Introducing our Domestic and Family Violence Justice Coordinator

We are thrilled to announce the appointment of Ellaina Welsman as the new Domestic and Family Violence Justice Coordinator. Ellaina is deeply passionate about seeing churches commit to and make steps towards ending violence against women.

There are far too many horrors, crises, and sufferings in this world that could easily draw me into a state of despair. The epidemic of violence against women is one of these. 

While I have not explicitly experienced domestic violence, I know that I live within its impact; I am surrounded by a culture that condones violence, that explicitly and implicitly normalises men holding power (over women) and using coercion to control. I am the daughter of people who know family violence intimately. I am the sister, aunty, cousin, friend and neighbour of girls and women who have been scared for their lives, who have fled, who have no other choice but to stay, and who hold within their bodies unspeakable truama and undeniable bravery. 

Like many women, I have experienced fearing for my safety; to feel powerless at the hands of men. From being egged at by a car full of boys while walking home from the train station one night. To be trapped in the backseat of a car, while a man insisted that I kiss him because he ‘kindly’ bought me ice cream. Looking back now at these moments, and many more, I feel a sense of having been spared from far worse horrors that happen to women on our streets and in their homes. 

Women and girls have been taught that we must monitor our behaviour in case it implies we owe them something. We’ve been taught it’s our responsibility to prevent the misbehaving of boys and men. For too long we have been taught that what happens to us is our fault. 

What continues to give me hope that our churches can be part of ending violence against women is their commitment to pursue Jesus-shaped justice. Churches that have a posture of listening deeply to the stories of women, people on the margins, and a willingness to assess who has power and control and how it is used, and where they have failed to make amends for women. I am encouraged by the courage of churches who, in recognising gender inequality lies at the heart of the problem, seek to create safe, respectful and equal spaces for women and girls.

If my story appeared in our media, I would have been criticised for risking to walk at night or perhaps judged for the clothes I wore. But the truth is, it’s my gender that puts me at greater risk of being assaulted and abused in this country and around the world. 

As I listen to women who have experienced unspeakable realities of being robbed of their very dignity, freedoms, safety, voice, and hear within their stories of survival a strength, resilience, and resolution to advocate for change, I am inspired to believe that it is possible to end gender-based violence.  That we can work towards a society where all people, no matter their gender, experience relationships of safety, freedom and love. 

And as I turn my eye to Jesus, the Christ who healed women (Luke 8:43-48)​​, gave respect and compassion, rejected cultural and social norms in order to uphold and dignify women, and offers new life to outcast women (John 4), I am convinced that the Jesus we follow demands of us to not look away from what is happening and to stand alongside those who are being subjected to the cruel abuse of power and coercive control. 

Jesus calls us to treat all people equally and for their flourishing (Matthew 25:31 - 46). At times that will mean challenging the cultural norms that have upheld and perpetuated domestic and family violence in our homes, streets, and churches. 

And that is why I am honoured to be taking up this newly appointed role as Common Grace’s Domestic and Family Violence Justice Coordinator. I want to thank those in particular who were part of this space in the early days of Common Grace - Erica Mandi Manga (née Hamence), Natalie Williams, Erin Hutton (née Sessions), Rachel Neary, Jessica Caroll Smith, and Scott Sanders.  I am in awe and indebted to your commitment and sacrifices, including the incredible work of SAFER Resource. I pay my deepest respect and gratitude to all those women who have experienced domestic violence and have given generously to resource, educate, and equip the Common Grace movement for the past 10 years. And lastly, thank you to all the churches and leaders who have heard the calls for change to happen in your churches and respond with compassion, humility and courage. 

It is upon their legacy that I look forward to working with you, as part of the Common Grace movement, to be inspired and led by women who have experienced domestic and family violence, so that we can together be equipped to identify, respond to, and ultimately prevent violence and create spaces where all people are respected, loved, safe, and flourishing. 


Support Domestic and Family Justice

Our efforts to envision a world where there is no more violence against women, where our homes and churches are safe for women and all people cannot be done without your help and support. One way to partner with Common Grace is to become a Domestic and Family Violence Regular Donor or make a once-off donation today. Your support, no matter the size, will help Ellaina and the Common Grace team to continue investing in evidence-based resources for your faith communities, building networks to grow our impact, and helping more people access SAFER so they can be equipped to respond to domestic violence. Let your loving generosity be a gift of safety and inclusion for women and donate today. 


Ellaina Welsman has been with Common Grace for 4.5 years as the Community Engagement Manager. In 2025 Ellaina will spend part of her week coordinating the Domestic and Family Violence Justice space. Ellaina has worked in the Christian not-for-profit sector for the past 10 years and most recently has led Common Grace’s partnerships, supporter engagement and fundraising efforts since 2020. In 2024 Ellaina began rebuilding and re-energising the Domestic and Family Violence justice space. Ellaina has a Masters of International Development, a Bachelor of Health (Int), and is currently living in Awabakal Country with her husband and two young and energetic children. When she’s not working Ellaina loves being at the beach, running with friends, conversing about the deep things in life, and tending to her small garden.

 

Domestic & Family Violence