Australian Community Psychologist, 2016, 28(1): 46-58 (Open access)

There are many services that assist women in recovery from domestic violence. This can be a lengthy process and requires sensitive and skilled interventions. This article describes an internal evaluation of an initiative that uses mentoring as a model of support, the Doncare Angel for Women Network (DAWN). DAWN trains and utilises volunteers to support women in recovery, as mentors or ‘personal champions’. This program has been operating since mid 2007 and clients are asked to complete mental health inventories before and after their DAWN experience. Entry and exit interviews are also conducted with clients and volunteer ‘Angels’. Indications are that support from this program assists women to remain safe and to regain mental health, confidence and hopefulness. The DAWN Program emerges as a cost-efficient, practical, and manifestly positive means of assisting recovery for women from domestic violence. (Authors' abstract). Record #5293