Every Monday morning, the Western Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service receives about 20 referrals from police following the weekend spike in domestic violence-related incidents.
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They follow up each case – about 500 referrals each month across the Orana region – and, if the woman is deemed at risk, they organise fortnightly Safety Action Meetings with police, Family and Community Services, corrective services and the housing, health and education departments.
So when it comes to donations to the Dubbo Emergency Accommodation Project, a little bit goes a long way.
That will certainly be the case with $380 presented by the Daily Scoop at Majo’s; the proceeds of The Gut Movie film they brought to Dubbo earlier this year, and the sale of some donated produce.
“This will make a massive difference to one lady,” DVCAS coordinator Debbie Todkill said.
“She might have arrived at the police station with nothing but the clothes on her back.
“It could pay a bus ticket to her family, or if she’s from out of town, the kids might need school uniforms or food. Or it could be a couple of nights in a motel – every little bit helps.”
The Daily Scoop’s Jo Campbell said she first heard about the DVCAS at a Dubbo Business Chamber International Women’s Day event earlier this year.
“I thought ‘that’s exactly what I want to put the money towards’,” she said.
“Domestic violence has got significance to me and … so many women have a hard time leaving relationships.”
[Domestic violence] is everyone’s responsibility.
- Debbie Todkill
About one in six (1.6 million) women have experienced physical or sexual abuse by a cohabiting partner since the age of 15, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
The AIHW’s 2018 report Family, domestic and sexual violence in Australia found 72,000 women and 34,000 children sought homelessness services in 2016-17 due to family and domestic violence.
“That’s when they need the most support,” Mrs Campbell said.
“Domestic violence doesn’t discriminate,” Mrs Todkill said.
“Domestic violence is not just about being physically beaten, it’s anything where the victim feels a loss of control.
“It’s everyone’s responsibility, so if you hear your neighbour screaming don’t just ignore it, call the police.”