Our Guest Speaker this week was Lisha van Reyk, the founder and leading light behind Deserving Better WA (DBWA), which exists to empower marginalised West Australian individuals who suffer under coercive control but show no external signs of their predicament. Lisha posed the question: what if someone is in a family domestic violence situation, but doesn’t qualify for help? During Covid times this scenario exploded, so Lisha approached Kate Chaney and DBWA was born. Coercive control is a pattern of domination, intimidation and manipulation, and it escalates gradually – resulting in isolation, financial abuse, monitoring, threats and intimidation. Another problem is that some young boys start to mimic their father’s behaviour, which adds another unwelcome dimension. When the crisis point is reached, the victim may suffer extreme injuries and even death, so DBWA steps in well before the crisis occurs and endeavours to provide advocacy, education and system navigation. Lisha established DBWA about two years ago, and all victims remain under the organisation’s care for a long time. However, there is no funding available to it and so Lisha is seeking funding opportunities, sponsors, and support of the very successful Charity Lunch, the next one of which will happen at Ambrose Estate, Wembley Golf Course on Sunday 8th November 2026 at 12.30 pm. Be there!!