstrate the model’s impact on families and service delivery. Participants will leave with practical tools and strategies to:
Recognise and document patterns of abuse beyond physical violenceUnderstand the implications of coercive control for children and parentingPresent evidence in a way that supports safety, accountability, and justiceCollaborate effectively across systems to improve outcomes for families
This presentation is ideal for professionals working in family law, child protection, and domestic violence response who are seeking to deepen their understanding of coercive control and enhance their practice through the Safe & Together Model.
Domestic abuse cases in family law often present complex and conflicting narratives that challenge legal professionals, child protection workers, and service providers. Traditional incident-based approaches—focused on isolated events—can obscure the broader context of abuse, misrepresent survivor responses, and fail to account for the cumulative impact on children. This presentation offers a practical, evidence-informed framework for reframing these narratives using the Safe & Together Model’s pattern-based approach.
Grounded in the principles of perpetrator accountability, child-centred practice, and recognition of protective parenting, this session will guide participants in identifying and documenting patterns of coercive control, emotional abuse, and non-physical violence. These behaviours, though often minimized or misunderstood in legal contexts, are critical to understanding risk and making informed decisions about custody, visitation, and child safety.
Participants will explore how to apply the Safe & Together Model with fidelity in family law settings, using tools that support consistent documentation, trauma-informed language, and cross-system collaboration. The presentation will highlight strategies for improving communication between legal professionals, child protection agencies, and domestic violence services—ensuring that survivor safety and child well-being are central to decision-making.
The session will use qualitative insights from practice and case reviews to demonstrate the model’s impact on families and service delivery. Participants will leave with practical tools and strategies to:
Recognise and document patterns of abuse beyond physical violenceUnderstand the implications of coercive control for children and parentingPresent evidence in a way that supports safety, accountability, and justiceCollaborate effectively across systems to improve outcomes for families
This presentation is ideal for professionals working in family law, child protection, and domestic violence response who are seeking to deepen their understanding of coercive control and enhance their practice through the Safe & Together Model.
Our testimonials
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