Tackling family violence on the agenda at International Women’s Day breakfast

Over 50 people attended the annual event on Saturday, March 9.

Family violence was the primary subject of discussion at the breakfast.

NLCH co-ordinator Anna Close spoke about her mother’s family violence issues and then introduced the guest speaker, Victorian Police’s Senior Sergeant Rachel Walsh, who is the family violence training officer at Seymour Police Station.

Sen Sgt Walsh said she was one of 21 family violence training officers now in 24-hour police stations across Victoria.

She spoke about her role in instructing police officers in dealing with instances of family violence.

She described many types of family violence, such as that caused by mental health, alcoholism and drug abuse, and other forms such as elder abuse, sexual, psychological, emotional, economic and coercive control, financial deprivation, pet abuse, threat of suicide, humiliation, being put down, use of children and the exposure of them to violence, blame games, isolation, stalking and gaslighting.

She also discussed how the police could help by listening, believing and looking at the whole picture and being non-judgmental.

Sen Sgt Walsh also answered questions on how those who were affected could get help, how the community could assist, the police response, intervention orders and how Mitchell Shire in 2022-23 had 1092 reports of family violence, of which 42 per cent had children present, and 90 per cent occurred in the home.

The official support agencies were mentioned, and pamphlets were available for those present to collect to support anyone who needed assistance.

Advice, counselling and support is provided by the Orange Door organisation in Shepparton, Wallan and Albury; 1800 RESPECT; and Victoria Police family violence training officers.

Following the breakfast provided by the Nagambie Rowing Club, Ms Close thanked Sen Sgt Walsh for her informative and challenging talk to the guests.