Podcast: AURORA PODCAST Episode 7 - Unpacking Control and Trauma within Domestic Violence

AURORA — Awakening Understanding, Reclaiming our Resilience and Autonomy

Dr Beverley Gilbert and Shakira Fenech, Head of SOAR Malta, explore the character terrorism and the continuous re-traumatisation experienced by domestic violence survivors. They emphasise the importance of understanding trauma, dismantling controlling behaviours beyond gendered stereotypes and recognising that seeking support is a critical step towards restoring self-dignity. Dr Gilbert discusses her work in developing women's peer mentoring in the UK and how this can act as a bridge between women and agencies tasked with supporting her or her children.

AURORA is a 12-episode podcast series led by the St Jeanne Antide Foundation’s services SOAR and IVY broadcast in Malta and on social media, and funded through the 'Together We Empower' programme.

The AURORA project brings together survivors, professionals, policymakers, and academics in a powerful multi-sectoral collaboration. Through open dialogue and shared expertise, AURORA seeks to strengthen Malta’s capacity to implement the holistic framework of the Istanbul Convention. Each episode explores critical themes such as staying safe in relationships, transforming the domestic violence narrative, and preventing gender-based violence.

​More than a conversation, AURORA is a movement for change, resilience, and empowerment — amplifying voices, fostering understanding, and inspiring collective action toward a society free from violence.