Family violence at Christmas with nowhere to turn? Help Fund The Answer

December 15, 2011: With incidences of family violence spiking over Christmas, the Women’s Legal Service – in the months following the holiday season – sees a sharp increase in the volume of calls it receives to its Legal Advice Line and visits to its evening advice sessions.

Women’s Legal Service Coordinator Rosslyn Monro said the Service was particularly concerned about what February might bring.

“We support Queensland women who are seeking access to legal protection that will keep them and their children safe from harm.

“Unfortunately, we already have to regularly turn women away because the need is so great and the funding is so poor.

“Recently we had to reduce many of our services. This means more women will be turned away than ever before.

Women’s Legal Service needs an additional $750,000 a year to boost current contacts with women by more than 70%, add new services and support public awareness activities.

In the lead up to Christmas, they are calling on the Queensland community to learn more about the campaign and join online at www.helpfundtheanswer.com.au.

You can also start a personal or workplace fundraising page and share the campaign with your friends, family and colleagues.

If you know someone who may be experiencing family violence, please visit 6 tips to support women experiencing family violence.

Together we can help keep Queensland women and children safe from harm.

Join the campaign online at www.helpfundtheanswer.com.au.

New survey results confirm need for business to invest in family violence prevention

“My work friend Sophie sometimes receives 20 or 30 texts or calls in a day from her partner. This morning she turned up to work wearing a high collared shirt despite it being hot and muggy outside. I could just make out bruises around her neck. In the past, whenever I tried to talk to Sophie about it she’s completely paralysed. Today she finally agreed to let me find help. I do know she’s worked really hard to buy their house and I would hate to see her lose everything. I wouldn’t have a clue where to start. Who do I turn to?”

December 6, 2011: Queensland’s Women’s Legal Service, who regularly turn women away because the need is so great and the funding is so poor, are appreciative to learn the results of the first National Domestic Violence and The Workplace Survey released this week.

Women’s Legal Service Coordinator Rosslyn Monro said the survey results confirmed the importance of the Service’s recent call for businesses to invest in family violence prevention.

“Workplaces are often the first place where family violence is noticed and that colleagues often want to help, but do not know how,” she said.

Titled ‘Safe at Home, Safe at Work?’ as part of the Domestic Violence Workplace Rights and Entitlements Project, the survey results showed that ‘30% of respondents had personally experienced domestic violence with half of those reporting that the violence affected their capacity to get to work’.

The results also confirm that ‘domestic violence affects the capacity for people to get to work, their performance and productivity at work, and that their safety, and those of their co-workers, is also threatened within the workplace’.

Ms Monro said it was vitally important to provide information in the workplace about where women, who may be experiencing family violence, can seek support – and how their colleagues can help.

“Women’s Legal Service needs financial support from business to help more women find the best answer to their individual situation.

“Recently, we had to reduce many of our services. This means more women will be turned away than ever before.

“We are calling on businesses to become involved in genuine, practical, long-term corporate/community partnerships with the Women’s Legal Service.

Join the campaign online at www.helpfundtheanswer.com.au.

Women’s Legal Service welcomes LNP funding announcement

Women’s Legal Service, for the first time in their 27-year history, has been publicly calling on both the Queensland and the Commonwealth Government to each increase their recurrent funding of the Service by $250,000 per year for at least 3 years.

Today LNP Leader Campbell Newman announced an LNP government would commit to an increase in funding to the Women’s Legal Service of $750,000 over three years.

Women’s Legal Service Coordinator Rosslyn Monro warmly welcomed the announcement.

“We thank Campbell Newman and the LNP for listening to our calls, for understanding the importance of keeping Queensland women and children safe from harm and for committing to funding that will help us turn around this crisis.

“Mr Newman also supported our call for the corporate sector to get on board and for the federal government to commit to increased funds,” she said.

Attorney-General Paul Lucas was unable to meet with the Women’s Legal Service, but referred them to his Director-General who they have a meeting with next week.

“Given the extent of the problem and the compelling statistics, we hope it is just as obvious to the Government that it needs to take action and increase our recurrent funding.

“Each of us – in government, business and the community – has a responsibility to ensure that vulnerable women and children have access to legal protection that will keep them safe from harm.

“It’s a question of justice,” she said.

Women’s Legal Service has to regularly turn women away because the need is so great and the funding is so poor.

Last month they had to close and reduce services – all at a time when they should be opening and increasing our support to vulnerable women.

More women are killed by their partners in Queensland than in any other state. Urgent action is needed to fix this long-term funding crisis. No woman should be turned away.

6 tips to support women experiencing family violence

SUPPORT. If domestic violence is disclosed to you, listen and believe what you are told. Reassure her that the violence isn’t her fault and no one deserves to be abused. Too often women who disclose domestic violence are not believed or are judged for staying. This can be dangerous and stop women from seeking vital help.

REDUCE ISOLATION. Women experiencing domestic violence are often very isolated and have no meaningful support. They may feel ashamed to seek help. If you know someone in this situation, tell her she is valued and encourage her to reach out for help.

ASK HER! If you suspect that someone you know is being abused, gently ask if you can help. Providing support and encouragement for them to seek help from places such as Women’s Legal Service can save lives.

SAFETY FIRST. People often say “Why doesn’t she just leave?” It’s not that easy. The first three months after leaving can be the time of greatest risk for women and their children. Safety plans are important to assist women avoid serious injury from violence and to maintain safety after separation. Talk to a domestic violence service about making safety plans.

GET LEGAL ADVICE. If possible before leaving, she may want to know how the law impacts on her ability to stay safe and about arrangements for the children. Community Legal Centres provide free legal information referral and advice. http://www.qails.org.au lists all the free legal centres throughout Queensland.

STOP DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. Men are critical to violence prevention by being role models to other men. Men are uniquely positioned to reach out to other men who are violent at home, to let them know, “You need help”. If someone says something derogatory about women or acts disrespectfully towards women, speak up about why it’s wrong (from the White Ribbon Day
website).

List of emergency numbers:
Women’s Legal Service 3392 0670 or 1800 677 278 (Outside Brisbane)
DV Connect 1800 811 811
Queensland Police Service 000

The Help Fund The Answer campaign is the result of a landmark decision by Women’s Legal Service to say women under threat of family violence in Queensland should no longer be turned away. You can sign up to show your support for increased government funding at www.helpfundtheanswer.com.au.

Campaign Launch: Family violence with nowhere to turn? Help Fund The Answer

October 30, 2011: The ‘Help Fund The Answer’ campaign is the result of a landmark decision by Women’s Legal Service to say women under threat of family violence in Queensland should no longer be turned away.

After 20 years of chronic underfunding, Women’s Legal Service are – for the first time in their history – publicly speaking out against unacceptable levels of funding; funding that does not meet the legal needs of women experiencing family violence.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, more women are killed by their partners in Queensland than in any other state; sexual violence affects almost 1 in 5 Australian women; and physical violence affects at least 1 in 3 Australian women.

Women’s Legal Service Coordinator Rosslyn Monro said the Service had to regularly turn women away because the need was so great and the funding was so poor.