The organisers of an upcoming family violence forum hope to draw attention to the complexities of the issue in regional areas, as well as highlight support services available for those who experience such violence.
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Friday’s forum in Maryborough will feature an address by former Our Watch chief executive officer Mary Barry, and a panel of representatives from various services and organisations involved in responding to family violence.
Maryborough Rotary Club and Loddon Campaspe Community Legal Centre have partnered to deliver the event.
Gary Higgins, project co-ordinator of the Rotary Club’s initiative #sayNO2familyviolence, said the idea was born after he and another club member attended a Law Institute of Victoria event to educate new lawyers about the issues surrounding family violence.
Mr Higgins said the event was enlightening and the club wanted to do something similar locally, taking into account the factors – such as lack of access to resources and demography – that influence the issue in regional and rural areas specifically.
Ms Berry’s address will look at the drivers of family violence and other issues, while the expert panel will respond to a scenario of family violence, explaining such aspects as the responses to the incident, the legal journey those involved would face, and supports available.
Mr Higgins said he hoped that if there was a better appreciation of the issue and its complexities, it could be addressed.
The police nor the judiciary or the community acting alone would fix it, he said.
“The community’s got to be seen not as a tokenistic partner, but a key partner in change,” Mr Higgins said.
Loddon Campaspe Community Legal Centre’s Annika Kearton said the forum would provide the opportunity to discuss the unique issues surrounding family violence responses with other organisations.
Lawyer Rob Southgate said the forum opened an opportunity for the legal centre to broaden its practice alongside other agencies.
“We really want more of a wraparound service,” Dr Southgate said.
Ms Kearton added that different services responded at different points, so by identifying their various issues, they could work together in a more co-ordinated way.
She said it was also hoped the forum would make the family violence system more visible in the broader community.
Already the forum is booked out, but Maryborough Rotary Club plans to live stream Ms Berry’s speech on its Facebook page and later make available a video of the panel event at #SayNO2familyviolence website.
Natalie Croxon
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
