Warrina Women's Resource and Information Centre

'I couldn't work or go to the doctor.' The form of coercive control we need to talk about. Immigration and visa abuse is affecting Australian immigrants who struggle to leave abusive relationships due to isolation. Here's how we can help.

We get asked often how common it is for women to make false allegations against their ex-partner. The reality is that the problem of under-reporting is far more common than false allegations.

Guys, you can stop worrying about false r**e allegations. They’re extremely rare Around 5 per cent of reports are classified as false - but that doesn’t always mean an allegation has been maliciously made up.

When women earn more than their male partners, domestic violence risk goes up 35 per cent Ground-breaking Australian research also shows as soon as women earn more than half a couple’s income they face a 20 per cent increase in the chance of suffering from emotional abuse.

"if just one person recognises their situation mirrored in what happened to Natalie – and then finds the strength to get out – there will be comfort in that. “It’s never going to take the pain away,” she says bleakly, “but it’s just letting people know.”" - this was a quote by Margaret Hammond who lost her daughter to domestic homicide where coercive control was present. Yet another reason why Australia ought to move towards criminalizing coercive control.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/may/20/coercion-and-control-fighting-against-the-abuse-hidden-in-relationships

Coercion and control: fighting against the abuse hidden in relationships Natalie Hemming was killed by her partner after she tried to leave him – just one of many deaths in which a coercive and controlling partner is a significant factor. However, despite new laws, progress in raising awareness has been slow

Following the extreme weather this weekend we would like to remind you that we have resources for women affected by natural disasters.

Our webpage contains factsheets about what happens with family law parenting issues, child support and AVOs when you are affected by a natural disaster.

https://www.wlsnsw.org.au/resources/help-after-natural-disasters/

Our AskLOIS program provides a webinar and factsheet for community services that are supporting women affected by natural disasters.
View the webinar: https://vimeo.com/398419121
Read the factsheet:https://asklois.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Natural-disasters-factsheet.pdf

any time you need help:

CALD women and children often face complex issues and difficulties when accessing support for Domestic and Family Violence. Violence is not okay, no matter what culture you come from.

On March 21, we celebrate Harmony Day and the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

Everyone deserves to feel safe and respected in their relationships.
Domestic and family violence is unacceptable in any culture.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic or family violence, support is available. Visit www.domesticviolence.com.au/getting-help/other-services to find out what services are available.

In an emergency call the Police on 000.

DV Connect Women’s Line: 1800 811 811
DV Connect Men’s Line: 1800 600 636
Immigrant Women’s Emergency Support Service: 3846 3490
1800RESPECT (1800 737 732)

NSW Tenancy laws allow termination of tenancy based on domestic and family violence grounds and DFV specialist services like Warrina are considered 'competent persons' in signing off on tenancy termination notices. Women and children in fixed-term lease agreements don't have to feel like they are locked into a tenancy agreement and have to stay in unsafe situations. However, with rental vacancies sitting at record low levels in Coffs Harbour, as highlighted in the article, “We have to look at the next step too – when people can get out, but what do they do then?”

Tenancy laws are making it hard for domestic violence survivors to escape Inconsistent tenancy laws across Australia are making it difficult for women and children experiencing domestic violence to leave and find new housing, new research shows.

For details of all our advice lines and operating times visit our website: https://www.wlsnsw.org.au/contact-us/

Unfortunately these are not uncommon stories we hear from the women who seek help at the women's resource centre. Slavery is slavery. Get involved by raising your awareness of the issue, donate, spread the word.

If you think that slavery is a thing of the past you're very much mistaken.

The inhumane trade is taking place in Australia today. This shocking truth is being highlighted at the Human Mart where each product tells the story of a real life victim of modern slavery.

https://humanmart.com.au/

If I Were an Abuser, What Church Would I Want to Attend? I am proud to feature the work of Dr. Nancy Murphy on my blog today. Dr. Murphy is a professor, Executive director of Northwest Family Life, and runs www.DVtraining.net to help educate churches in navigating issues of Domestic Violence. She has been my teacher and supervisor for the past 10 years

Homepage R**e & Domestic Violence Services Australia offers counselling for s*xual, domestic or family violence in NSW and Australia through a r**e crisis hotline.

Another excellent article by Juliad Baird that illustrates the gross inequality and injustice experienced by woman all around the world and the justification of the use of male violence.

Too many of us believe women lie about r**e. In fact, they rarely report it The truth is that Australian women overwhelmingly choose not to report r**e, but many have found their voice in recent weeks.

"Rates of reporting gendered violence in Australia are very low. It’s important prejudicial ideas about mental illness are not mobilised against women to further prevent their disclosures from being heard and taken seriously.

When the media uses a woman’s mental health history to cast doubt on her allegations, other women will be deterred from speaking out about their experiences.

Women with mental health difficulties who disclose violence should be provided with options and resources. Their disclosures should be taken seriously, their feelings should be validated and supported, and they should be presented with a range of pathways for support and justice"

Evidence shows mental illness isn't a reason to doubt women survivors Women who experience mental anguish after violence are not 'irrational'.

taking place at Coffs Harbour City Square 12pm to 1pm tomorrow (Monday).

Events/Dates - Women's March 4 Justice Please find on this page date & times for marches. Please leave a message using the contact page if you know any dates of .

Everybody deserves to feel safe regardless of visa status.

If this sounds like you or you don't feel safe and are worried about your visa, contact IARC for free and confidential legal advice.

Visit iarc.org.au/help or call us on 02 8234 0700.

While the resource and information centre is closed till 11th January 2021, Warrina staff continue to be working this season to support women and children in crisis, including on New Year's Eve:
Warrina Women's and Children's Refuge: 02 6652 4000
Women's Domestic Violence Court Advocacy: 02 6650 0302
NSW DV Line: 1800 65 64 63

You’re probably familiar with some forms of domestic violence, such as physical or verbal abuse. There’s a more subtle type of abusive behavior that’s equally harmful.

Coercive control is a strategic form of ongoing oppression and terrorism used to instill fear. The abuser will use tactics, such as limiting access to money or monitoring all communication, as a controlling effort.

"All animals and people experiencing domestic and family violence deserve to be safe and to live free from violence"
Report by DVNSW: https://www.dvnsw.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/DVNSW-Report-on-Animals-and-People-Experiencing-Domestic-and-Family-Violence.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2NGWZ1pAWVTwq3kks4MT3hLBN2EyB6C92koKKM6dLYCS5ROg149PDoZ-A

Thank you to the nearly 200 of you who joined us today for the launch of Domestic Violence NSW’s report on Animals and People Experiencing Domestic and Family Violence.

We are delighted to share with you our report, which is informed by the lived expertise of survivor advocates, domestic and family violence workers, and our partner organisations.

We would like to thank Talie Star, Minister Mark Speakman, Shadow Minister Trish Doyle, Emma Hurst and Danielle Wheeler for speaking today.

Please share our report widely, and we will continue to advocate for improved supports for people and animals experiencing domestic and family violence so they can be safe and well.

Been reading through Jess Hill's 'See what you made me do' and the research and interviews she has done is invaluable in helping us all understand better what coercive control is and how domestic violence goes way beyond the physical or s*xual act of violence. Not the lightest of reading but absolutely riveting, insightful and thoughtful.

5 Books That Shine A Light On What Coercive Control Can Really Look Like Coercive control is often a strong precursor to domestic abuse and associated with 99 per cent of cases where a woman is killed by her current or former partner. It's defined as a sustained pattern of manipulative behaviour—which includes emotional abuse, isolation, s*xual coercion, financial abus...

As a DFV service working with women and children, we have seen first hand the trauma and risks that we put children through when family law court presumes that equal shared parent responsibility is the preferred way. Both parents play an important and significant role in the lives of the children, but not when it comes at a cost to the children whose voices are consistently and systematically ignored. Children deserve to feel safe and to feel heard.

Join me in supporting the Put kids safety first in family law Campaign The presumption of equal shared parental responsibility (ESPR) in family law shifts the focus of decision makers away from child safety and the best interests of children. With up to 85% of family court matters involving domestic and family violence, presuming parents should have contact puts childr...

"Leaving is never the easy choice — it is just one more painful choice in a reality full of painful choices" - Ali Owens (2016)

More than once, we have heard people ask, "why doesn't she just leave?" or "why does she keep going back to him?". The reality is never really that simple and the culture of victim-blaming makes it even harder. This article by Ali Owens, who herself is a survivor of domestic abuse, sheds some light on the reasons why someone might choose to stay in an abusive relationship

I Stayed in My Abusive Relationship For Nine Years and Not For Financial Reasons You hear this all the time. Someone brings allegations of domestic abuse against someone else, and the immediate reaction of the general public is to ass...

Threatening to 'cancel' a partner's visa is one of the coercive control tactics that we see perpetrators use when the survivor is on a temporary partner's visa. Check out this factsheet by the IARC (Immigration Advice and Rights centre) and understand your rights.https://iarc.asn.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Partner-visas-breakdown-of-relationship.pdf

Sharing this speech delivered by Jess Hill at the launch of the Criminalise Coercive Control Campaign. Many women have shared that the invisible scars of emotional/psychological abuse is so much worse than any physical violence. But so often it is minimized and ignored. There is a need for a new approach in addressing domestic violence in our community

Criminalising coercive control will replace the broken lens we have on domestic abuse This speech was delivered by Jess Hill at the launch of the Criminalise Coercive Control Campaign, spearheaded by advocacy and legal groups.

For all residents of mid-north coast, Lifeline is offering free video counselling sessions for people affected by bushfires/COVID-19. No referrals needed. No charges apply. Check it out. 😊
https://www.lifeline.org.au/community-counselling

Looking for apps that would support your safety? Check out this list of reviewed apps from wesnet
https://techsafety.org.au/resources/appsafetycentre/apps-reviewed/

Apps Reviewed Apps Reviewed Scroll down to see the eight apps reviewed then click on each for more detailed information. Please note that none of the following apps are endorsed by Safety Net Australia or WESNET. These reviews provide information so women can make informed choices about which apps they choose to....

How do you respond when a friend/family member discloses that she is experiencing domestic and family violence? What if you have a 'feeling' that your loved one is not in a good place in her relationship but don't know how to probe further? Safe & Together Institute has come up with a very helpful guide on 'How to be an Ally to a loved one experiencing domestic violence'.
https://safeandtogetherinstitute.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/A4_AllyDoc_web82520.pdf

Coercive control is a crime in countries like UK and Scotland. And it should be the case in Australia. Sign the petition today to express your support to criminalize coercive control

Are Media wants to criminalise coercive control We think persistent humiliating, demeaning and intimidating behavior should be criminal. Sign the petition to criminalise coercive control here.

If you are experiencing domestic violence and is renting as a tenant in NSW, know your rights by checking out this info sheet from the Women's Legal Service NSW

Technology-facilitated abuse (TFA) can be a reportable offence. Go to the eSafety Commisioner website for more information on what is TFA and how to make a report.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-10-27/revenge-p**n-image-based-abuse-victoria-courts-report/12805882

Jo's ex uploaded fake 'revenge p**n' of her online. Then her daughter's classmates googled her name Three survivors of 'revenge p**n' share their stories, as a major new report reveals the majority of image-based abuse cases are linked to family violence — but that's just those that make it to court.

It is not okay that 42 percent of young men aged 18 to 34 does not see "hitting, punching or restraining" another person to be a type of domestic violence. It is not okay that the same proportion does not see non-consensual s*x, degradation, isolation (coercive control behaviors) as domestic violence.
Also, 1 in 3 young women aged 18 to 34 do not see non-consensual s*x as domestic violence.
These statistics are a sobering reminder that we have some way to go in addressing community attitudes towards domestic violence especially among the younger generation.

'Incredibly shocking': Younger men failing to recognise domestic violence A significant minority of young men do not consider punching and hitting to be domestic violence, a national survey has found.

A common question we hear from women is 'is this domestic violence?' Check out this helpful info sheet from the Domestic Violence Resource Centre, Victoria.

Warrina Women's Resource and Information Centre updated their info in the about section.