Community partnerships

MEDIA RELEASE 25 August 2014

STOPPING FAMILY VIOLENCE MUST BE STATE ELECTION PRIORITY

The No More Deaths campaign to put family violence at the top of the 2014 state election agenda is being launched today (August 25) on the steps of Parliament House.

Victoria's leading family violence organisations are calling on the state's political parties to commit to wide-ranging policies across housing, justice, police, health, education and other portfolios to keep women and children safe in Victoria.

"Our hearts have been torn by the horrific violence we see devastating the lives of everyday Victorians," said Fiona McCormack, Chief Executive Officer of Domestic Violence Victoria.Sometimes the issue can seem so big and complex that we despair about being able to do anything effective. But the reality is we can absolutely make a difference."

The No More Deaths election platform outlines 25 priority actions to:

Keep women and children safe and housed.
Make the justice system safe and supportive.
Hold violent perpetrators to account.
Break down the service silos that endanger women and children.
Prevent violence against women and children.

"Throughout the election campaign we will assess commitments on family violence for how they compare to other public safety and justice promises," Ms McCormack said.

"What we don't want are promises of quick fixes or a focus on just one part of the problem.

"Our political leaders have to stand up and be counted, to see where failure by governments to act - on safe housing, in the courts, on the status of women and across other areas of policy and practice - puts women and children at risk of family violence."

"We are not just asking for money. We are asking for leadership and accountability."The members of the No More Deaths coalition are: Domestic Violence Victoria, the Federation of Community Legal Centres, No To Violence, Women's Legal Services Victoria, Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria, Women's Domestic Violence Crisis Service and Women with Disabilities Victoria. Together they represent most statewide and local organisations working with women and children, community legal services and men's behaviour change programs across Victoria.

Media can access the full election platform at http://www.dvrcv.org.au/. For information or to arrange an interview with Fiona McCormack, contact Marie McInerney on 0418 273 698.

WRISC is proud to be a partner and supporter of The Sanders in the Andes project.

Juelz and Ben along with their two children Ruby and Max are preparing to live and volunteer in Bolivia for the next two years. Juelz will link in with local services and community groups initially to learn and later to assist women experiencing domestic violence. In Bolivia up to 70% of women are affected by domestic violence. Ben her partner will also volunteer his skills as an illustrator and graphic designer in a children's curriculum project.

WRISC will stay in contact with The Sanders in the Andes project providing support where we can as well as exploring ways women accessing WRISC services may connect with women experiencing domestic violence in Bolivia for mutual support.

Juelz worked as a project worker at WRISC for two years finishing up in May 2014. While we are sad to lose Juelz from the WRISC team we are very excited for and her family as they embark on this new adventure in their lives.

If you would like to find out more about this project, volunteering in Bolivia or would like to contribute in anyway please contact Juelz via sandersintheandes@gmail.comor join us at

To read the Sanders in the Andes NEWSLETTER, click here

To return to the WRISC Home Page, click here

Grampians Integrated Family Violence Committee

The purpose of the Grampians Integrated Family Violence Committee is leading and improving an integrated systems approach to family violence prevention, early intervention and response by understanding, advocating for and addressing regional needs. WRISC has been a member of this committee since it was formed in 2006. Jacinta Wainwright, WRISC's Executive Officer, has chaired the committee since February 2011 and will finish her term as Chair in July this year. Jacinta had this to say about the work of the committee:

The Committee provides an important opportunity for services in our region to collaborate on projects together. Having been part of this committee for the last four years it really brings home for me that by working together we can make a difference.

Click here to visit the Grampians Integrated Family Violence website

Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-operative (BADAC) & WRISC Partnership Agreement

WRISC's partnership with BADAC is integral to the delivery of our Indigenous Family Violence program ensuring our services are accessible and culturally safe for Aboriginal women and children. The partnership allows for WRISC to have a worker provide services to clients from BADAC premises as needed and one day a week a worker is based at BADAC. Since the establishment of this partnership both organisations have had the opportunity to collaborate on a number of healing programs for women and children.

As a result of this partnership the Matong* Aboriginal Women's group was established in May 2013 meeting every Friday at WRISC. The women of Matong are strong women of action and have started work on WRISC's court yard to make it a friendly and comfortable space for women and children to use when they come to WRISC.

Angela, WRISC Indigenous Family Violence Support Worker said this about her work: "To walk beside my people in difficult times is both an honour and privilege". Angela's tribal land is Yamatji - Mount Magnet, Western Australia.

*Matong means 'strong' in Wathaurong language.

Ballarat White Ribbon Day Committee

WRISC has been a member of the Ballarat White Ribbon Day Committee since its establishment in 2004. White Ribbon Day is an international campaign held on the 25th of November each year. The Ballarat White Ribbon Day Committee was established in 2004 to run a local campaign annually. Each year men are encouraged to join the campaign to stop men's violence against women by becoming White Ribbon Day Ambassadors. Anita Koelle WRISC Business Manager has been a member of the committee since 2012 and describes:

The Ballarat White Ribbon Day Committee is a proactive community group providing opportunity to engage with students and men who recognise the critical importance of men taking responsibility for speaking out on the unacceptability of violence against women and complements the work we do.

Click here to visit the Ballarat White Ribbon Day website

Act@Work

The Act@Work project has been developed by Women's Health Grampians in partnership with WRISC, City of Ballarat and CAFS. The project will work with 4 workplaces over 3 years in the Central Highlands region. A major component of the project is 4 x 90 minute training sessions for employees focusing on what they can do as bystanders to change attitudes that support violence and gender inequality towards women. Act@Work will also address workplace leadership, policies and procedures and promote partnerships and links to the community to encourage workplaces to contribute to safer and more respectful communities.

This project has been funded as part of the Victoria Government's Community Crime Prevention Program - local solutions for local crime prevention issues.

Contact Michelle Hunt, Act@Work Project Manager PH. 53 22 4100 or email: michelle@whg.org.au

Click here to download the flyer

Click on the image below to play the Act@Work Infographic.

Gina's Dream Team

WRISC is proud to support "Gina's Dream Team" as they head to the 2014 NAIDOC Netball Carnival. An annual event held for Indigenous netball players, Gina's Dream Team is sending teams to compete in the event on 24th & 25th September. This year Netball WA and the Department of Sport and Recreation are expecting the largest turnout with 70 plus teams. The carnival, as well as being a wonderfully cultural event, will also provide pathway opportunities for all Indigenous participants, including the selection of the NAIDOC All Starts teams. Gina's Dream Team compete to honour the memory of Gina Kickett who was a member of the Ballarat Pride netball squad and passed away suddenly in 2009. The Gina Kickett Memorial Trophy will also be awarded at the event.

WRISC is also represented on several service and community networks and committees:

Grampians Indigenous Regional Action Group
Ballarat Family Violence Prevention Network
Moorabool Family Violence Prevention Network
Hepburn Family Violence Prevention Network
Homelessness Services Network
Children's Workers Network
Family Violence Court Users Network
Central Highlands Women's Family Violence No Interest Loans Scheme
Ballarat International Women's day sub-committee
Grampians Family Violence Disability Working Party
Child Youth Mental Health Collaborative Care Model Reference Group
Central Highlands Local Area Service Network (LASN)
Central Highlands Crime Prevention Reference Group

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