Reducing violence against culturally and linguistically diverse women and their children

Understanding the cultural context of violence against women is critical to reducing violence in culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, a new report has found.

The report titled A Platform for Action was released today by the minister for social services, Christian Porter, and highlights that there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to addressing domestic and family violence.

“We need to recognise that the most enduring change comes when women and communities, supported by government, develop their own culturally effective responses to help reduce violence against women and their children,” Mr Porter said.

“The Coalition Government has funded a number of projects through the building safe communities grants, which are designed to help specific communities develop and implement their own practical solutions to reduce violence against women.

“This approach includes funding specialist services such as inTouch Multicultural Centre to work with communities to increase their understanding of domestic violence, and help them access support.”

The report also highlighted that many new arrivals to Australia may have limited or no understanding of Australia’s laws in relation to issues such as family and domestic violence and other complex forms of violence and abuse.

“The government is providing improved orientation information to men and women coming to Australia on Australian laws on domestic and family violence, a woman’s right to be safe and the support services that are available,” Mr Porter said.

“This information supports and builds on the family safety pack for new arrivals announced by the coalition government in August 2015.

We are also developing new training for settlement workers to help them better recognise, respond and refer individuals and families who may be experiencing domestic and family violence or sexual assault.”

This is part of the $13.5 million provided to Lifeline under the Coalition Government’s $100 million Women’s Safety Package to undertake DV-alert training with a range of frontline service staff including police, emergency and allied health workers, and community front-line workers.

Other priority actions explored in the report include:

• addressing gender inequality in culturally and linguistically diverse communities
• creating safe and supportive workplace environments for women experiencing violence
• improving data, research and sharing of information to find out what works to reduce violence against women and their children
• enabling better integration of community services so victims aren’t left to navigate a complex system on their own

These priority actions add to an increasing body of evidence that is informing the Council of Australian Governments process for reducing violence against women and their children.

A platform for action reflects the insights provided by participants at a roundtable on responding to violence against culturally and linguistically diverse women and their children. It was attended by community and business leaders, Women’s Safety Ministers and specialists from domestic violence and sexual assault services.

To download a copy of A Platform for Action visit www.plan4womenssafety.dss.gov.au.

If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit www.1800RESPECT.org.au.