NO to Violence workshops are making their way through Mordialloc, spearheading a grassroots listening tour in “hot spots” across Victoria.
The Mordialloc workshop was held on 21 September, and featured talks with experts and community leaders from the family violence sector.
Local MPs were also invited to attend and hear firsthand about the challenges, service gaps, and collaborative innovations being trialled.
In Victoria Police’s bayside region, the LEAP data of reported family incidents demonstrates a rise in family violence incidents. Over the past five years, police reports in this region have increased from 15,097 incidents in 2013/2014 to 17,193 incidents in 2017/2018.
“For 25 years, No to Violence has been working at the frontline with men who use violence and power to control others, so they take responsibility for the harm they cause and understand they can choose to behave differently,” No to Violence CEO Jacqui Watt said.
“While there is some exceptional work being done in the preventative space, there is still much work to be done here and now, to keep Australian women and children safe from family violence.
“There is no quick fix to stop family violence. No to Violence is only one part of the sector, working alongside and supporting the work of women’s services. But the evidence shows that working directly with men to change their behaviour can contribute to the safety of women and children.”
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 26 September 2018