Family violence should not be tolerated, seminar told

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 636, 14 May 1996, Page 3

Family violence should not be tolerated, seminar told

"We believe that the society needs to recognise that the cycle of family vioience can and must be broken. Women and children in violent families need to know that abuse is not acceptable, is not legal and should not be tolerated." That is the main policy of Women' s Refuge, as presented at a seminar discussing vioience to women and children held in Taihape last week. The Taumarunui Women's Refuge and Support Centre co-ordinated and convened the seminar. Groups arid individuals who are involved and concerned with problems affecting women and children in violent or abusive situations were invited to attend the session. Tfiis included people from Taumarunui, Raetihi, Ohakune, Waiouru and Taihape. The group was made up of both men and women from a variety of areas, including teachers, police, public health nurses, counsellors, legal advisers, social welfare and members of the public who have or who are involved in problems of vioience or abuse. Others attending were women who have an interest in helping people in need. Taumarunui ' s co-ordinator, Mariama T eW ano, outlined the function of Women's Refuge. The organisation has 56 safe houses throughout the country. They offer shelter to women and children for anything from one night to several weeks. For women who are afraid that their partner may follow them, a refuge is the safest place to go as the addresses are confidential, she.said. The office is open Monday to Friday 10am to 3pm. Women may come to the office for assistance. There is a

24-hour emergency phone service. A roster system by volunteers offers help outside office hours in urgent situations. The refuge provides: support and an understanding ear; helps the person concerned decide what to do next; explains legal rights; advice and assistance to apply for financial help; assistance, advice and hands-on input in areas of counselling; other appropriate services, including alternative accommodation as may be necessary. Confidentiality is maintained at all times, said Mariama. The organisation first began in Dunedin in 1973 when women who had been in similar situations got together. They realised they had no one to turn to or nowhere to go. From those early meetings they lobbied for community help and support. By 1984 a national body was formed. There was an opportunity for open discussion at the seminar. Input came from several people including the teachers who said the role of a teacher had changed to include dealing with children who came from homes with unemployment, health, financial and other problems. Children often have behavioural problems with levels of achievement dropping sometimes dramatically . Teachers often find themselves spending more and more time dealing with children from these backgrounds, including domestic vioience. Sometimes the Privacy Act can be a difficulty. Key speaker Roma Balzer from Rotorua spoke on intervention, protocol, court procedure, the role of an advocate or TurntoPagelO

Family violence

From Page 3 mediator, the crisis line and how it works, counselling and support, and financial resources. There was time for open discussion on adequate protection for both mother and child, good housing, budgeting and work trairiing programmes for better, long-term employment chances for women who need to go back into the work force.