News

Mallee Services stand united on family violence

Thu, 23 Jul 2015 09:47:00

A new partnership between two Mallee family support agencies will intensify efforts to combat family violence in the local Koori community.

Mallee District Aboriginal Services has formed a new partnership with the Mallee Sexual Assault Unit and Mallee Domestic Violence Services.
The collaboration, which was formalised this month with a memorandum of understanding, will focus on improving service delivery across both organisations and ensuring all responses are culturally appropriate and sensitive.
General Manager of MDAS Family and Community Services Cassie Atchison said it was a significant step forward in addressing the issue of family violence in the Mallee.
Ms Atchison said under the agreement, both services would share resources, facilitate appropriate and timely referrals, conduct staff training and development, and undertake awareness and prevention activities.
“Individually, both services work extremely hard to see an end to domestic and family violence in our community, and provide support, education and counselling for those affected by abuse,” she said.
“We also share the belief that more can be done to ensure our clients and the wider community, can live their lives free from violence and recover from experiences of trauma and abuse.
“Our agencies can make more of an impact by working together. Together we can offer a complete family violence service, improve delivery, solve more complex cases and better educate the community.”
Mildura and Swan Hill have some of the highest rates of family violence in Victoria¬¬ – 40 per cent above the state average, and family violence rates are even higher in Koori communities.
Family violence is the biggest killer of Australian women aged 14 to 44, and for Aboriginal women, deaths from domestic violence are double that of non-indigenous women.
CEO of the Mallee Sexual Assault Unit and Mallee Domestic Violence Services Joanne Sheehan-Paterson said rates of domestic violence in the Mallee were high for the size of its population.
“The demand for support is growing every year with the increase in reported cases of domestic abuse,” Ms Sheehan-Paterson said.
“This is due to a number of factors, including mental health issues, drug and alcohol abuse, and financial pressures.”
Ms Sheehan-Paterson said the collaboration would further enhance the crisis care and intervention responses of both services.
“But beyond that, we hope that by focusing on early intervention, and working together to raise awareness in the community, we can prevent situations from reaching the point where people are in crisis,” she said.
MDAS will focus more closely on the issues with the creation of a new role of Family Violence and Homelessness Services manager, with former Victoria Police officer at Mildura Aimee Mazza appointed to the role.
“We are pleased to have someone of Aimee’s skills, understanding and experience – she will bring terrific insight into the role and help both our agencies in our efforts,” Ms Atchison said.
For help in a crisis call 000.
For support or information about family violence, call Mallee Domestic Violence Services’ 24-hour hotline on 5021 2130.