The Shark Cage^® framework is based on the concept of Universal Human Rights.

Learning about The Bill of Rights and reinforcing & strengthening their Shark Cages is empowering for girls and women of all ages. Here are examples of rights in each of the six categories of rights. Renovating the Shark Cage is Step 2 in the Five Step framework

Our Partners

Ursula Benstead

Meet the creator of
The Shark Cage^® framework

Psychologist and Clinical Supervisor Ursula Benstead has 25 years of experience in the field of complex trauma, particularly in the areas of family/domestic violence and sexual assault.

As the author of The Shark Cage Group Program Manual and co-author of The Shark Cage Program For Young Women, Ursula has provided Shark Cage training in Australia and internationally to over 5000 professionals.

Ursula’s important and impactful framework is highly sought after to resource workers with tools to empower their clients

5 Steps

The Shark Cage^® Framework

The 5 step framework is a way of preventing and understanding violence against girls and women. It draws on a powerful metaphor and multiple psychological modalities for working in trauma informed ways to empower girls and women.

Step 1: Introducing the Shark Cage Metaphor

Step 2: Renovating the Shark Cage

Step 3: Fixing the Shark Cage Alarm

Step 4: Defending the Shark Cage

Step 5: Recognizing Sharks and Dolphins

See Ursula talk about
The Shark Cage Framework

Watch the Animation

A key resource for professionals

Use the animation to explore the concepts of Human Rights, Feminism, intersectionality and the Shark Cage® Framework with young women and the broader community

Learn about the Shark Cage^® Framework

Research shows that women who have experienced early abuse in childhood are more likely to be re-victimised in later life. Access training so you can share strategies that will increase girls and women’s understanding of their rights and awareness of abusive and respectful behaviours.

The Shark Cage

For Organisations

Work with a leading trainer and empower your team to increase women’s understanding of their rights and awareness of abusive and respectful behaviours.

For Individuals

Have you experienced abuse in you life and find yourself struggling to understand why this has happened and how can you heal from the impacts? Do you want to learn how to recognise the difference between Sharks who violate your Human Rights & Dolphins who support your rights? Working with a professional trained in the Shark Cage or joining a Shark Cage group will empower you to create a life that puts you and your rights at the centre.

You can find a Shark Cage Group by doing an internet search using the words ‘Shark Cage Group for women’ and your suburb or closest city. We don’t run groups ourselves. We provide training for the facilitators of groups and they do not notify us when they run Shark Cage Groups. Please contact the organisations advertising that they run Shark Cage Groups directly for more information.

Free Download

The Shark Cage Metaphor

Find out why this simple but powerful metaphor has given thousands of women a ‘lightbulb moment’ that has changed their lives.

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What People Say

Hear from professionals who have completed the training, facilitators who run Shark Cage^® programs and participants of Shark Cage programs

“Gave me a different way of thinking and working with women. Fantastic training, so unique. Ursula, I love your work.”

Shelly, Domestic Violence Practitioner, Domestic Violence Action Centre

via Facebook

“Amazing practical training that is applicable and easy to apply to clients to build self-confidence and agency within them. So very worth attending. Ursula is fabulous.”

Karen, Specialist DV practitioner, IFS Act for Kids

via Facebook

“I now know that I have rights, before the groups I was not aware I could set a boundary.”

30 year old woman, South Australia

via Facebook

“I’ll be able to deal with my problems in healthier ways now.”

Year 9 girl, NSW

via Facebook

“Ursula is extremely knowledgeable and delivered great training.”

Natalie, Restorative Justice conferencing convenor, Youth Justice

via Facebook

“Wonderful training! So easy to follow. I can’t wait to apply it in my work!”

Lee-Anne, Team Leader, Uniting Care

via Facebook

“I will be able to stop blaming myself for the abuse I have experienced and have confidence in how I am raising my children to respect others and not expect abuse.”

33 Year old woman, Victoria

via Facebook

“Understanding the Shark Cage has given me new skills, tools and knowledge to better help my clients understand how to recognise healthy & unhealthy relationships. The training was so clear and understandable. I have learnt heaps & can’t wait to share this with my clients.”

Lisa, Family Support Worker, Uniting Care

via Facebook

“I feel more confident as a result of doing the course.”

20 year old woman, NSW

via Facebook

“The metaphor is a great way to raise awareness of unhealthy and healthy relationships. It’s a fantastic way to raise awareness of when people’s human rights are being violated and it is not okay!”

Sally, School Social Worker, Dept. of Education

via Facebook

“Engaging, inspiring and educational. I’m excited to introduce this into client’s lives. Easy to adapt to various people, cultures etc.”

Paige, Counsellor, Wide Bay Sexual Assault Service

via Facebook

“I have had lots of epiphanies today, both from the content and things other people have said.”

26 year old woman, Victoria

via Facebook

“As a facilitator of the Shark Cage group in Adelaide for the last 18 months, I have found running the program very satisfying. I found that the way the manual had been so thoroughly written out by Ursula made it far easier to run the group than other groups I have facilitated. I enjoyed the non-blaming Shark Cage metaphor and the Human Rights lens, and women who have participated have told me that they now use this lens when assessing future relationships and looking out for red flags that might indicate Shark activity. I loved the originality of creating the Shark Cage mural using group activities throughout the program and have had lots of participant feedback about the long term positive effects of the program. It has become a very popular group and fills up quickly with a minimum drop out rate.”

Nicky, Relationship Counsellor /Specialised Family/Domestic Violence Counsellor, Anglicare

via Facebook

“I have grown more in the last 8 weeks than I have in years.”

52 year old woman, Victoria

via Facebook

“It was absolutely enlightening, educating and empowering, a huge learning curve for me.”

44 year old woman, South Australia

via Facebook

“I can see this being very helpful for lots of my clients. Excellent training.”

Maree, Family Intervention Practitioner, St. Vincent de Paul

via Facebook

“I have learnt the importance of self-care and that we need to help ourselves before we can help others. Putting the whole Shark Cage metaphor together in the mural was awesome.”

24 Year old woman, Victoria

via Facebook

“Such useful information that can be tailored to the needs in different client groups. The training was interactive which kept it interesting and engaging.”

Veronica, Restorative Justice Conference Convenor, Youth Justice

via Facebook

“The training has provided a new framework that has the flexibility to be delivered to a diverse range of women. The metaphor is incredibly relatable and I’m excited to see the outcomes of sharing the knowledge.”

Pene, Northern Manager, Glenhaven Family Care

via Facebook

“I learnt that I should be proud of myself and that I have my own rights. This will help me forever.”

Year 10 girl, NSW

via Facebook

“Thoroughly enjoyed the course, it has helped me identify Sharks and Dolphins.”

24 year old woman, NSW

via Facebook

“The students thoroughly enjoyed the program and grew in confidence and knowledge of how to handle difficult circumstances. During the program we had parents calling to ask if their children could be involved.”

Brydie Scollary, Wellbeing Officer, Horsham Secondary College, Victoria

via Facebook

“This training was amazing – so worthwhile.”

Katelyn, Social worker, Anglicare

via Facebook

“I loved this training and the flexibility of working with an individual or group. Using it with our young people will be great. Thanks for a really great day.”

Sue, Team Leader, Glenhaven Family Care

via Facebook

“This will help me to see who I should hang out with and if it is worthwhile.”

Year 9 girl, Victoria

via Facebook

“Fantastic program. It has helped me to grow and work towards a better future and understanding and knowing my rights. Thanks heaps for changing my world.”

42 year old woman, Victoria

via Facebook

“Making a Shark Cage made me feel better. Seeing all that I have achieved and built.”

Year 9 girl, NSW

via Facebook

“The training was so clear & helpful in having strategies to support women who have experienced repeated violations of their Human Rights. The framework is optimistic for both worker and client.”

Sarah, Counsellor/Advocate, Northern Centre Against Sexual Assault

via Facebook

“I continue to love being a part of this program and seeing the growth in confidence & resilience in the girls.”

Kathy Garland, Girl’s Wellbeing Coordinator, Macksville High School, NSW

via Facebook

“Fantastic training. Very practical & useful techniques. I have several clients in mind who I can instantly begin this work with.”

Catherine, Intensive Family Preservation worker, Sutherland Family Services

via Facebook

“The Shark Cage framework is so helpful and applicable to our work with young women.”

Miriam, Senior Worker, Youth Justice

via Facebook

“I feel more aware of why equality is so important in 2018.”

Year 9 girl, Victoria

via Facebook

“I will now be able to stop Sharks coming into my life and know my self worth.”

Year 10 girl, NSW

via Facebook

“It has been so helpful in all areas of my life.”

52 year old woman, NSW

via Facebook

“This program has taught me to think more positively.”

Year 9 girl, NSW

via Facebook

“I really enjoyed the day. Theory and practice were blended in a very user friendly way. The best self-care component I have experienced at the end of the training.”

Allison, Family worker, TAC

via Facebook

“I am so much stronger and more confident.”

23 year old woman, Victoria

via Facebook

Brydie Scollary, Wellbeing Officer, Horsham Secondary College, Victoria

via Facebook

“I continue to love being a part of this program and seeing the growth in confidence & resilience in the girls.”

Kathy Garland, Girl’s Wellbeing Coordinator, Macksville High School, NSW

via Facebook

“I did this training in response to clients calling and telling me it was helpful for them – so I wanted to know more. It was really worthwhile – great concepts & practical tools.”

Anna, Specialist Trauma Counsellor, 1800RESPECT

via Facebook

“The framework is easy to understand and well resourced. I am confident I can apply the learning to my practice, both with individuals and groups. Great training.”

Diana, Family support Practitioner, Act for Kids

via Facebook

“I said I wouldn’t visit my abuser in hospital this week. Before this group I just would have gone.”

44 year old woman, South Australia

via Facebook

“It was interactive and fun. Lots of good energy and I feel way more aware.”

Year 9 girl, Victoria

via Facebook

“We have been running Shark Cage groups for three years. We were so grateful to come across this way of explaining to women that what happened to them is not their fault and there is light at the end of the tunnel in terms of them being in control of engaging in relationships (or not) in the future. Women have used words like feeling ‘empowered’, ‘relieved’ and ‘hopeful’ about their journey moving forward.”

Ros, Case Manager, Staying Home & Leaving Violence Program, Lake Macquarie, NSW

via Facebook

“I’m amazed at how far I’ve come. I’ve dumped my abusive boyfriend, got a job and have stopped hurting myself.”

17 year old woman, South Australia

via Facebook

“We have heard so many examples of women finding a voice for the first time in their lives within their family and friendship circles and witnesses an increase in their self esteem which has been so rewarding.”

Michelle, Case Manager, Staying Home & Leaving Violence Program, Lake Macquarie, NSW

via Facebook

“I’ve been able to set boundaries with my friend who wanted to see me every day and for our relationship to be sexual. I didn’t know how to do that before.”

30 year old woman Victoria

via Facebook

“I will pay attention to my gut instinct and ditch a relationship if something is wrong.”

Year 10 girl, NSW

via Facebook

The Shark Cage® framework is based on the concept of Universal Human Rights.

Learning about The Bill of Rights and reinforcing & strengthening their Shark Cages is empowering for girls and women of all ages. Here are examples of rights in each of the six categories of rights. Renovating the Shark Cage is Step 2 in the Five Step framework

Our Partners

Meet the creator of The Shark Cage® framework

The Shark Cage® Framework

See Ursula talk about The Shark Cage Framework

A key resource for professionals

Learn about the Shark Cage® Framework

For Organisations

For Individuals

The Shark Cage Metaphor

Hear from professionals who have completed the training, facilitators who run Shark Cage® programs and participants of Shark Cage programs

The Shark Cage^® framework is based on the concept of Universal Human Rights.

Meet the creator of
The Shark Cage^® framework

The Shark Cage^® Framework

See Ursula talk about
The Shark Cage Framework

Learn about the Shark Cage^® Framework

Hear from professionals who have completed the training, facilitators who run Shark Cage^® programs and participants of Shark Cage programs