This eight week evidence based program explores common types of abuse that women experience and how this abuse relates to violations in human rights. It is a manualised program that can be used in group or individual settings. This program is relevant for women who have experienced more than one instance of abuse in their lives and may have begun to internalise social messages of victim blaming.
The five steps in the framework are combined with key trauma and gender violence psycho-education to address the following eleven program objectives:
The adult Shark Cage® Program has resonated with professionals and their clients in a profound way. Shark Cage groups have run in most States and territories across Australia and are now being established in the United Kingdom. A copy of The Shark Cage Group Program Manual: A Human Rights Approach to Empowerment & Healing for Women who Have Experienced Sexual Assault or Family Violence is necessary for helping professionals who are planning to run a Shark Cage Group or who plan to do structured Shark Cage work with individual clients.
It is strongly recommended that professionals also complete the one day training. The Shark Cage: A practical framework for prevention and addressing re-victimisation for girls and women.
Ursula has been running groups for women for over twenty years. In this time, she gathered essential wisdom about how to structure group programs and develop processes and resources that support helping professionals to run successful programs. The Shark Cage Program is also informed by the voices of thousands of victims/survivors and attends to safety, connection and empowerment for participants.
“I feel more confident as a result of doing the course.”
“Thoroughly enjoyed the course, it has helped me identify Sharks and Dolphins.”
“It has been so helpful in all areas of my life.”
“It was absolutely enlightening, educating and empowering, a huge learning curve for me.”
“I now know that I have rights, before the groups I was not aware I could set a boundary.”
“I’ve been able to set boundaries with my friend who wanted to see me every day and for our relationship to be sexual. I didn’t know how to do that before.”
“I’m amazed at how far I’ve come. I’ve dumped my abusive boyfriend, got a job and have stopped hurting myself.”
“I said I wouldn’t visit my abuser in hospital this week. Before this group I just would have gone.”
“I am so much stronger and more confident.”
“I have grown more in the last 8 weeks than I have in years.”
“I have had lots of epiphanies today, both from the content and things other people have said.”
“I will be able to stop blaming myself for the abuse I have experienced and have confidence in how I am raising my children to respect others and not expect abuse.”
“I have learnt the importance of self-care and that we need to help ourselves before we can help others. Putting the whole Shark Cage metaphor together in the mural was awesome.”
“Fantastic program. It has helped me to grow and work towards a better future and understanding and knowing my rights. Thanks heaps for changing my world.”
“We have been running Shark Cage groups for three years. We were so grateful to come across this way of explaining to women that what happened to them is not their fault and there is light at the end of the tunnel in terms of them being in control of engaging in relationships (or not) in the future. Women have used words like feeling ‘empowered’, ‘relieved’ and ‘hopeful’ about their journey moving forward.”
“As a facilitator of the Shark Cage group in Adelaide for the last 18 months, I have found running the program very satisfying. I found that the way the manual had been so thoroughly written out by Ursula made it far easier to run the group than other groups I have facilitated. I enjoyed the non-blaming Shark Cage metaphor and the Human Rights lens, and women who have participated have told me that they now use this lens when assessing future relationships and looking out for red flags that might indicate Shark activity. I loved the originality of creating the Shark Cage mural using group activities throughout the program and have had lots of participant feedback about the long term positive effects of the program. It has become a very popular group and fills up quickly with a minimum drop out rate.”
“We have heard so many examples of women finding a voice for the first time in their lives within their family and friendship circles and witnesses an increase in their self esteem which has been so rewarding.”