Women at risk over Christmas

Local women’s refuges are bracing themselves for a wave of families in distress expected to flee over the holiday period. 

Annie North CEO Julie Oberin said crisis refuges could either see more women seeking help, or see some leave the refuge to reunite with an abusive partner at Christmas. 

“Sometimes we get a spike in women coming to the refuge, to the point where we’re absolutely full to overflowing,” Ms Oberin said. 

She said it was alarming that police were, on average, called to a domestic violence situation every two minutes. 

“The more awareness around domestic violence, the more victims seek help,” she said.  

“But the frontline services haven’t been funded properly to deal with the demand, so women can get put in (other accommodation) which is not an ideal situation for them.”

She said the sentimentality of the season could see partners convince women to share Christmas together with the children – a move that was sometimes sincere, but sometimes coercive. 

Centre for Non Violence CEO Margaret Augerinos said although their crisis accommodation was “full all of the time”, she urged women to still seek support – from police, shelters or 24-hour crisis lines – at the peak time for family violence incidents over Christmas. 

“We're just stretched to the limit, the system is in crisis and we desperately need resources,” she said. 

“But the worst thing we can do is if a woman comes to seek help and then returns to a really dangerous place.

“This is a real concern for us. There is a real risk, when two women in Australia are killed every week.”

She said while many locals consider Christmas a special time for family, the sad reality was that a cocktail of expenses, stresses and alcohol could increase the severity of violence – but there were no excuses for violent acts. 

“It's not how they imagined their Christmas to be and the potential for harm and disappointment is really high,” she said. 

Ms Oberin and Ms Augerinos agreed victims were often hesitant in coming forward, so it was important to believe them, and not blame them, minimise the violence or excuse the perpetrator. 

Ms Augerinos stressed the Centre for Non Violence did not close over Christmas and women should seek support and safety. If you are experiencing violence or sexual assault phone 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732. In an emergency, ring 000.