Jas Rawlinson
Real-life storytelling & expert insight to prevent domestic abuse, while strengthening resilience in workplaces & communities.
Jas Rawlinson is an award-winning domestic violence speaker and survivor who turns lived experience into powerful education.
With a background in journalism, psychology, and advocacy, she empowers organisations, schools, councils and communities to understand coercive control, set strong boundaries, and create safer cultures for all.
Meet Jas Rawlinson
Jas Rawlinson is an award-winning domestic violence speaker, survivor, best-selling author, and one of Australia’s most recognised lived experience educators on coercive control and emotional abuse.
From growing up in a small mountain valley in NSW to co-founding Brisbane’s first permanent Domestic Violence Memorial and becoming a global advocate for women’s safety, Jas’ journey has been one of grit, growth, and transformation.
“I go by many names, but what you may not know about me is that I once lived a life that was VERY different to the one I now have.”
Behind Closed Doors…
Growing up in a small mountain valley with the bush on her back doorstep, and a small tribe of trusty animals as her best friends, Jas lived a life that was the envy of many around her.
But what no one knew, was the truth about the violence, fear, and daily survival she was navigating behind closed doors.
“Many days were spent hiding in my cupboard, fearing for my safety, or running through paddocks to escape from my father’s violence.”
Those early experiences laid the foundations for a deep promise she made to herself: to one day use her voice to help others.
Finding Purpose Through Storytelling…
Jas began her career as a freelance journalist, drawn not to surface-level stories but to issues that mattered, like domestic violence, mental health, and human rights.
“I wasn’t interested in fluff pieces about diets and fashion. I wanted to make a difference in people’s lives.”
From there, she built a platform focused on lived experience, healing, and advocacy. Today, Jas combines personal narrative with practical tools to help others find their voice, establish boundaries, and respond safely to abuse.
Today, Jas is a leading voice for...
Coercive control and DV prevention
Safe, trauma-informed workplace education
Empowering school communities
Coaching survivors and aspiring changemakers to use their stories to create movements of social impact
Whether she’s speaking to senior execs, high school students, or fellow survivors, Jas brings insight and the kind of strength that inspires real change.
“Trauma doesn’t have to be a life sentence. When we own our stories, we don’t just heal ourselves. We change the world, one story at a time.”
Speaking Topics
Jas’ talks are tailored to suit different audiences, industries and event types. Her most requested sessions include:
Understanding coercive control and early red flags in relationships
How to support a colleague, friend or client experiencing DV
The power of lived experience in prevention and culture change
Domestic violence in the workplace - legal, cultural and human impacts
Trauma-informed leadership and communication
Voices From the Room
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"A reminder of the power of storytelling to spark awareness, reflection, and change. Jas Rawlinson’s Red Flags 101 keynote was a powerful and timely addition to our university’s work in raising awareness of and preventing gender-based violence."
Jayne McCartney - University of Newcastle, NSW
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“Jas has such a way of telling stories...Through her life experience vignettes, I learned so much more about sexual exploitation and abuse, and how they intersect with many other social issues; and I say that as someone who works on these issues full-time!"
Dawn Hawkins, CEO of National Center on Sexual Exploitation
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“Eye-opening...A strong voice on topics that people struggle to speak about. Jas is a great storyteller who has a wealth of knowledge and first-hand experience with issues like domestic violence, mental health, and resilience."
Sam Webb – Co-Founder of LIVIN, Actor & Reality TV Contestant (Survivor)
Keynote Talks & Corporate Training
For executives, HR leaders and corporate teams.
From boardrooms to breakout rooms, Jas delivers transformative training that’s equal parts powerful and practical.
Signature Executive Training: From Awareness to Action – 7 Ways Management Can Support Employees Facing Domestic Violence
An evidence-based, trauma-informed session that helps leadership teams:
Understand the 3 early red flags of coercive control
Take 7 professional, appropriate steps to support affected employees
Recognise and overcome the ‘bystander effect’
Hear directly from survivors about what truly helps in the workplace
Signature Keynote: Shame to Strength® – How to detect coercive control, set boundaries, and reclaim your story
This lived-experience keynote empowers staff and audiences to:
Recognise non-physical signs of domestic abuse such as gaslighting and love bombing
Set unapologetic boundaries that keep ourselves and our loved-ones safe
Respond to domestic violence with strength and confidence (without putting our safety at risk)
Writing & Advocacy Workshops
For support services, lived experience advocates and changemakers.
Jas’s interactive workshops help individuals use the power of storytelling to break stigma and inspire social change.
‘Your Story is Your Superpower’ masterclass
Trauma-informed writing workshops for DV services
Advocacy coaching for aspiring speakers and authors
Why book Jas as a speaker?
✔ Trusted by leading organisations – Jas has delivered keynotes and training for local councils, national conferences, corporates and schools across Australia.
✔ Lived experience meets professional impact — Her talks combine powerful personal storytelling with evidence-based insights and real-world strategies.
✔ Trauma-informed and psychologically safe — Jas creates a respectful, inclusive space where audiences feel seen, supported and equipped to take action.
✔ Inspires lasting change — From early intervention to boundary setting and bystander response, Jas empowers every audience to make a difference.
Voices From the Room
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“The whole room listened so intently you could have heard a pin drop. The day of her talk happened to be the morning after the murder-suicide of Hannah Clarke and her 3 children…you could have heard a pin drop.
Doug Hargreaves (AM)
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“Incredibly valuable tools. Thank you for your wonderful workshop – it was an incredibly rewarding, inspiring and valuable experience. I wish you all the best in your endeavors to empower women to tell their story.”
Sophie Wheeler — Lake Macquarie Safety Action Meeting Coordinator, Newcastle Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service
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“Powerful, motivating, moving. Jas, you’re doing amazing work. Thank you so much for being here with us at the Hope Rising 2020 summit. We greatly appreciate your time and wish you all the best in the world.”
Kevin Hines – Global suicide prevention speaker, award-winning documentary filmmaker & author
“Powerful, courageous, inspiring.”
With a potent mix of personal experience, narrative and research, Jas delivered a session that educated and empowered our team on various aspects of domestic violence, enhancing their understanding of its profound impact.”
— Maitland City Council, NSW Australia
"Domestic violence is a daunting but essential topic to discuss with young people.
Our students (Year 11 and 12) were very engaged throughout Jas’ whole presentation…and the information she included was highly current, helpful and informative. Jas was very professional and struck just the right balance between presenting on confronting topics but with a sensitive and measured delivery.”
Marty Begbie, Head of Year 11 – Indooroopilly State High (QLD)