THE Swan Hill region has the second highest incidents of family violence across the state.
And, Swan Hill District Gender Equity Network are working tirelessly to reduce family violence in the community.
Along with Mallee Domestic Violence Service (MDVS), Swan Hill police and the Department of Justice and Community Safety Swan Hill, they hosted the Swan Hill 16 Days of Activism barbecue last Thursday.
The free community event aimed to promote the Gender Equity Network’s work, while supporting Respect Victoria’s 16 Days of Activism campaign.
Swan Hill police family violence investigation unit’s Detective Sergeant Mal Simpson said in the past 12 months domestic violence in the region was “quite consistent with other years”.
“Family violence isn’t falling, but we can probably see a slight increase because we’re actively seeking or asking people to report family violence,” Det-Sgt Simpson said.
“Whether that’s victims of family violence or people that have witnessed family violence.”
He said the more resources thrown at MDVS, the more confident he felt family violence victims would be to report incidents through the service.
“When a person feels confident enough to make that report with police, they are assisted through counsellors to come up and speak to the family violence investigation unit,” Det-Sgt Simpson said.
Det-Sgt Simpson said Swan Hill police had been involved in the community barbecue since its inception last year.
“We were here cooking a barbecue, and it’s really about getting the word out to members of the public,” he said.
“That there are supports for victims of family violence, and it’s just to show the local community what’s available.
“And that’s what brings us all down here today, there’s nothing like having a conversation over a sausage.”
Det-Sgt Simpson has been in his role for just over a year, and is supported by three full-time detectives and a family violence court liaison officer.
Det-Sgt Simpson said the unit was a result of the Royal Commission into Family Violence, which recommended that Victoria Police develop a model to strengthen the investigation of family violence offences.
Mallee Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault unit’s Trish Polglase said it was important to build partnerships within the community.
“I think Swan Hill have developed strong partnerships with VicPol (Victoria Police), Corrections (Victoria) and Southern Mallee Primary Care Partnership, working together to make positive change to prevent family violence,” she said.
Ms Polglase said she believed alcohol and drugs were contributing factors for perpetrators to commit acts of family violence.
“Well our stats are showing that there is an increase, that we’re the second highest in the state for family violence in our community,” she said.
“Perpetrators make that decision to commit family violence and those things and alcohol and drugs are contributing factors.
“So it’s gender equality, call it out, respect women.”
She said it was “a fact” that the violence was committed by males towards women.
“In Swan Hill we deal with male victims, but yes, our majority of work is with female affected family members,” she said.
Ms Polglase wanted to ensure victims of abuse and violence knew that help was out there, whether it’s contacting MDVS or the police.
“We are a client-based service and confidentially is one of our top priorities,” she said.
“There’s no pressure, it’s about you, come and seek help.
“We’re guided by you; a woman is the best judgement of her own safety.”
The 16 days run from November 25 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) to December 10 (Human Rights Day).
This year’s theme was Respect Women: ‘Call it Out’.
