In this double edition of the Weekly Round-up, AWAVA brings you news from the sector and from AWAVA Headquarters. We are delighted to announce that Tara Ashford has joined the team as Administrative Assistant. A passionate and committed youth advocate, Tara comes to AWAVA from the social justice sector. Welcome Tara!

The last two weeks have seen work from a number of different sectors of the community tackling violence against women. The diverse programs come from sources like Tasmania Police, the Western Region Health Centre, community and traditional leaders, political leaders, as well as academics and researchers around the world. The variety of different strategies and participants highlights the fact that all sectors of the community have a responsibility to prevent and eliminate violence against women. The Personal Safety Survey results were also released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics providing a stark reminder of the sheer scale of violence against women in Australia.

Signs on the windshield of a car: 'A Shelter Is Not A Home', 'Just Try And Stay A Float'  Banner on a fence in front of an old building says: Every Woman Needs A Safe Home Every Night Signs on a white car: 'My Home', 'The Hidden Homeless'

( WISHIN’s annual Women’s Car Sleepout which raises awareness and funds to help women and children affect by homelessness. For more information, follow the link.)

Around the Country

  • The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has focussed its attention on the ‘Towards Healing’ process established by the Catholic church with victims leaving the room when the Church’s lawyer quoted from the Bible. The Commission has also indicated they will be investigating the Salvation Army next year.
  • In Melbourne, hundreds of community leaders from around the country came together at the MCG “to discuss male responsibility for violence.”
  • A proposal is being put forward in Murray Bridge, SA from a group of family support workers to hold a vigil in front of the local government centre any time a woman dies as a result of domestic violence in the state.
  • A Tasmanian police officer charged over two incidents of domestic violence has been allowed to remain at work “in a non-operational capacity” before he faces the Magistrate’s Court in Hobart.
  • Sydney Feminists have begun their Christmas fundraising drive with the charity ‘Mahboba’s Promise’, raising money for widows and orphans in Afganistan.
  • In Queensland, Community Development Worker Michelle Dang writes, “Domestic violence isn’t an easy or comfortable issue to talk about, but we have discovered art has been such a fun, powerful and accessible way of connecting young people to this issue”.
  • A new study from Monash University has highlighted the need for law reform to ensure justice for women who kill violent partners.
  • “A community health centre in Melbourne’s western suburbs has launched a program to address domestic violence in the region’s growing refugee populations.”
  • Matthew da Silva writes that violence against women is “a matter that all men must face,” in Australia and around the world.

Around the World

 

**Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of AWAVA and are included as items of interest only