MEDIA RELEASES

Monday 14^th November, 2016

Improving services for mental health and family violence

Tasmanian Family Violence Service, SHE (Support, Help and Empowerment), has today released a Family Violence toolkit for mental health professionals. The toolkit provides a go to guide on the basics of working with people who are experiencing family violence.

This important new resource, being launched by Robin Banks, the Equal Opportunity Commissioner of Tasmania, also supports family violence training SHE has delivered to the mental health sector.

“With the growing awareness of the causes and prevalence of family violence in Tasmania, comes a responsibility for community services to be able to work effectively with those who are being impacted,” explained, Mental Health Council of Tasmania CEO, Connie Digolis.

There is a significant body of research that links a bi-directional causal relationship between exposure to family violence and persistent mental health challenges. However, family violence is often a hidden problem among people seeking support for their mental health issues[i].

SHE Executive Officer, Alina Thomas states that, “if women are seeking help with symptoms of mental illness it can be very likely that family violence is an underlying issue. This resource will be the first of its kind to bring together the specialist practice of family violence intervention and the important work that is being done in the mental health sector.”

Under a grant received from the Partners in Recovery Tasmania, SHE has also designed and delivered a Champions Program to upskill those working in the mental health field to become more confident in responding to people experiencing mental health issues and family violence. The program has been an outstanding success with 12 people from across the State graduating from the intensive training today.

“Recognising and responding effectively to people who have experienced family violence requires specialist knowledge of the dynamics and conditions that they have experienced” explained Alina Thomas, Executive Officer of SHE.

The SHE program has provided important insight and understanding to the complex issue’s surrounding mental health and family violence. It is anticipated that many people, both workers and the community they support will benefit from the new toolkit and training.

(If you need help, please call Family Violence Counselling and Support Services on 1800 608 122 or SHE on 03 6278 9090)

[i] TREVILLION, K., ORAM, S., FEDER, G., & HOWARD, L. M. (2012). Experiences of Domestic Violence and Mental Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, PLoS ONE, 7(12)

Women want women’s services – family violence victims speak out

Tasmanian Domestic Violence Service, SHE (Support, Help and Empowerment), has released new research on the needs of women who have experienced domestic violence in an attempt to better inform services across the State.

The Hodgman Government is in the process of releasing over 5.5 million dollars to improve service delivery to people in, or leaving, violent and abuse relationships. “With many family violence services experiencing unparalleled high levels of demand, it is commendable that the Liberal Government is showing unprecedented support for domestic violence service in Tasmania”, declared Alina Thomas, Executive Officer of SHE.

The research conducted on behalf of SHE, investigates the experience of women accessing services to address the impacts of family violence. “What we found is that, while each woman had a unique experience leading them to needing help, the service needs were surprisingly similar….we found that empowerment was identified as the most important priority for women. Empowerment is about being heard and believed, regaining autonomy and realising your choices,” explained key researcher Sarah Van Est.

With the primary drivers of family violence now widely identified as gender inequality and rigid gender roles, women-orientated services that draw on a feminist framework for service delivery have been shown to yield the best outcome for family violence victims. “Women need to know that their safety is paramount. They want to be heard and they want to be believed. For women who have experienced repeated abuse and made to feel like they are responsible, to blame or deserve the abuse that has been inflicted up them, empowerment is a very powerful and healing experience”. Ms Thomas states.

One of the research participants shared, “the biggest thing for me, it that my counsellor was the only person ever, in all my contact with services, who never asked me to consider things from his point of view and didn’t ever make me doubt that it wasn’t bad, or significant, or life affecting”.

SHE is hoping that the research will continue to guide the development of family violence services across the State to ensure best practice and value for money.

The SHE research will be launched today (on the 16^th March) by her Excellency Professor the Honourable Kate Warner AM, at Government House, Hobart.

Combined Media Release, Langford, Speak Out Advocacy and SHE Inc.

2 December 2015

Rethinking safety for women with disabilities

Speak Out Advocacy, Langford and SHE Inc join together on the International Day for People with Disability to call for investment in safer communities for people with disabilities.

The 3rd December is International Day for People with Disability. Services are using this opportunity to call for an improved response to safety that listens to the particular needs of people with disabilities.

“People with disabilities don’t always fit neatly into domestic violence services. People’s primary relationships are with family, carers and possibly other residents at accommodation facilities” explained Alina Thomas, EO of SHE, domestic violence service for women.

Women with disabilities are 40% more likely to be victims of domestic violence than their peers and they experience higher levels of violence. Ninety percent of women with an intellectual disability have been subjected to sexual abuse, often before they turn 18.

Disability service providers recognise the gap in services for their clients. “We know that women with disabilities experience violence and abuse at a much higher rate than the rest of the population, however there are no tailored services to address this issue” stated Jenny Dixon, CEO at Speak Out Advocacy.

Women with Disabilities Australia also encourage a more substantial response to the issue and promote the need for empowerment programs for women with disabilities to be able to understand and recognise what constitutes violence and abuse. Family members, carers and frontline staff also need to be equipped in a practical and pragmatic way that promotes safety and wellbeing in a way that is respectful and supportive to women.

“Women can become at risk of abuse and violence as they seek to form social networks and forge their independence. Women with disabilities can feel quite isolated and this is why we need specialised service responses that are aware of these particular issues,” stated Kate Gillham from Langford Support Services.

Speak Out Advocacy and SHE have worked collaboratively this last year to bring together women with disabilities who have experienced violence and abuse. It is hoped that in 2016 this dynamic group will further inform a tailored response to violence and abuse.

Sources

Fact Sheet: Violence Against Women with Disabilities Prepared by Carolyn Frohmader, Women with Disabilities Australia (WWDA) Australian Civil Society Delegation to the 53rd Session of the Committee Against Torture, Geneva, November 2014 http://www.pwd.org.au/documents/temp/FS_Violence_WWD’s.pdf

Tayton, S., Kaspiew, R., Moore, S. and Campo, M. (2014) Groups and Communities at Risk of Domestic and Family Violence, Australian Institute of Family Studies.

http://wwda.org.au/call-for-urgent-action-end-violence-against-people-with-disability/

Hegarty and O’Doherty, 2011, Intimate Partner Violence Identification and response in general practice, Australian Family Physician, Vol 40, No11 Nov

Media Release 6 May 2015

Commemorating women who have been killed by their intimate partners: Domestic and Family Violence Candle Light Vigil

In line with other states across Australia, the Tasmanian domestic violence services are collaborating to present the 2015 Candle Lighting Ceremony on Wednesday the 6th May at 5.30pm in Franklin Square. Simultaneous vigils will be held in other parts of the country. This is the 7th year the vigil will be held in Hobart.

“Violence and abuse often continues long after a relationship has ended. Women present to domestic violence services in Tasmania with long lasting post traumatic stress disorders, mental health concerns and on-going poverty”, explains Alina Thomas, Executive Officer of SHE.

Leanne Chisholm, Health Worker at Hobart Women’s Heath Centre stated, “Factors that impact on men’s violent behaviour against women can be identified early on. If we are aware of them we might be able to prevent some of the disastrous consequences of domestic violence. We can learn to recognise risky patterns of behaviour in our partners, our friends or even ourselves.”

A new report published by the Centre for Innovative Justice identifies the factors contributing to a higher level of risk of women experiencing family and domestic violence.

Key risks that we all need to be aware of (but may not necessarily be) are:

1. Pregnancy – pregnancy and when children are very young are a high risk time for women to have increased experiences of violence and abuse in relationships.
2. Problem-gambling – problem gambling is emerging as a significant contributor of violence against women.
3. Separation – the time of leaving or ending a violent or abusive relationship is often when violence escalates. Women often choose to stay in violent relationships if they can sense that the risk of leaving is worse than the risk of staying.
4. If men have a pattern of controlling behaviour and a sense of entitlement then this is a strong indicator of the risk of violence. Studies have been able to link this behaviour specifically with strangulation and threats to kill other members of the household.

To date in Australia there have been 32 women killed this year due to domestic violence. The Candle Lighting Vigil is an opportunity to support the people who have survived abusive relationships, those who continue to endure them and remember the women who have lost their lives. Everyone is welcome to participate in the Vigil.

The Family Violence Counselling and Support Service operates from 9am to midnight weekdays and 4pm to midnight weekends and public holidays. If you are concerned about your own safely or someone else’s please call 1800 608 122 or 000.

FOR ENQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT ALINA THOMAS 0438 788 291.

Centre for Innovative Justice, March 2015, Opportunities for Early Intervention: Bringing perpetrators of family violence into view, RMIT University.

Firearm Bill needs to consider women’s safety.

The issue of women’s safety and the fear of violence is an essential consideration of the Firearms (Miscellaneous Amendment) Bill 2015 currently before the Legislative Council.

“When talking about firearms and family violence, focusing just on injury and death ignores the issue that it is the threat – it is the fear of violence against herself, or her children that gives the perpetrator his power,” says Ms Alina Thomas, Executive Office of SHE, a local specialised domestic violence counselling service for women.

“We need to be concerned about women being injured and killed as well as the insidious and covert emotional abuse which leads to post-traumatic stress syndrome and long term mental health problems for hundreds of women in Tasmania. This cannot be measured as statistics in reports. If you add firearms to the power and abuse that is already being used by perpetrators of family violence then you get a huge increase in the level of fear that women experience. Women will go from fearing for their safety to fearing for their lives,” Ms Thomas explained.

“If we are to be genuinely concerned about women’s safety we need to be looking at reducing fear and increasing opportunities for women to leave relationships – giving violent and abusive partners access to guns will do neither of these things,” stated Ms Thomas.

Advocates have been calling for the inclusion of a “spousal notification” provision in amendments to the Tasmanian Firearm Act so that partners or ex-partners are notified when someone is applying for a firearm license. This amendment will bring Tasmanian law into line with provisions already operating in Canada and England. This law is an opportunity for the government to demonstrate a fundamental level of care and concern for women’s safety.

Domestic and family violence is the leading cause of death, injury and disability in women under the age of 44.

If you need help please contact the Family Violence Counselling Service on 1800 633 937 (9am – midnight Monday – Friday, 4pm – midnight weekend and public holidays).

For immediate release.
Please contact Alina Thomas on 0438 788 291 with enquiries.

Domestic violence continues to be a serious issue for our community and a recent VicHealth survey has revealed some disturbing attitudes and statistics which only scratch the surface of an issue that is also affecting the Tasmanian community.

The recent VicHealth survey revealed that most people believe violence is caused by men being unable to control their anger and their need for sex. “This is an insult to men and not an attitude we want to be nurturing in boys or girls growing up in Tasmania” stated Alina Thomas, EO of Domestic Violence Counselling Service, SHE.

“Declaring that certain behaviours entice rape and violence against women is a sad indication that we are not placing the responsibility of violence on the perpetrator. Instead we are blaming the vulnerable person and in doing so excusing the behaviour” says Ms Thomas.

Despite enduring misperception in the community, intimate partner assaults and homicides are beginning to attract more attention however, less explicit violence is still unacknowledged. “We have recorded a stark increase in the number of women contacting our service who are under strict prohibitive monitoring by their partners. Some women experience such a lack of freedom that they feel unable to come in for appointments, use their phones and in some cases even leave the house” explains Ms Thomas.

Abuse can be very subtle forms of control, for example financial, where women do not have access to household money and their spending is restricted or controlled by their partner. Stalking and surveillance is another example of women being overly monitored and intimidated by partners and accelerated dramatically with the proliferation of smart phones, personal GPS’s and social networking.

Domestic violence has a profound impact on the physical and mental health of women. It can lead directly to serious injury, permanent impairment, disability or death. VicHealth (2007) found that among women under 45, domestic violence contributes more to their poor health, disability and death than any other risk factor.

Domestic violence often has a very severe negative impact on the wellbeing of the whole family. Children’s physical health, learning, cognition, social and emotional development can all be severely impaired by experiencing domestic violence (Chadwick & Morgan, 2009).

Violence against women needs to be addressed in homes, in schools, in workplaces and in parliament. “We have a long way to go before we acknowledge that violence against women affects the whole of our society. Burdens on the legal system and on the health system show the greater impact, however the individual costs to women and children is where we see insurmountable evidence that we are failing to provide a safe environment for families in Tasmania” stated Ms Thomas.

Violence against women is preventable but it does require systemic shifts in attitudes and behaviour.

If you need help please contact the Family Violence Counselling Service on 1800 633 937 (9am – midnight Monday – Friday, 4pm – midnight weekend and public holidays).

For more information contact Alina Thomas, 0438 788 291

Engender Equality offers a free and confidential counselling and support service to women who have experienced abuse in an intimate relationship. The service also provides community based programs such as KYSS (Keep yourself safe and sane) and educational workshops. Engender Equality is funded by the Department of Health and Human Services.

Sources
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/…
http://www.ncsmc.org.au/wp-con…
http://www.abc.net.au/news/201…

VicHealth. (2007) Preventing Violence Before It Occurs: A Framework and Background Paper to Guide the Primary Prevention of Violence Against Women in Victoria. Melbourne: Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth).

Morgan, A. & Chadwick, H. (2009). Key Issues in Domestic Violence. Australian Institute of Criminology. Australian Government: Canberra

The impact of domestic violence is difficult to measure. Domestic deaths in Australia reportedly occur once a week. Further impacts of injury, homelessness, post-traumatic stress and unreported deaths – occurring through suicide or complications from injuries – completes a picture of devastation to individuals, families and communities. In Tasmania since 2012 three women have been murdered by their former partner along with three males who were these women’s partners at the times.

“It is important that we come together in a ceremony for people who have lost their lives at the hands of their intimate partner. It is important for victims, their families as well as survivors in order for us to lift the burden of silence of this tragic crime,” explains Alina Thomas, Executive Officer of Support, Help and Empowerment a specialist counselling service for women effected by domestic and family violence.

In line with other states across Australia, Tasmanian domestic violence services have collaborated to host the 2014 Candle lighting Ceremony on Wednesday the 7th May at 5.30pm in Franklin Square. Simultaneous vigils will be held in other parts of the country. This is the 6th year the vigil will be held in Hobart.

Despite violence against woman and children in Australia being in a diabolical state, women’s safety is routinely ignored or downplayed. Alcohol related public violence has recently captured the community’s attention but occurs at only 1/7th the rate of domestic violence. The Australian Institute of Criminology indicated that 36% of ALL homicides occur in a domestic setting, 73% of these involve a women being killed by her male partner.

For the 2012-2013 period the Tasmanian Police reported 2254 occasions for domestic violence, this equates to 6 incidences per day that the Police are called to. These are the ones that are reported.

“We need to lift the silence that is preventing Australia from moving through this social crisis. The silence that prevents women for accessing support and the silence that stops governments from prioritising women’s and children’s safety”, Ms Thomas stated.

Domestic and family violence services throughout Tasmania report many contacts predominantly from women who are living in or trying to escape an abusive relationship. Victims are the subject of verbal threats, coercion and intimidation. The violence prevails in situations of excessive control of finances and can also include sexual assault, stalking, verbal abuse and abduction. Domestic and family violence includes behaviours that incite fear, apprehension and mental harm in victims.

The Family Violence Counselling and Support Service operates from 9am to midnight weekdays and 4pm to midnight weekends and public holidays. If you are concerned about your own safely or someone else’s please call 1800 608 122 or 000.

FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT ALINA THOMAS 0438 788 291.

Sources
Clementine Ford, April 2014, It’s not enough to ask abuse victims to leave, http://www.dailylife.com.au/ne…
Tasmania Police Annual Report 2012-2013 http://www.police.tas.gov.au/a…