Jolene Ellat is the founder and Director of the Domestic Abuse Resource and Training Group (DART Group) and principal of DART Institute.

Jolene is a family and domestic violence (FDV) and sexual violence specialist with more than 15 years of specialist experience. She provides research, workforce development consultancy, professional training, and supervision for government and non-government agencies and community groups. Her expertise includes policy and practice development in prevention, early intervention, perpetrator intervention and response, supervision, and trauma recovery. She has a special interest in cultural diversity when working with families from diverse backgrounds.

During her early career, Jolene worked with family law services in coordinated response and managerial roles. She provided women’s advocacy across Western Australia, conducted clinical interviews, and wrote forensic reports to the Department of Justice.

Jolene has a track record for leading multi-agency and multi-disciplinary approaches to FDV intervention. Recently, she conducted research into supporting Family Domestic Violence Response Teams (FDVRTs) and facilitated cross-sectorial professional development with the Police (WAPOL), child protection, and the Coordinated Response Service (working with eight specialist sector agencies). She has led national projects, including the evaluations and recommendations for the ACT’s Family Violence Safety Action Pilot.

Jolene is an internationally accredited Safe and Together trainer. She has also designed and delivered professional training in prevention, early intervention, tertiary intervention, and perpetrator intervention for the Department of Communities, Justice Department, and WA Department of Health. Jolene has customised programs such as supporting children recovering from FDV and FDV-informed practice supervision training. She designs and delivers webinars across Australia.

Jolene is an active contributor to academic publications and presents nationally and internationally at conferences, often as a guest speaker on live panels. She holds a Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy from the University of Notre Dame Australia, a Bachelor of Arts in Education/Psychology from Edith Cowan University, a Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Studies and Human Rights from Curtin University, and a Professional Certificate in Childhood Trauma from the University of South Australia.