THE confronting narrative from a Warrnambool lawyer in today’s The Standard paints a very clear – and very real – picture of the enormity of family violence in our region.
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Carolyn Howe says some days the women she meets struggle to see her through their blackened eyes. Other days, there is death.
Often, she speaks to women so physically and emotionally battered that they have lost the capacity to properly care for themselves.
No section of the community is immune to family violence. It affects all demographics and all cultures. It affects women and girls in many ways – not always physically, but it’s always about power and control.
The pages of this newspaper all too regularly detail the many cases appearing before judges and in our local courtrooms – incidents which occur not only behind closed doors but in our public places.
“We taught our kids you don’t drink and drive so the next generation grew up knowing to put your seatbelt on and not to drink and drive,” she said.
“We need to educate children about family violence and that it’s not acceptable.”
South-west police respond to 60 reported incidents of family violence every week.
And statewide, since Tuesday, police have responded to 420 calls for help.
That startling figure emerged during a joint sitting of Parliament on Friday in which family violence survivors, including Australian of the Year Rosie Batty and other advocates, addressed MPs.
Sadly, it’s not out of the ordinary – falling in line with official figures police attended almost 71,000 family incidents in the 12 months to June.
Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton says the scale of family violence is epidemic. Premier Daniel Andrews says the abuse victims endure is “private” terrorism.
This is not a women's issue; it is not a men's issue. It is a whole of society issue.
People across Australia signed a pledge on Wednesday – White Ribbon Day – vowing to take a stand against family violence.
But change requires more than a signature. It is more than wearing a ribbon; it’s more than words.
To say we have the power to influence change sounds simplistic, but the reality is violence is preventable.
We must ensure that message stays at the forefront – not just on White Ribbon Day, but every day.