It’s an age-old question that often gets asked of people who are fleeing situations of family violence – why didn’t she just leave? And it’s one that the gripping drama series answers right from the start.
“They know what the safest thing to do is,” lawyer Jenny (Mabel Li), tells Phoebe (Aisha Dee), the newly hired communications officer. “Sometimes staying is the best option. You know where he is, you can read the temperature, help regulate their mood swings.”
As it becomes quickly clear to Phoebe Rook, it’s not going to be easy to work in a struggling family violence legal centre, especially after the rocky start she’s had. Everything that can go wrong goes wrong on her first day, when Phoebe makes a terrible mistake that puts a client’s life at risk.
But Phoebe perseveres and she discovers she’s good at her job, especially as it’s something she cares about a lot. The family violence survivors she works with feel comfortable with her and she is able to hold space for them and their often traumatic stories.
Phoebe (Aisha Dee) with Eve (Virginia Gay), the unflinching CEO of the legal centre. Source: Narelle Portanier
As would be expected from a centre where sometimes life and death are literally on the line, tensions run high as the work is relentless, but we get moments of reprieve. Phoebe quickly establishes a camaraderie with her colleagues, and it becomes clear that a dark sense of humour is going to get them through the work day. Jenny who initially didn’t like Phoebe and has a rule to not develop a rapport with any employee who has worked at the centre for less than six months, abandons this rule as she asks Phoebe out for a drink. The two soon begin to form a friendship outside of work.
Then there are Phoebe’s friends – Max (Hal Cumpston) is her housemate and also her oldest and closest friend who is running for council elections despite hating mainstream politics. He provides moments of comic relief, like when he is trying to psych out his competition by eating pizza on a serious Zoom call about local politics. And then there is Layla (Chenoa Deemal), a hard-nosed journo who definitely has a soft spot for her friend. She knows when Phoebe is hiding something and her instincts are to find out what it is.
If work isn’t tough enough, Phoebe finds herself entangled in a complex relationship that puts everything including her work and personal life on the line. Every episode has flash forwards with Phoebe being questioned by a detective, hinting to a secret that is teased throughout the series, where we don’t learn the full truth till the very last episode.
Lawyer, Jenny (Mabel Li). Source: Sarah Enticknap
Phoebe’s friend and housemate Max (Hal Cumpston). Source: SBS
Interspersed throughout the series we get vignettes of stories of individuals experiencing various forms of abuse, such as economic abuse, emotional abuse and cohesive control.
Devoted mother and grandmother Diana, played with compassion and depth by Janet Andrewartha, has her story weaved throughout the episodes. We first witness her under the abusive control of Jon. She has been planning to leave him for many years before seizing the opportunity to escape his clutches. But what follows is not an easy road and highlights not only how difficult the journey for victims of family violence can be, but also that there are no easy answers to what is ultimately a complex situation.
The show’s creators sought guidance from legal professionals and psychologists who have worked in the family violence sector for years in order to achieve an authentic portrayal, and it shows. While from the outset this is a series about a young woman working in a difficult and fast-paced environment, the show also brings to light the harsh reality of life for family violence victims.
Diana (Janet Andrewartha). Source: Sarah Enticknap
It becomes clear that the services meant to help these victims through the toughest time of their lives are underfunded and lack resources. The staff that work at the centre represent the many social workers, lawyers, psychologists and other professionals who dedicate their lives to making the lives of victims better. And as Jenny points out, they do twice the hours for half the pay.
Safe Home has not only taken on a challenging subject and tackled it in an honest and realistic manner, it is also a captivating drama that has you hooked from the get-go. Much of this is due to the magnetic presence of Aisha Dee as Phoebe. By working at the centre Phoebe learns about the many challenges those in the family services sector face, and she highlights how red flags can’t always be seen. In many ways her journey holds up a mirror to the audience. As we discover, abusers can come across as nice guys in day-to-day life and aren’t easy to spot; and family violence can happen to anyone, even those who think it can never happen to them.
Jenny (Mabel Li) and Phoebe (Aisha Dee) socialising outside work. Source: Sarah Enticknap
Safe Home premiered with a double episode at 8.30pm on SBS, Thursday 11 May. The four-part series concludes with a double episode at 8.30pm on SBS, Thursday 18 May. All four episodes are also now streaming :
