Our CEO Christine Smith was recently featured on the front page of the Geelong Advertiser for her vital work supporting women and children fleeing family and domestic violence.
Christine, a former Geelong police officer with over 20 years’ experience—including 15 years in the Child Abuse and Sexual Offences unit—shared her powerful story and the mission behind Destination Accessible.
After witnessing firsthand the gaps in crisis support during her policing career, she launched our emergency housing program on the Bellarine Peninsula to ensure no woman or child is left without a safe place to go.
Today, Destination Accessible operates 20 privately owned homes across the region, all offering refuge for those in crisis. Over Easter, every single one of these homes was occupied by women fleeing violence.
Her story was shared to mark Domestic and Family Violence Month, which runs throughout May.
This story was originally reported by the Geelong Advertiser in May 2025. You can view the full article here (subscription required).