Speaking up for victims

In April, anti-violence campaigners walked Lakeside lake in a show against domestic abuse in the community.

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By ANEEKA SIMONIS

A HIGH-PROFILE domestic abuse survivor whose experiences provided crucial insight in the Royal Commission into Family Violence will head Cardinia Shire’s first Survivors’ Advisory Committee.
The committee is the first of its kind to be launched by a Victorian council and will run alongside the Together We Can campaign’s Year of Action to stop, prevent and end family violence in Cardinia Shire.
Kristy McKellar, a social work expert, and now a leading family violence consultant to government, police and welfare agencies, spoke at length about the failings of the justice system experienced by herself and her daughter at the Year of Action launch on Tuesday 26 July.
“No-one is invulnerable,” she said.
Disturbingly, she said, it was them – the victims – who were treated most harshly by the justice system.
“It failed to protect me. I was unseen and unheard of … as if I was nothing at all. I felt powerless, vulnerable and defeated.
“No words could ever be powerful enough to describe how betrayed and undermined my experiences were. It was as if violent offending was being rewarded … and children, the invisible victims, were not being given a voice.
“The system sent a clear message that behaviour was not severe enough to be punished.”
She penned an open letter about her experiences to the Attorney-General in 2014 which led to a meeting which went on to change the trajectory of family violence justice outcomes being rolled out today.
Changes including legislative reforms influenced by Ms McKellar, also a Together We Can ambassador, centre around the protection of victims, especially children.
A line of community leaders including police, councillors and social welfare workers stepped up to sign the pledge to end the scourge of violence in Cardinia Shire at the project launch.
Mayor Jodie Owen was first to sign as she reiterated her support for the campaign as someone previously impacted by domestic violence.
The pledge required signatories to take ownership over the movement which highlighted the rights of children to live in safe homes and the urgent need to call out violence perpetrators and harmful gender stereotypes.
The push to end violence will begin immediately.
From Monday 1 August, Together We Can will begin their 365-day assault to drive down rates of violence in partnership with welfare service providers, sports and recreational clubs, workplaces, children and families.
It will include specialist trauma training for maternal child and health nurses locally, a youth forum and peaceful protest against family violence.
The full list of initiatives due to be rolled out in Together We Can’s Year of Action will be available in next week’s Gazette.
Family Life CEO Jo Cavanagh, working in partnership with Together We Can, said from the launch onwards it’s the community’s responsibility to speak up and stop violence.
“We have to make sure that after today, we all take action. We need to call out violence. It’s a learnt behaviour … we need to stop teaching it.”
Cardinia Shire CEO Gary McQuillan says it is hoped the intervention model will one day be rolled out nationally.
The Survivors’ Advisory Committee will be led by Ms McKellar, supported by Anglicare and Windermere.
Anyone who is experiencing family violence can phone the safe steps 24/7 Family Violence Response Centre on 1800 015 188.