Canberra Advocate Embarks on Unique Running Mission for Domestic Violence Support
Kim Elms, a dedicated advocate from Canberra, has spent the past year undertaking an extraordinary personal challenge: running through every street in every suburb across the capital territory. With her goal nearly complete, she is strategically saving some key routes to tackle during the upcoming Canberra Marathon, blending her passion for running with a powerful cause.
Fundraising for a Critical Service
Ms. Elms is using her running journey to raise vital funds for the ACT's Domestic Violence Crisis Service, an organization facing a critical funding shortfall that threatens its 24/7 operations from July onward. She documents her progress and provides suburb assessments on her Instagram page, Every Street Matters, which has become a platform for awareness and community engagement.
"I've had to access the domestic violence crisis service myself, and they are incredibly supportive and helpful," Ms. Elms shared, highlighting the personal connection that drives her efforts. Her advocacy extends beyond fundraising; she has been instrumental in campaigns for improved lighting around Lake Burley Griffin and organized running events in response to safety concerns, such as after a woman was attacked during a trial run in March 2025.
Raising Awareness on Coercive Control
As a survivor of domestic violence and sexual assault, Ms. Elms is passionate about educating the public on coercive control, a form of abuse that often goes unrecognized. She describes it as behaviors like a partner constantly monitoring your whereabouts, controlling friendships, or dictating clothing choices, which can escalate to stalking.
"It's like a frog in boiling water—it just gets a little bit hotter until suddenly, you lose access to your own finances," she explained. Reflecting on her own experience, she noted how her partner framed financial control as reducing stress, leaving her without her name on bills for 25 years. When she began her suburb running journey in January 2025, she found that many people were unaware coercive control is not illegal in the ACT, limiting options for victims to seek police intervention without physical threats.
A Journey of Mental Health and Healing
Running has been a cornerstone of Ms. Elms' life for two decades, and this project has become an integral part of her mental health recovery. "I thought this was a great way for me to heal at the same time," she said. Her running credentials are impressive, having completed marathons in Canberra, Boston, Hawaii, and New Zealand, with Canberra set to be her ninth official marathon and Sydney planned for her tenth.
Even in her general practice, she often covers marathon distances unofficially, embracing the challenge and camaraderie of official events. "It's usually a really good atmosphere of people achieving things, and it doesn't matter what pace you go at," she added.
Insights from Canberra's Streets
Traversing Canberra's diverse suburbs has offered Ms. Elms a unique perspective on community life. She has encountered quirky sights like a giant zebra, giraffe, and eagle in front yards, as well as a slanted climbing wall on a house facade. However, not all experiences have been positive; she reported that the Belconnen district has been the worst for rude behavior, with people yelling or acting unnecessarily hostile.
Ms. Elms prefers running in older suburbs due to their better tree coverage and cooler environments, contrasting with newer areas like Denman Prospect, which she described as having "no flat streets" and being excessively hot in summer. Last year, she suffered a calf muscle tear while running there, forcing an eight-week break. "Anything on the side of a mountain is terrible," she remarked.
Ms. Elms will participate in The Canberra Times Canberra Marathon Festival on April 12, continuing her mission to support domestic violence services and promote awareness through every step she takes.
