No to Violence

This week, No to Violence joined forces with sector leaders, including Victoria Police, Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre and Safe and Equal, to shine a spotlight on the heightened risks of domestic and family violence during the festive season. Sadly, the holiday season, often seen as a time of joy and connection, also sees increased incidents of violence. Through our collaborative work in the media this week, our organisations have been encouraging those using violence and abuse to urgently seek help to change their behaviour; and those experiencing violence to know what support options are available to them. But the onus should not be on women and children to keep themselves safe. It should be on men to make better choices to pave the way for safer, healthier families and communities, not just during the festive season but year-round. Phillip Ripper Lauren Callaway Kate Fitz-Gibbon Tania Farha

“For too many women and children, the men in their lives choose to make this period one of heightened fear and violence,” No to Violence chief executive Phillip Ripper said. Huge thanks to Our Watch for inviting NTV to collaborate on this important campaign to highlight increased use of domestic and family violence by men at this time of year. This is often linked to increased alcohol consumption but driven by harmful attitudes about gender stereotypes and disrespect towards women. This summer we are encouraging men to make better choices to keep those around them safe, and to reach out for support if their behaviour is of concern to them or others - including to the Men's Referral Service (which is operated by NTV) on 1300 766 491.

"When we have police responses that are incident focused then it can be hard to determine, in some scenarios, who is the primary aggressor and who's the primary victim-survivor over the course of a pattern of behaviour." - Professor of Social Work at Griffith University, Silke Meyer This week the ABC reported on an issue of concern to many in the family violence sector – when victims are misidentified by police as the person using violence. Data on the scale of this problem ranges but our sector knows the impact on victims is massive. Each victim misidentified as the person using violence is at risk of criminalisation – impacting employment, housing and potentially leading to the removal of children. No to Violence has stood alongside our colleagues to call for consistent mechanisms to rectify misidentification. We continue to work with police to improve their knowledge so that the devastating impacts on victims can be avoided entirely. The ABC highlighted the benefit of co-responder models which NTV also continues to advocate for. Co-responder models involve family violence specialists and police work together as colleagues, building each other’s capacity to respond more effectively. These models are being piloted in Victoria, New South Wales and the Northern Territory - showing fantastic benefits for entire communities. 

NTV congratulates the Hon Natalie Hutchins MP on her appointment as Victoria’s new Minister for Prevention of Family Violence. We look forward to working with the new Minister and her Government to continue to address men’s use of family violence in Victoria to help keep women, children and communities safer. And we thank the former Minister the Hon Vicki Ward for her dedication and commitment to ending men’s use of family violence while she held the portfolio – and congratulate her on her new roles in Cabinet. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gvK5RRKx

Extremely sobering figures and important to remember these are just the tip of the iceberg. We know up to 80% of family violence is never reported to police, so during this upcoming festive season there will be so many more women and children living in fear for their safety in their homes - and too many men still choosing to use violence and abuse with their partners, ex-partners and families. NTV is pleased to be collaborating with Victoria Police and Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre to highlight increased incidence of domestic and family violence at this time of year and promoting the Men’s Referral Service (which is operated by No to Violence) and Safe Steps as support options for Victorians using or experiencing family violence. If you are aware of or working with men using domestic and family violence during this festive season, know that the Men's Referral Service (MRS) will be operating 24/7 across this period to work with them to change their behaviour. Where possible, MRS will link men engaging with its services with services provided by NTV members nationally. Call 1300 766 491 or visit mrs.org.au.

Today was the final NSW Men’s Behaviour Change Network (NSWMBCN) meeting for the year, held in Sydney and online. These bi-monthly network meetings are an opportunity for registered Men’s Behaviour Change Registered providers to come together to discuss sector updates, share best practice and connect with each other. As the Secretariat for the NSWMBCN, No to Violence is proud to host and facilitate these meetings and to hear and share the amazing practice experience of these expert and highly valued providers. NSW Department of Communities and Justice Caitlin Davies Ulla Inki-Gilabert

This is brilliant to see.

Secure your spot today to ensure you don’t miss out on early bird pricing. Register by Friday the 20th of December to save $400. No to Violence is pleased to be partnering with The Hatchery (Hub) and The Man Cave to host the 4th Annual ‘Engaging Men & Boys to End the Cycle of Violence’ Conference. This world-leading Conference will delve into the issues at the heart of working with men and boys to address their use of violence and keep women, children and communities safer. Over two days, 35+ presenters will deep dive into working with boys and young men, the challenges of inter-agency collaboration, how to provide better responses for men at the intersections of AOD misuse, mental health & violence…and more. Connect with peers at this event and be part of the drive for change at this thought-provoking and timely event. Register and find out more here: https://lnkd.in/g83Nby5y Hunter Johnson Phillip Ripper Dr Rebecca Buys

Last week NTV attended the Allies Against Violence event in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. Organised by the Eastern Suburbs Domestic Violence Network, the event explored innovative approaches to address family violence. Mataio Taimalelagi Brown MNZM, author of She Is Not Your Rehab, shared his insights on the pivotal roles of community and collective healing in breaking the cycle of intergenerational trauma. Our own Carolyn Bateman presented on a panel about the work of two key programs operated by NTV: the Men’s Referral Service and the Brief Intervention Service.

Passionate and heartfelt conversations and new connections. No to Violence was really pleased to have our Head of Sector and Workforce Development Caitlin Davies Chair the 2nd National Safety Summit in Perth this week and our Regional Services Manager Jodie Baldwin as a valued expert panellist during the Summit. The Summit brought together passionate advocates across Australia in the Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence sector for robust discussion on family safety and wellbeing.