Women's refuge seminar this week

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 557, 11 October 1994, Page 6

Women's refuge seminar this week

The Taumarunui Women' s Refuge is holding a two-day seminar in Ohakune 15-16 October at Ruapehu College, aiming to increase the community's awareness of Women's Refuge and what they do. "It would really be a bonus if people from the area wish to become volunteers said a spokesperson. T aumarunui Women ' s Refuge provides for the W aima-

rino area - Ohakune, Raetihi, Waiouru and Taihape. They provide safe-house accommodation for women and children, victims of family violence; crisis intervention; 24hour freephone, crisis telephone access; support and assistance with all legal, housing, medical and benefit matters. This is a free service and confidentiality is paramount at all times. Most crisis calls come via the Police and are responded to immediately. Two volunteers pick up the women and children for safe-housing and transport them to the safehouse. There are thousands of New Zealand children for whom violence is a frequent reality. Last year Women's Refuge provided a temporary home for 7885 children, most had watched their mother's being physically, emotionally and sometimes sexually abused. "The children are the forgotten victims." A report was published in May by Gabrielle Maxwell, of the Office for the Commissioner called 'Children and Family Violence: The unnoticed Victims'. She says the needs of the children caught up in family violence have been ignored for too long. Without some sort of intervention many of these children will grow up to become either physically and emotionally abusive themselves or the victims of such abuse. "Refuge workers have seen too many children who are withdrawn, violent, uncooperative and have behavioural problems," said a spokesperson. "It's heartbreaking when you see these young children, particularly the boys, acting like Dad. They have learnt you can get your own way by using violence. Many of the girls are subservient or acting like a parent, looking after younger brothers, sisters and mother as well". This year two local workers trained to become child advocates, to work with the children and develop a programme specifically for them, to help develop self-es-teem, rebuild their trust in adults; learn to play cooperatively and deal with conflict without resorting to violence.