By Kath Gannaway
“VIOLENCE against women is prevalent and serious, but it is also preventable.”
That strong and hopeful statement from Yarra Ranges Councillor Tony Stevenson, was one of many delivered on Friday, 25 November, at the launch of ‘Healesville Change the Story’.
The group, whose aim was clearly stated as changing a long-established story on family violence in the Healesville community, chose to launch the new group on White Ribbon Day with a barbecue breakfast outside the Healesville Community Link.
Backing his statement that violence against women is preventable, Cr Stevenson said research had shown that a lack of gender equality and respect is consistently reported as an underlying determinant of violence against women.
Aladdin Jones, Health Promotion Officer at Yarra Valley Community Health spoke on behalf of the members of Healesville Change the Story.
He said there was a well-recognised problem of family violence in the Healesville community.
“It has been recognised by the Yarra Ranges Council, Eastern Health, Eastern Community Legal Centre, HICCI, Liberty Family Church and several other local service groups and churches,” he said referencing some of the local organisations who have come together to form Healesville Change the Story.
He said Change the Story directs communities to target actions to prevent family violence through challenging the condoning of violence against women, promoting women’s independence and decision making, challenging gender stereotypes and roles and strengthening positive, equal and respectful relationships.
Mr Jones said a network of 60 local providers of health and wellbeing services had long recognised family violence as an issue requiring further response and cited a past primary school chaplain as saying that at least half of the students who came to his attention for support were affected by family violence.
He said that over a third of family violence incidents involve alcohol and at least a third had children present.
“To further compound the issue, young people who are at risk of disengaging with school regularly experience homelessness and ‘couch surf’ in this town to escape violence, conflict or drug-use at home,” he said.
He said Healesville Change the Story group would advocate for and support respectful and healthy family relationships in the Healesville community for all men, women and children.
This would be done, Mr Jones said, through projects involving schools, the arts, media and conversations over food.
“Just like this morning’s breakfast,” he added.
Other organisations involved in Healesville Change the Story include Rotary, Lions, Anchor and Healesville Fitness.
For more information, phone Mr Jones on 5969 9933 or email Aladdin.jones@easternhealth.org.au .
