A woman from Victoria has been charged by the Victoria Joint Counter Terrorism Team after returning to Australia from overseas, over alleged links to the Islamic State group (ISIS) and travelling to a declared conflict zone in Syria.
The 34-year-old woman from Broadmeadows appeared before the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court following her arrest by counter-terrorism investigators.
She has been charged with entering or remaining in a declared area under section 119.2 of the Criminal Code and being a member of a terrorist organisation under section 102.3(1). Both offences carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
Authorities allege the woman travelled to Syria between 2013 and 2014 with others, including a man, to join ISIS. The man is believed to currently be imprisoned in the Middle East.
Investigators also allege she was detained by Kurdish forces in 2019 and held at the al-Hawl Internally Displaced Persons camp with other family members.
The woman returned to Australia from Lebanon in September 2025 alongside another 36-year-old woman.
The Victoria Joint Counter Terrorism Team, which includes the Australian Federal Police, Victoria Police and ASIO, carried out search warrants in Broadmeadows and Fitzroy North. During the operation, officers seized a suspected stolen vehicle, electronic devices, documents and photographs for forensic examination.
Investigations into both women are continuing.
AFP Deputy Commissioner for National Security Investigations Hilda Sirec said authorities continue to investigate returnees from Syrian camps and warned that a lack of immediate charges does not mean investigations have concluded.
Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Libby Murphy said protecting community safety remains the top priority, with agencies continuing to work together to assess any risks linked to people returning from conflict zones.
Authorities have urged anyone with relevant information to contact the National Security Hotline.