Kintsugi Heroes
Josie Parata · 53 min
A single mother of four who fled domestic violence while pregnant, lived in a women's refuge, survived a terminal cancer diagnosis, and went on to found a not-for-profit supporting victims of domestic violence, homelessness, and addiction — Josie Parata's story is proof that the deepest wounds can become the greatest gifts to others.
Josie Parata grew up in a home where domestic violence was normal, which meant when her own marriage began with name-calling, financial control, and aggression on the first night they met, she didn't recognize it as a warning. She thought this was what all relationships looked like. For years, she learned to walk on eggshells, waiting for the honeymoon phase after each explosion, when apologies and gifts would come. She had four children while trapped in this cycle, telling herself things would improve.
The turning point came when she found her eight-year-old son in his bedroom with a belt around his neck. That moment broke through the fog that trauma creates, and she reached out to her church for help. They connected her with a women's refuge, and in that space of safety, she began to see clearly: what she was living through was not normal, and her children were being harmed whether they witnessed the violence directly or not. She discovered that domestic violence isn't only physical. Financial control, verbal abuse, and emotional manipulation leave scars that last far longer than bruises.
From the refuge, Josie went on to found SMS Lighthouse, an organization supporting single mothers and children escaping domestic violence. She learned what these families actually needed: not handouts, but hand-ups; not bundles of documents to fill out alone, but someone to sit beside them through the practical steps. Her eldest son, once told he was hopeless, found his voice and joy once the eggshells were gone. He excelled at rugby and became a different child. Josie now helps other families see the pathway forward, one step at a time.
⚠️ Content advisory: this episode discusses domestic & family violence, which some listeners may find distressing.
If you need support, you're not alone. Help is available: • 1800RESPECT (family, domestic & sexual violence): 1800 737 732 · 1800respect.org.au
Every story here belongs to the person who lived it. They said yes to sharing it, and we sat with it carefully before it went up. Nothing here is exaggerated and nothing is used without permission. Read how we handle these stories ↗
Kintsugi Heroes · Registered Australian not-for-profit · kintsugiheroes.com.au ↗