Violence Against Women Bulletin - August 2002
Information Bulletin - August 2002: Volume 6, Issue 2
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‘Harmony’ team win 2002 Ethnic Youth Cup
Western Sydney’s Somali community soccer team, ‘Horced’ wore t-shirts all season emblazoned with a slogan promoting harmony in the family written in the Somali language. The team won all its games in the Ethnic Series this year, culminating in a grand final victory. The NSW Strategy to Reduce Violence Against Women sponsored the team to wear the t-shirts as part of the Somali Community Harmony project. The project was developed in consultation with Somali community workers and members in the Parramatta and Holroyd areas. “Somali community members identified that soccer is the main sport played by the Somali community,” said Rugmini Venkatraman, Western Sydney Regional Violence Prevention Specialist. “And radio was one of the main sources of entertainment for them. “So we decided to use both these mediums to promote the Violence Against Women: It’s Against All the Rules campaign”. Members of the soccer team developed a culturally appropriate version of the campaign message “aiming at harmony in the family” in a workshop held as part of the project. The word aim, a term commonly used in soccer, is relevant both to the sport and the purposes of the campaign. The next event planned is a poetry competition, on the theme of family/community harmony, which will be broadcast by the community radio. For more information contact Regional Violence Prevention Specialist Rugmini Venkatraman on 9633 0717.
Snow launch of spiked drinks awareness campaign
A campaign to raise awareness about the spiking of drinks was launched in the Snow fields in time for this year’s ski season. The campaign includes information for patrons as well as staff in clubs and pubs in Jindabyne, Thredbo and Perisher. Staff at Perisher Valley received information sheets advising them how to watch for suspicious behaviour. Posters are on display around clubs and bars to help raise awareness of the issue. Local police, hotel and club managers, Snowy River Shire Council, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service are partners in the Snowy Mountains campaign, an initiative of the NSW Strategy to Reduce Violence Against Women and Southern Area Health Service. For more information contact Tashe Long on: 6298 9966.
Renowned chef Margaret Fulton speaks to older women
Renowned chef and author Margaret Fulton (left) spoke at the Older Women’s Safety Forum: Freedom From Fear held in St Marys on May 10. Margaret Sergant (right), from the ‘Older Women’s Speakout’ Association and Anoop Johar (centre) Regional Violence Prevention Specialist for Wentworth region also spoke at the Forum about issues affecting older women. Resources for older women including a key ring and a cleaning cloth for glasses with information about services for older women were launched and distributed at the Forum. For more information contact Anoop Johar on : 4732 1322.
Aboriginal women meet for big yarn up in Moree
About 250 Aboriginal women and children camped in the cotton fields of the Moree Agricultural TAFE College during the Aboriginal women’s gathering, held in Moree in late April. The weekend began with a colourful march along the main street of Moree. It moved to the Town Hall, where speakers discussed issues of family violence, empowering communities and leadership. After the speeches participants shared a barbecue lunch on the riverbank. On Saturday morning, women were introduced to the government and nongovernment services participating at the gathering. The rest of the day was spent in workshops addressing themes of family violence, drugs and alcohol, loss and grief, sexual health and child protection. On Sunday, ATSIC held a Treaty workshop and then Aboriginal women met to elect a North-West Aboriginal Women’s Steering Committee to progress the issues and concerns raised at the gathering. On Friday and Saturday nights, the wit, humour and talent of the Moree women’s theatre group entertained everyone. F
ull credit goes to the working party who worked tirelessly to make the gathering such a resounding success. The women and children came from towns including Moree, Boggabilla, Toomelah, Mungindi, Narrabri, Wee Waa, Pilliga, Walgett, Lightning Ridge and Collarenabri. A report of the weekend will be produced. For more information contact Cath Hastings on 6768 2814.
Lake Cargelligo marches against family violence
In a first for Lake Cargelligo, 300 km west of Orange, a committed group of people took to the streets to mark Stop Domestic Violence Day. A banner and balloons carried the words “stop domestic violence”, information cards were distributed to onlookers, and speakers addressed the march at a lakeside barbecue. The speakers’ messages emphasised that victims and communities need to speak out and stand together against violence in our homes and families. The local NSW Police Aboriginal Community Liaison Officer, Wayne Toomey, said: “We are here today because we have decided enough is enough and we are taking control. We are doing this because by taking control now we are taking control of our future – a future without violence.” Participants travelled hundreds of kilometres from Condobolin, Forbes, Narromine and Orange to support the event. Lake Cargelligo Domestic Violence Committee organised the day. For more information contact Regional Violence Prevention Specialist Liz MacRaild on: 6361 6925.
Fairfield women say “ I am women – hear me roar”
About 100 women celebrated the International Women’s Day event “I Am Woman Hear Me Roar” at Stockland Mall, Fairfield, this year. The Parks Community Network held the event and the day’s highlights included a performance of Gloria Gaynor’s classic I Will Survive, performed by the Sorelli and Fratelli Choir. Women from all walks of life came together around Fairfield to celebrate International Women’s Day for the first time this year. A group of refugee women led the march, which the Fairfield Immigrant and Refugee Women’s Network (FIRWN) organised. The march left the amphitheatre, made its way around town and returned to the amphitheatre. The celebrations culminated in a concert with performers from all over the world, with stalls and activities for children. More than 200 people attended the lunchtime event. In Cabramatta the celebrations focused on young women. Guest speakers, including the Regional Violence Prevention Specialist, Lilian Gomez, addressed the issues that young women face today. While
recognising that women have a long way to go towards gender equality, they also acknowledged the work of the pioneers who paved the way to the rights women enjoy now. Some young performers, with enthusiastic audience participation, delighted and inspired the audience of 200 young people. For more information contact Lilian Gomez, Regional Violence Prevention Specialist on 9821 8527.
WOW Tours the North
Between June 23 and July 5, Women on Wheels visited the North Coast, New England and the Northern Tablelands. The State Transit Authority provided the Department for Women with a bus for the tour. A team of women, including the Director-General Robyn Henderson, visited towns and held a range of events and exchanged information with women in the region. The team included staff from other government agencies, community agencies, local government and TAFEs. The program included information sessions, workshops on financial independence, women's health and leadership, breakfasts and morning teas and “hands-on” information technology courses. The performance by the Older Women's Network to young women in Kyogle was a highlight. “It’s great to have something to look forward to as we get older” said one student who saw their show. The show also included performances on serious issues such as domestic violence. For further information see the DFW website www.Women.nsw.gov.au.
NSW Department of Education joins the Strategy
The NSW Department of Education and Training becomes the seventh government department involved in the NSW Strategy to Reduce Violence Against Women. “We are looking forward to working more closely with the Department of Education, and believe that the Department of Education has an important part to play in creating a society which condemns violence and abuse” said Gaby Marcus, Manager of the Violence Against Women Specialist Unit.
Prevention Framework for the Strategy
A framework for the prevention of violence against women has been developed to articulate and guide the work of the NSW Strategy to Reduce Violence Against Women.
The framework’s five key elements are:
1. A gendered understanding of violence against women
2. Crime prevention approaches
3. Key prevention strategies
4. A holistic approach
5. Human rights, self determination and cultural diversity
The key elements are broad enough to allow the framework to be inclusive of a range of principles, issues, strategies and practices.
The prevention strategies the framework identifies are:
* Broad cultural change towards a nonviolent society
* Community education
* Early intervention
* Involving non-violent men in strategies to prevent violence against women
* Focus on changing and diversifying masculinities, and breaking the connection between masculinity and violence
* Services continuing and extending their role of tertiary prevention, in preventing further violence against women.
* Focus on changing the (potential) offender by identifying risk factors, and populations affected by risk factors.
Sewing our stories
About 40 members of the Crookwell Women’s Health and Safety Committee gathered at the Crookwell Gallery on May 17 to help launch the booklet “Sewing Our Stories - Quilts that tell stories about violence against women and children”. The booklet showcases a domestic violence quilt made by the Crookwell women and five other quilts that were inspired by the Crookwell Quilt. The members of the group were proud to see their quilt hanging in the gallery along with all the other quilts featured in the booklet. The other quilts were brought from Bega, Tamworth, Young, Tenterfield, Canberra and inner Sydney for the occasion! Six out of seven quilts featured in the booklet were made as part of community development projects under the NSW Strategy to Reduce Violence Against Women. The aim of the Crookwell Women’s Health and Safety Committee’s project was to raise the subject of domestic violence in their town.
Before the project began, the women had said that they knew about domestic violence, but that no-one felt that she could be the one to raise the subject. Tashe Long said: “Now the town is buzzing with talk of domestic violence and the women know how to get help and information if they or anybody they know are victims!” For more information on the booklet, contact Tashe Long, Southern Regional Violence Prevention Specialist Ph: 6298 9966.
Awards for Regional Violence Prevention Specialists
South Western Sydney Regional Violence Prevention Specialist, Lilian Gomez was one of 15 people recognized by the NSW Rape Crisis Centre for her ‘contribution to the elimination of sexual violence’ in NSW. Lilian’s 15 years of work in this area was acknowledged at the June launch of the book Surviving Rape’ which provides information to sexual assault victims and their families.
Central Coast Regional Violence Prevention Specialist Christine Smith was one of eight people to receive a Stop Domestic Violence Day Award, which was presented at Parliament House in Sydney on April 26. The award honoured Chris for her outstanding achievement in helping to reduce violence against women and children in regional NSW.
Welcome to new staff
Tricia joins the Strategy as the Regional specialist in the Greater Murray. Tricia has worked for the past seven and a half years as manager of the Albury Wodonga Women’s Centre. This position involved both service delivery and day to day management. Whilst manager, Tricia was a rural representative on and secretary to the Board of Women’s Health NSW for three years. This position gave Tricia the opportunity to be involved in women’s health policy development and in working with statewide issues. Prior to this Tricia worked in women’s education; coordinating programs, facilitating groups, lecturing and tutoring at Universities, TAFE Colleges, Adult Education Centres and Neighbourhood Houses in the Albury Wodonga region. Tricia was recently awarded a Women’s Electoral Lobby Award for Service to her Community.
Annette Cairnduff & April Pham are job-sharing in the Senior Policy Officers position whilst Jane Wangmann takes leave for 12 months to work on her Masters in Law. April previously worked as the Domestic Violence Policy Officer with the Immigrant Women’s Speakout Association. Prior to this position April worked as the Domestic Violence Project Officer with S.E Sydney Area Health Service. Annette Cairnduff ’s previous position was the Senior Project Officer with the Department of Community Services. Prior to that she was the Coordinator of the Domestic Violence Advocacy Service 1995 to 1999.
Katherine McKernan began working in the Violence Against Women Specialist Unit as the Senior Project Officer in March this year. Katherine joins the Strategy with experience working with women in refuges in the UK and as the Manager of the NSW Domestic Violence Court Assistance Scheme. Her role will primarily be to provide assistance to the Regional Violence Prevention Specialists throughout NSW.
Tamiko Anton has joined the VAW Unit as the Administrative Assistant. Tamiko’s previous positions were at the Commonwealth and St George GP after hours medical service.
Conferences and Events
October 21-26 YWCA Week Without Violence
October 20-23 Women and Policing Globally, National Convention Centre, Canberra, Ph: 62929000
October 25 Reclaim the Night
November 25 International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
12-14 February Contemporary Issues in Sexual 2003 Assault conference, Sydney.
Expanding Our Horizons conference papers available on-line
The conference Expanding Our Horizons: Understanding the Complexities of Violence Against Women held at the University of Sydney in February this year attracted 450 participants from over 20 countries. Nine key-note speakers, two roundtable panel sessions and 98 offered papers / workshops sessions explored the complexities and diversity of experiences of violence against women, and the diversity of responses taken to prevent and reduce violence against women around the world. The papers which have been submitted will soon be displayed on the Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse website under publications: www.austdvclearinghouse.unsw.edu.au
ECAV calls for focus group participants
The Education Centre Against Violence (ECAV) is evaluating the effectiveness of the multilingual booklets they developed several years ago. The booklets provide information about the nature of sexual assault, the services that are available to assist victims, including counselling, interpreter access and the role of the police. Focus groups will be conducted in several of the 10 target group languages to evaluate the booklets. For more information or to participate in a focus group contact Sarah Stewart at ECAV on 9840 3737.
The Violence Against Women Specialist Unit and regional violence prevention specialists are central elements in the NSW Strategy To Reduce Violence Against Women which is an NSW intergovernmental strategy funded by: The NSW Attorney General’s Department, NSW Department of Community Services, NSW Health, NSW Police and in partnership with the Department for Women.
This bulletin is for anyone interested in the prevention of violence against women and is intended to inform people about the NSW Strategy To Reduce Violence Against Women and its implementation. For more information about the Bulletin contact the Violence Against Women Specialist Unit.
ISSN 1328-437
Click here to download the PDF version of the August 2002 Bulletin>>
 | To view a PDF document, you will need a copy of Adobe Acrobat on your computer. If you do not have a copy of Adobe Acrobat, you can download a copy for free from the Adobe site. |
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