06/11/2026
💜🎙️ BREAKING THE SILENCE, RAISING AWARENESS & EMPOWERING WOMEN 🇷🇸🇦🇺
Last night, I had the privilege of joining the wonderful ladies of Boomerang Ladies Night – Serbian Radio Melbourne, 3ZZZ 92.3FM, for an incredibly meaningful and heartfelt discussion about issues affecting women, families and our communities.
🎙️ Alongside Daliborka Lazarević, Maja Petrović, Tatjana Medvedev, Tanja Josifovski and myself, Desanka "Desa" Ogrizovic, we gathered around the radio table as a team of passionate mental health and wellbeing professionals, sharing our professional insights, experiences and perspectives on important issues affecting women, families and our communities.
Our conversation was predominantly in English, bringing awareness to the incredible Share the Dignity – It's in the Bag initiative, which supports women and girls experiencing hardship, homelessness and domestic violence.
But our discussion went much deeper. ❤️
Together, we explored:
🌸 Domestic and family violence – understanding that abuse isn't always physical. It can be emotional, psychological, financial, sexual or involve coercive control.
🌸 Balkan cultural attitudes – challenging the silence, shame and deeply ingrained mentality of "Šta će ljudi reći?" (What will people say?)
🌸 Generational trauma – recognising how unhealthy beliefs, behaviours and relationship patterns can be passed down through generations.
🌸 Breaking the cycle – how education, awareness, healthy boundaries and empowerment can create lasting change.
🌸 Supporting our fellow sisters – recognising the signs of abuse, listening without judgement and helping women feel safe, heard and supported.
💗 As a counsellor and empowerment coach, this topic is particularly close to my heart.
I strongly believe that education is empowerment, and awareness is the beginning of change.
Domestic violence does not discriminate. It can affect anyone, regardless of culture, education, age or socioeconomic background.
Abuse doesn't always leave visible bruises. Sometimes the deepest wounds are the ones nobody sees.
Within our Serbian and wider Balkan communities, we need to continue challenging the cultural expectations, generational beliefs and stigma that can prevent people from speaking up and seeking help.
We need to educate our daughters about self-worth, teach our sons about respect, and empower future generations to recognise healthy relationships.
❤️ We need to support our fellow sisters, not judge them.
Instead of asking, "Why doesn't she just leave?" perhaps we should be asking, "How can we help her feel safe and supported?"
Different professional perspectives, one shared purpose — to educate, empower and support our fellow sisters, because no woman should ever feel alone, unheard or judged.
A heartfelt thank you to the wonderful ladies at Boomerang Serbian Radio for creating a safe platform for these important conversations and encouraging greater awareness within our community.
🎧 LISTEN TO OUR RADIO DISCUSSION HERE:
https://omny.fm/shows/serbian/serbian-6-november-2026
👜 SHARE THE DIGNITY – IT'S IN THE BAG
📅 Donation drive: 6–22 November 2026
This beautiful initiative reminds us that even the smallest act of kindness can help restore someone's dignity, offer hope and remind them they are not alone.
Let's break the silence, challenge the stigma, educate our communities and empower one another. 💜
✨ DESA Holistic Wellbeing
Desanka "Desa" Ogrizovic
Counsellor | Empowerment & Transformation Coach
🌐 www.desaholisticwellbeing.com.au
💜 If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic or family violence, confidential support is available through 1800RESPECT – 1800 737 732, 24/7.
