Empower Her Luncheon reduces stigma of family and domestic violence across the Kimberley

Brenda (not her real name), a woman living in a remote Aboriginal community in the Kimberley made the decision to leave her physically and emotionally abusive partner. For victims/survivors of domestic violence the decision to leave can be fraught with conflict, as well as place them at an increased risk of experiencing further abuse. On average it takes victims/survivors of family and domestic violence seven attempts to leave their abuser before they are successful, according to Buffy Lefroy, who provided partner support to Brenda through Mens Outreach Service Aboriginal Corporation (MOSAC) Change Em Ways program. On the morning Brenda planned to leave and relocate to live with a family member hundreds of kilometres away from her home, her partner smashed her car window. Through financial, legal, and social support from the Change Em Ways partner support program Brenda was still able to achieve her escape plan. The program secured a two-year family violence restraining order and paid for her vehicle repairs, housing and living expenses. Since relocating, Brenda’s life has been transformed into one grounded in safety and security. Her story was shared by MOSAC workers who presented on their work at the Broome Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Empower Her Luncheon at the Mangrove Hotel last week, during the 16 Days in WA campaign. Broome Chamber events co-ordinator Lorryndle Egerton said the Chamber hosted the luncheon, sponsored by Rio Tinto, “to raise awareness about domestic violence in our community in line with the 16 Days in WA campaign by bringing together the community and showcasing the services we have in town”. She also emphasised the importance of sharing women’s stories of lived experience, “so that someone in the room might be able to relate, and know they are not alone”. Attendees of the event included hospital workers, Aboriginal legal corporations, family and domestic violence lived experience ambassadors, and employees from women’s shelters and refuges. Keynote speaker Kellie Brinkhuis, like Brenda, fled an emotionally and physically abusive partner. On the day she left her former partner with her three children “she had nothing but the clothes on her back”. She describes herself as “extremely lucky” to have her mother’s support who sheltered her and her family, saying it has motivated her to advocate for victims/survivors who have no support. Ms Brinkhuis lamented the impossible predicament women in remote communities who have an abusive partner face when trying to protect their children and are isolated from support. “They have nowhere to go, so they stay at home and hope they can be some sort of shield for their children,” Ms Brinkhuis said. She highlighted the need for increased funding into family and domestic violence programs across the North West. The luncheon raised $3000 for Djarindjin Safe House in Djarindjin, the remote Aboriginal community 170km north of Broome, as well as Marnja Jarndu Women’s Refuge, located in Broome. The donation was made possible from the $1500 of raffle tickets purchased at the event. Prizes were supplied by local businesses and the Broome Chamber contributed a matching donation.