About this project

What is “Not The Only One”?

“Not The Only One” is an online space where Australian women who have experienced domestic violence and abuse can share their stories. Even though one in five Australian women is a victim/survivor of domestic violence, it is still not something that many women feel comfortable talking about or sharing with others. This is a place for them to connect anonymously through their shared experiences.

How should I use “Not The Only One”?

The stories on this site are freely available for anybody to read. If you read a woman’s story that resonates with you, you can click the “This is Like Me” button to show that you relate to her experiences. If you are a woman who has experienced domestic violence, you can submit your own story to the site by clicking “Write your Story”. You will be provided with instructions and helpful tips on how to do this.

Who made this website?

The Not the Only One site has been developed by a team of researchers led by Dr Laura Tarzia from The University of Melbourne. A group of women victim survivors of domestic violence generously contributed their time to helping us develop and review this site. Thank you! All of the content was transferred from its original site into this Safer Families website in May 2020. The dates that appear on blogs posted prior to May 2020 are not necessarily accurate. This is because it was not possible to identify dates of submitted stories from the original site.

Can I quote or use stories from this website?

From time to time we receive requests from organisations or entities wishing to quote or reuse stories from Not The Only One. Should you wish to reuse stories or content from this website, please contact the administrator outlining your request and intended use. We will generally only consider requests that are aligned with the goal of raising awareness about domestic violence, its prevention or response. Anyone can feel free to post the stories as they appear directly to social media.