Latest news with #Darlene
ABC News
14-07-2025
- ABC News
Northern Territory's domestic violence sector at 'crisis point', turning away hundreds of women
Just over two years ago, Darlene* left her long-term partner after realising his regular insults, silent treatment and rage-filled outbursts was part of a pattern of emotionally abusive behaviour. She thought leaving with her young children would be the hardest part. But she quickly realised she still had a tough and, at times, lonely road ahead. "The day I left I was so overwhelmed," Darlene said. "I was put on hold for about three hours and bounced around from service [to service], 'Oh you don't fit our service, we'll transfer you over here,' and I got nowhere." Over the coming months, Darlene would face the reality of an under-resourced domestic violence sector in the Northern Territory, where DV rates are the highest in Australia. Dawn House is one of a handful of DV shelters in Darwin that provide a safe haven to women and children escaping violence. Dawn House chief executive Ana Aitcheson said there was a diverse clientele — 60 per cent are First Nations, 20 per cent identify with an Asian background, and 20 per cent are Caucasian or other — proving "domestic and family violence does not discriminate". Every woman that arrives is assessed for their level of risk "of harm or death" according to the NT's 'Domestic and Family Violence Common Risk Assessment Tool' (CRAT). The CRAT considers women with a score of 28 or above being at "serious risk" of harm or fatality. Ms Aitcheson said her service saw women with scores "up to the mid-70s". She said her staff were having to make difficult decisions, often turning people away who score in the 30s and 40s. "So we are at crisis point." Ms Aitcheson said these decisions took a big toll on staff, with many experiencing burnout. "They're the people having to answer the phone and say, 'No I'm sorry we can't help you'," she said. "They're the ones that are going home thinking, 'Oh did I make the right decision, is she going to be safe overnight with her children?'." The abuse Darlene experienced by her ex-partner had her petrified he could "blow up" at any moment, and feeling that she had to protect their children. The ABC has seen text messages where Darlene's ex-partner regularly threatened to commit suicide as a method of control. When she and her children eventually left, the abuse escalated. She said police "minimised" her fears and told her that while "it's upsetting, there's not much we can do for you". She was given some referrals and told she would need to take out a domestic violence order (DVO) herself, with a service. If you need help immediately, call emergency services on triple-0. "All of the services were booked out. So at that point when you're in a crisis and you need help … you can't get help," she said. "So essentially you're alone." It is an experience advocates say happens all too often. Holly Gurruwiwi escaped a violent relationship with her small child in 2016, after support from a police officer gave her courage to leave. But she agreed the system required self-advocacy from victims. "Why is up to [the victim] to go to A, B, C … ? We need to be coming to them," Ms Gurruwiwi said. A proud Aboriginal woman, Ms Gurruwiwi used her experience to help others, and educate first responders about different kinds of violence. She said there were barriers for First Nations women, who are disproportionately impacted by family and domestic violence. "I think the biggest challenge for Aboriginal people … we don't have the language around it," she said. Coercive control is not a standalone criminal charge in the NT, though the Domestic and Family Violence Act 2007 defines it as "a pattern of conduct" that can include "violent, threatening or intimidating behaviour". Tangentyere Council's men's behaviour change program in Alice Springs is one of the few running in the territory. Men who take part in the 16-week program are educated about their violence, its impact and making different choices. Co-manager of Tangentyere's family safety and social services division Maree Corbo said the program was struggling to meet demand. Ms Corbo said the lack of men's behaviour change programs in the Northern Territory and the challenges in recruiting and retaining staffing in remote areas were core issues for the sector. NT Minister for Prevention of Domestic Violence Robyn Cahill has known the struggle. She said a $36 million annual government funding commitment would be part of the solution. But local advocates said the figure, first raised by the sector in 2022, was outdated due to inflation and now the "bare minimum" of what was required. The federal government said it was providing $245 million to the NT to address family, domestic and sexual violence, some of which would go to NT government departments more broadly, and some given directly to frontline organisations. For victims trying to leave violence now, support cannot come soon enough. NT police have predicted domestic violence rates will rise by a further 70 per cent in the next decade. Darlene said she wants women in similar positions to remember "you've got one life" so "use your intuition … you can do this". Ms Gurruwiwi wants the government to accept all 35 recommendations made by the NT coroner last year to improve the territory's response to family and domestic violence. "I have a 12-year-old daughter," she said.
Qatar Tribune
21-06-2025
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
Empowering Filipinas: IAM Filipina launches 3rd mentoring batch in Doha Middle East's first all-Filipina mentoring community
Darlene Regis IAM Filipina, the Middle East's pioneering all-Filipina mentoring community, officially launched its third mentoring batch on April 25, 2025, at the Academia International Institute and Center in Doha. This year's programmebrings together seven pairs of Filipina women mentors and mentees, united in a shared mission of growth, guidance, and empowerment. The event started with an inspiring speech by IAM Filipina co-founder Dr Karmela Palma, who emphasised mentorship's key role in unlocking the potential of Filipina women in Qatar and beyond, setting a tone of collaboration and growth. Following the welcome remarks, Glenda Santos, co-lead of the program, held an orientation outlining goals, expectations, and resources to prepare mentors and mentees for a successful journey. A key feature of the launch was a workshop on 'Building and Maintaining Healthy Mentoring Relationships,' led by Dr. Clarinda Estrella, who also co-leads the program, offering practical tips on trust, communication, and shared goals for strong mentoring bonds. The seven mentoring pairs come from diverse professional and personal backgrounds, reflecting the breadth of talent within Doha's Filipina IAM Filipina Mentoring Program connects experienced Filipina professionals with women seeking support and guidance to advance their careers and personal growth. Through this initiative, mentees receive valuable advice and encouragement, while mentors deepen their leadership skills and contribute back to the community. The successful launch of this third batch reaffirms IAM Filipina's dedication to empowering Filipina women in Qatar. As the first and only all-Filipina mentoring community in the Middle East, IAM Filipina continues to nurture future leaders and foster a culture of support and achievement within the region's vibrant Filipina diaspora.
Metro
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
I found the new Final Destination incredibly relatable for a painful reason
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Warning: Spoilers for Final Destination: Bloodlines below Final Destination successfully fostered a fear of log trucks in a generation of film fans, among various other everyday objects, and now the beloved horror franchise is back for a sixth installment. Bloodlines, released in cinemas on May 14, sees death making its way through hundreds of survivors of what should have been a devastating accident in a sky-high restaurant and bar decades before. In the present, Stefani (Kaitlyn Santa Juana) is haunted by nightmares involving her estranged grandma Iris (Brec Bassinger/Gabrielle Rose), who should have been killed in the Skyview Tower that day. Stefani travels home to visit her family and track down Iris to discover the nature of her dreams, but she soon unravels a terrifying truth that has followed her family for generations. That death is coming for the entire family, too. Much of Final Destination: Bloodlines focuses on the family dynamics of our central characters, including Stefani and her brother Charlie's (Teo Briones) mum, Darlene (Rya Kihlstedt), who abandoned them when they were children. As death begins to pick off members of their family one by one, Stefani and Darlene bond while trying to save their souls. Darlene explains to Stefani that she did want to be their mother, but after being raised by Iris and the constant, looming fear of death, having her children made her see 'a hundred' ways they could die. It's a simple line of dialogue, but it's one that I haven't been able to stop thinking about since for one simple reason – I can sadly relate to Darlene's fears of mortality when looking at my own children. I found out I was pregnant with my first child the same weekend we went into lockdown during the pandemic, one of the most terrifying times of my life. After never really thinking I would be a parent, and would instead spend my life surrounded by a menagerie of animals, I suddenly found myself dealing with the huge mental shift that comes with pregnancy, the myriad of aches and pains and sickness, and the looming prospect of a mysterious virus and the rising death toll it caused. As someone who had suffered with depression and anxiety for more than a decade prior, social distancing, lone hospital appointments, and repeated warnings over how precious and vulnerable the life inside me was added a fresh level of fear to my everyday woes. I spent hours most days talking myself off a ledge of spiralling panic, before not being able to and having to call my midwife for advice through floods of tears. My daughter's birth was the most beautiful experience of my life, and yet soon after, the intrusive thoughts began, as, just like Darlene, I started to focus on every little object or chain of events that could harm the most precious human being in my life. It became frightening to leave the house as I imagined someone stealing my car in the time it took me to leave the driver's seat to get my baby from her seat, or someone crashing into us, or any number of tragedies occurring in the outside world. It wasn't until I had welcomed my second daughter that I realised just because I had fantastic births and laidback babies didn't mean that I wasn't suffering in a different, often misunderstood way, as my postpartum mental health plummeted. Final Destination – Netflix and Amazon Prime Video Final Destination 2 – Netflix and Amazon Prime Video Final Destination 3 – Netflix and Amazon Prime Video The Final Destination – Amazon Prime Video Final Destination 5 – Netflix and Amazon Prime Video Final Destination: Bloodlines – In cinemas May 14 Unlike Darlene, I didn't run away; I sought help through a combination of speaking therapy and medication, and now those thoughts are mostly a distant whisper in my mind and don't consume my every waking thought. When Darlene said that she felt she had to abandon her children as she saw the pain of her younger self in her daughter's eyes, it hit me like a slap across the face as I remembered the moment I realised my anxiety had become an issue not just for me, but for my children. The relationship between Darlene, Stefani, and Charlie is handled beautifully within the film, with the familial dysfunction of Final Destination: Bloodlines adding a painfully relatable layer of horror to the standard blood and guts. The death scenes are extravagant, but it is the tough, heartfelt conversations that leave their mark. It shows that it is never too late for a second chance, making Darlene's final sacrifice for her children to give her own life to keep them safe even more heartbreaking. Darlene's redemption arc warmed my heart and made me thankful I had the opportunity to confront my death anxiety head-on without missing a moment of my children's lives. Kihlstedt's performance as Darlene is simply mesmerising, both warm and loving towards her family, yet reserved and scared to see them hurt or for her to become hurt in the process. She perfectly embodies the complex emotions of parenting while working through trauma, and the devastating effects it can have on those around you. The complex, messy heart of family life is front and centre of Final Destination: Bloodlines, flipping the script we've become used to in the beloved 00s franchise. More Trending Yes, we still have the nightmare-fuel death scenes, sure to unlock a whole new set of phobias, but the haunting presence of familial trauma and estrangement is what really frayed my nerves when I exited the cinema. Everyone expects to go into a Final Destination film and come out of it with a brand new set of phobias to obsess over. But with its focus on family dynamics and the weight of parenthood, Bloodlines reflected back to me something far more chilling that made it a powerful standout of the franchise. Final Destination: Bloodlines is released in the UK on May 14 Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: The Celebrity Traitors line-up is a game-changing moment in television MORE: One block of flats taught me everything about Britain's housing crisis MORE: 'Staggeringly grisly' new horror sequel debuts to huge 91% Rotten Tomatoes score
Black America Web
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Help The Nightly Spirit Win a Stellar Award!
Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE Source: Reach Media / Urban One Help The Nightly Spirit head to the Stellars! The Stellar Awards and its academy (SAGMA) continue to pay tribute to Gospel radio's role in the delivery of Gospel music by acknowledging some of the radio stations who have helped foster the steady increase in the appetite for gospel music. If you enjoying kicking it with Darlene each and every weekday night, submit your vote! LIKE US ON FACEBOOK. FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM & TWITTER. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE. Vote The Nightly Spirit with Darlene for Syndicated Gospel Radio Show of the Year at the Stellar Awards below! Darlene gained a loyal radio following as the mid-day host on Radio One Atlanta's Multi-Stellar Award winning station Praise 102.5, and has since broadened her reach to syndication! She has a bold and broad approach to controversial topics, and is spiritually centered with an undeniable anointing empowered to reach her listeners ( STAY INFORMED! CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER! READ MORE STORIES ON HEAD TO THE HOMEPAGE
CBC
08-05-2025
- CBC
‘We basically drove through fire': Woman recounts daring rescue in Adam's Cove via ATV
Pauline White says when she got word that two women were trapped, she — and her friend, Darlene — jumped on their ATVs, and gunned it down the track to Adam's Cove to beat the flames. She tells her story to the CBC's Henrike Wilhelm.
