Breaking the Hold: Strangulation Prevention & Response
Red Rose Foundation’s 10th Anniversary Conference 23 – 24 June 2026
The Breaking the Hold Conference will be held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on the land of the Turrbal and Yuggera peoples
Breaking the Hold: Strangulation Prevention & Response is Red Rose Foundation’s 10th Anniversary Conference, bringing together international and Australian experts committed to raising awareness of and enhancing responses to strangulation: an often hidden and potentially lethal form of domestic violence.
Red Rose Foundation has been at the forefront of recognising strangulation as a high-risk form of domestic violence, establishing Australia’s first Strangulation Trauma Centre in 2021 and providing specialised support for survivors. This landmark conference connects international insights with local practice, equipping practitioners, policymakers and advocates with the knowledge and tools needed to save lives and create safer futures.
PRE CONFERENCE WORKSHOP
Delivered in person by Gael Strack, internationally recognised expert in domestic violence, strangulation and hidden homicide, and Dr Bill Smock, a globally respected clinical forensic physician and police surgeon.
This bespoke pre-conference workshop - Deadly Violence: Strangulation, a high-risk precursor to domestic homicide - explores strangulation as a high-risk precursor to homicide, bringing together world-leading investigative, medical and justice expertise with the latest Australian research and practice. It features Dr Claire Fergusson, leading researcher into homicide and perpetrator behaviour before, during and after death, recently featured on Channel 7’s Kiss & Kill podcast. Places are limited to enable participants to deeply explore the subject matter with Gael, Bill and other subject matter experts in the room. Previous workshops have sold out.
This is an optional Pre-Conference Workshop on Monday 22 June 2026 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, offering a focused, in-depth learning experience ahead of the main conference. Suitable for professionals in health; police; coronial processes, detectives, the judiciary and other legal professions, forensics and specialist DFV support services. Participation is optional and places are limited.
Welcome from Betty Taylor AM - Founder, Red Rose Foundation
Ten years ago, we founded the Red Rose Foundation to confront the most dangerous and least understood forms of domestic violence. Non-fatal strangulation is one of the strongest predictors of homicide, yet for too long, it was overlooked. Since then, we have been relentless in raising awareness of and enhancing responses to strangulation, as a potentially lethal form of domestic violence.
Our Strangulation Trauma Centre, the first of its kind in Australia, was established to provide free, trauma-informed counselling, advocacy and coordinated support for women who have experienced strangulation. The Centre exists because we know there is no safe way to strangle, and early identification and specialist response to strangulation and domestic violence can save lives. To advance our mission of raising awareness of the lethal risks of non-fatal strangulation, delivering expert training, and building strong research and education partnerships, the Red Rose Foundation brought international specialists to Brisbane (2017); Mackay (2018); Brisbane and Canberra (2019); and Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth (2020).
In 2024, we delivered Australia’s first symposium dedicated to strangulation. The message was clear: the sector needs more spaces for learning, deeper collaboration, and a bigger national conversation.
Breaking the Hold: Strangulation Prevention & Response is our 10th Anniversary Conference and the next step in preventing strangulation and saving lives. We are bringing together international and Australian experts to strengthen coordinated, evidence-led responses to this high-risk, often-hidden crime. Ahead of the conference, we are proud to host a special Pre-Conference Workshop delivered in person by Gael Strack and Dr. Bill Smock, world leaders whose work has transformed responses to strangulation globally. Places are limited to ensure deep, practical learning.
This is both a celebration of ten years’ impact and a call to action for stronger systems, sharper identification, and enhanced collaboration — for the benefit of victim-survivors of domestic and family violence. Join us in Brisbane, and help us to continue to break the hold.
Betty Taylor, AM
Founder of The Red Rose Foundation
Conference Organiser
Dreamweavers Events
23 Leda Drive
Burleigh Heads, QLD, Australia
www.dreamweavers.com.au
registration@dreamweavers.com.au