‘There would be an outcry’: Domestic violence support workers on disparity between regions and metro figures

Local domestic violence support workers say the disparity in family domestic violence rates between the metro area and the Kimberley are “more complex” than simply an increase in reporting, as touted by Police Minister Paul Papalia. On August 9 while on a trip to Broome, Police Minister Paul Papalia pointed to an increase in reporting and a decrease in stigma for the disparity between the metro area’s rate of domestic violence and that in the Kimberley. “People are willing to come forward far more regularly than they used to,” he said. According to the latest police numbers family domestic violence rates per 100,000 people in the Kimberley was 17 times the rate in the Perth metro area. Men’s Outreach Service Aboriginal Corporation Change Em Ways team leader Debbie Medhurst said to point to increased reporting to explain the disparity undermined the complex nature of domestic violence in the Kimberley. “It doesn’t tell the whole story but could tell part of it. Family domestic violence is a complex issue that cannot be explained with one reason,” she said. “In the Kimberley, there are also many social and situational pressures that contribute, such as homelessness, displacement from flooding, overcrowding in homes, the cost of living, boredom, alcohol and drugs, lack of accessibility to services and costs associated with the cost of services, including health.” If the same numbers were seen in the metro area Ms Medhurst said “there would be an outcry.” And although the minster claimed services were adequately funded Ms Medhurst said there was a need for more funding to support permanent domestic violence intervention programs across the Kimberley. “Our funding is limited to certain geographical locations in the Kimberley and there is a desperate need for Change Em Ways in other areas, such as recently demonstrated in the East Kimberley when we delivered in Kununurra,” she said. “Programs need to be available across the whole region. There needs to be more programs like Change Em Ways that hold men accountable for their actions whilst working with partners and families in a culturally safe way.” A spokesperson from the Change Em Ways program said the ongoing issue across the Kimberley was raising a generation of children who have become desensitised to violence inside the home. “Violence has become normalised for many young people in the community,” they said. “Primary prevention services such as the Dijun Way program for young people should be funded in the longer term, be better resourced, and delivered across the Kimberley, to help change the attitudes and beliefs of young people before they enter in relationships.” “We need to improve our primary prevention and community knowledge about FDV and its links to other problems in the community such as youth crime, suicide and self-harm.” “For Aboriginal people, intergenerational trauma and the impact of colonisation is also a part of the problem, however, the community as a whole and men in particular taking responsibility for their actions and committing to breaking the cycle of violence of abuse for themselves and the next generation, is what will lead to change on a larger scale.” It comes as the Federal and all State and Territory governments agreed to a new target of reducing female victims of intimate partner homicide by 25 per cent annually to “end” domestic violence within a generation. Earlier this month, leading domestic violence advocates called for an emergency meeting with Premier Roger Cook after two women, Georgia Lyall and Tiffany Woodley, were allegedly killed by their partners less than two weeks apart. In response to questions to Minister Papalia, a State Government spokesperson said the Government was committed to addressing domestic violence and had invested more than $200m since 2017. “This investment includes $16.3 million within the current State Budget to establish a one-stop family and domestic violence hub in Broome, delivering on an election commitment for the Kimberley,” they said. “The State Government continues to fund men’s behavioural change programs in the Kimberley, including $3.1m in current grant funding for the Change Em Ways Kimberley Project delivered by Men’s Outreach Service Aboriginal Corporation. “Additionally, the State Government invests nearly $315,000 each year in recurrent funding for Anglicare WA Inc to deliver the Derby Family Violence Service. “Law reform has also been a major focus for the State Government, which included passing the Family Violence Legislation Reform Act.” Anyone who is experiencing domestic violence should contact either the Women’s Domestic Violence Helpline on 1800 007 339, or the Men’s Domestic Violence Helpline on 1800 000 559.