A CRISP Autumn evening failed to discourage people from attending Leongatha’s candlelight vigil on Wednesday evening to commemorate victims of family violence and call for change, with such gatherings occurring around Australia.
South Gippsland Shire Council mayor Clare Williams delivered a stark and emotional message on the need for change.
“Over the past 10 years, one woman has been killed nearly every week,” she said of the terrible scourge of family violence throughout the nation.
She reflected on the loss of children’s lives and the harrowing impact on those young people who witness violence.
“The candlelight vigil is a call to speak up, lifting the veil of silence that surrounds domestic and family violence, and providing a place of support for those who need it,” Clare said.
Council CEO Kerryn Ellis stressed that family abuse is not always physical and can be controlling behaviour, psychological or financial.
“It’s important we come together as a community to raise awareness, understand others’ experiences, and also to challenge attitudes towards family violence,” she said.
After the brief formalities, Sentinel-Times spoke to program manager family violence at Anglicare Victoria Peta Speight, gaining her insights into the extent of the problem, the fact help exists and that positive outcomes are achievable.
She stressed that family violence affects one in five women in Gippsland, which has three of the worst impacted Local Government Areas for family violence per capita.
Those statistics encompass all forms of domestic abuse, including coercive control, and financial abuse and control, as well as sexual and other physical violence.
Peta explained the importance of community events such as Wednesday’s vigil.
“I think for our community, it makes it easier to acknowledge and more acceptable to reach out for support; to see your community rallying at an event like this where they can see there is help and support out there is important for women who may feel afraid or uncomfortable coming forward and speaking about their experiences,” she said.
Peta noted family violence stems from an unhealthy attitude to women including gender bias, power and control and the attitude of “boys will be boys”.
“It is learnt behaviour and can be undone,” she said, adding that everyone she works with believes in the power of change.
“I have seen so many good outcomes for women and children that continue to motivate and inspire me,” Peta said.
She urged those in immediate danger to contact triple zero, while outlining various help services that are available.
Peta explained that there is a “no wrong door” policy, meaning that those in need of support will be guided to the right service by those at whichever service they contact.
Orange Door, which in Gippsland is based in Leongatha, Morwell and Warragul, supports women and children experiencing family violence as well as assisting men who have identified the need to change their behaviour.
Peta said some men come to that realisation themselves while others are referred due to the intervention of authorities.
1800 Respect (1800 737 732) is staffed by trained family violence professionals who can make referrals for women and children who have experienced family violence.
“They can access counselling referrals, they can access other supports if there is an emergency and they need to leave, and access emergency accommodation,” Peta said.
Safe Steps provides emergency after hours response, referring to a local provider in the morning to continue required support.
Peta said that Anglicare Victoria has therapeutic recovery programs for women who have experienced family violence, helping with long term recovery.
Support service contact details:
Orange Door phone 1800 319 354 (Leongatha office), or visit vic.gov.au/about-the-orange-door for other locations and details.
1800 Respect (1800 737 732)
Safe Steps family violence response centre phone 1800 015 188.
