Rates of Family Violence Spikes Locally

THERE may have only been a handful of people who could stand vigil last night in Scone to remember the victims of family violence, but nearly 1,000 people have viewed online at a time when the Upper Hunter area has seen a spike in domestic violence related referrals.

See video of ceremony below.

The spike of family violence is starting to show as covid-19 isolates so many victims with their perpetrators, explained Lee Watts, manager of Scone Neighbourhood Resource Centre, as she read statistics from Lewis Millington-Blazey from the Upper Hunter Homeless Support.

“April is the busiest month on record yet, with almost 25 DV (domestic violence) related referrals and 34 overall referrals,” said Lee Watts.

“Many of the clients who have reported these incidents have been in isolation with the perpetrator,” she said.

“2020 has seen one person die each week at the hands of their partner,” Lee Watts said.

Joplin Higgins and Lee Watts holding vigil last night for the victims of family violence.

Joplin Higgins, local solicitor and advocate for family violence awareness gave heartfelt information from her experience in dealing with many victims of family violence, most importantly recognising what family violence is.

“physical violence is not the only type of domestic violence,” said Ms Higgins.

“It’s important for us all to know and for you as active bystanders and perhaps as victims of domestic violence to understand what domestic violence is,” she said.

“So it’s sexual assault within your relationship, it is controlling and coersive behaviour, it’s verbal abuse, being berated, it’s being gaslighted to where you don’t know whether you’re up or down or whether what you’ve heard is right,” she said.

“It’s financial abuse where you don’t have any access to your money or ability to buy something, it’s damage to your property, deprivation of your liberty where you can’t leave your home, it’s isolation from your family and friends and it’s injuries which is perpetrated onto you pets,” she said.

“It’s important to understand this because perhaps one of your loved ones is experiencing this,” Joplin Higgins said.

During the pandemic, Joplin implores victims of family violence to:

• Have a safe room in the house for themselves and their children;
• Ensure your phone is charged at all times;
• Have a safe person in their social group they can trust;
• Know you don’t have to stay, and
• Call 000 and police will be there to support you.

Joplin said she was proud of the local community and the people working hard to provide support to victims of family violence and believes, “one day we will live in a society where there is no violence against women and children.”

Lee Watts, said she was inspired by the number of people who have viewed the vigil online and in future years they will continue to live stream the ceremony.

“While covid-19 has made us change, it’s also made us realise we can reach more people online,” said Lee Watts.

“There will always be people who would not feel comfortable attending the event, but now they can join on their phone,” she said.

“It was absolutely brilliant and we will continue to do it this way even when people can attend,” Lee Watts said.

Facebook Video of the Vigil: