Family violence forum: equality and change are key

Empowering women and less rigid gender roles amongst younger generations are two key factors in eliminating family violence in our community according to speakers at a forum hosted by the Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas and attended by the Minister for Women and the Prevention of Family Violence, the Hon. Fiona Richardson MP, on Friday.

The forum, held at Kyneton Secondary College, brought together a range of experts and local service providers including Cobaw Community Health, the Centre for Non-Violence, Kyneton Police, Our Watch and local family violence survivor and advocate, Belinda Spence.

In seeking to debunk some of the myths around family violence, one of the key themes emerging out of the discussion was that violence against women isn’t confined to certain groups and neighbourhoods but cuts across social and economic boundaries.

Another common attitude often holds victims accountable for the violence by asking "Why doesn’t she leave?" instead of asking "Why doesn’t he stop hitting her?".

As well as debunking common myths around the problem, the Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas, said that cultural change amongst the next generation of young people provided great hope in tackling the problem.

"That is why the Respectful Relationships curriculum, which will be rolled out across Victorian government schools in 2016 as announced on Friday by the Minister for Education, the Hon. James Merlino, is a great step forward," Ms Thomas said.

"This is an important moment in history – for the first time the problem of family violence is being brought out of the shadows to be tackled as a serious public policy issue," Ms Thomas said.

"Whilst almost two women a week are dying in Australia at the hands of an intimate partner, we cannot talk about this issue enough and I look forward to continuing the conversation in our community wherever I can," Ms Thomas said.

Friday’s family violence forum is part of a broader "Say NO to family violence" campaign being run by Ms Thomas in the Macedon Ranges. Forty-six community organisations including service and sporting clubs, churches, schools, CFA’s businesses and the Macedon Ranges Shire Council have joined the campaign. If your business or community group would like to get on board or find out more, please contact Lisa Ohlmus on 5428 2138.

Background:

According to VicHealth, violence is the biggest cause of injury or death for women between 18 and 45. One in three Australian women will experience physical or sexual violence in her lifetime. Research has repeatedly shown that violence crosses all boundaries and can happen to women from all social, economic, cultural backgrounds and family situations.

The Andrews Government has established Australia’s first Royal Commission into Family Violence to investigate ways to prevent family violence, improve early intervention and protect those at risk, support victims, make perpetrators accountable and better coordinate responses and shape appropriate attitudes towards women and children.

The Commission is due to complete its recommendations to the government by Monday 29 February 2016.