By ANEEKA SIMONIS
AN overwhelming majority of women subjected to violence in Cardinia Shire are in a relationship with their abuser.
Details revealed in a safety report – listing family violence as a top concern in the region – show that 48 per cent of domestic violence perpetrators were found to be harming their current partner.
Victoria Police statistics found a further 17 per cent of perpetrators were reported as abusing an ex-partner.
It showed victims are at a significantly greater risk of danger at the hands of their partner while in a violent relationship compared to those who manage to escape the violence.
The Cardinia Shire report also found residents aged 25-44 were most susceptible to getting caught up in the disturbing cycle of abuse.
The statistics showed the age group was at the greatest risk of being a perpetrator or victim.
The black mark plaguing the age group is well known among these residents, with the issue of family violence flagged as one of their top safety concerns in the region.
The Cardinia Council last year announced that ending family violence was their number one issue.
In June, CEO Garry McQuillan came out in saying council could not afford to stay uninvolved in the violent epidemic devastating hundreds of families – including an alarming number of children – across the shire each year.
Reports indicate a whopping 41 per cent of family violence incidents involved or were witnessed by kids in Cardinia Shire, which is plagued by the highest reported rise in family violence incidents across the entire southern metropolitan region.
The council’s commitment to change the growing culture of violence in the region was solidified through a partnership with Family Life in the campaign, Together We Can.
The initiative will be launched at a community convention event on Thursday 28 April, followed by a community summit on Friday 29 April.
The two-day initiative at Cardinia Cultural Centre will look at challenges in dealing with the violence epidemic as well as develop strategies to overhaul the issue in the shire’s planned “year of action”.
Statistical reports about family violence in the region are compiled within the council’s recently released report, Cardinia: An International Safe Community.
The information was assisted by several community consultation sessions and aims to identify and improve safety outcomes for residents by achieving accreditation as an International Safe Community through the World Health Organisation (WHO).
On average, up to four families are impacted by violence in the shire each day.
