There to Support Women

LAST night community members gathered and held candles in remembrance of the women who have been killed by their families and those who continue to be subjected to domestic violence.

Lee Watts, manager of the Scone Neighbourhood Resource Centre (SNRC) said it was important people talk about the issue.

Supporting women: Back: Lee Watts SNRC, Joplin Higgins from Joplin Lawyers, Una Garland from Upper Hunter Homeless Support. Front: Samantha Jones from Commonwealth Bank and Amanda Catzikiris from UHSC.

“On average in Australia one women is killed each week at the hands of their partner,” said Mrs Watts.

“And one in four women in Australia will be subjected to domestic violence,” she said.

“The message for people in our local community is, ‘we are here to help’ and there are several different services which can help,” she said.

“We work together, groups like us and the Upper Hunter Homeless Support and connect to lawyers like Joplin and other services they may need and of course the local police,” she said.

“Each situation is different, but all women in the situation need some form of support and we are here for them and will help them find the support they need,” Lee Watts said.

Joplin Higgins from Joplin Lawyers was one of ten people in Australia to receive a Westpac Social Change Fellowship which she used to travel to America and study programs which rehabilitate the perpetrators of family violence.

Ms Higgins believes while supporting women and children in family violence situations is paramount, rehabilitating the men is the real key to reducing family violence.

“If we don’t engage the perpetrator we will never end domestic violence, it doesn’t matter how much money we pour into victim services,” Ms Higgins said.

“If we can rehabilitate one man, we can save a lifetime of women and children from family violence, because it is cyclical, because one partner may leave, but they always go on to another one,” Joplin Higgins said.

Related stories:

• Engaging Men Who Are Violent – May 18, 2017.
• New Approach to Domestic Violence – Jan 15, 2016.