Thursday, February 20, 2025

Breaking the cycle

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An award-winning local policeman says the district needs to come together to “break the cycle” of domestic violence that exists in our community.

Naracoorte’s Senior Constable, Chris Mailley, who works in supporting domestic and family violence victims, says, “just one incident is too many”.

“Unfortunately, domestic violence is part of society, and we can only do what we can to break that cycle, intervene, and help people,” Senior Constable Mailley said.

He said the perpetrators and victims of domestic violence were “absolutely everyone” and more complex than categorising who is the perpetrator and who is the victim.

“We have elderly people who have come about as a result of suffering from dementia, we get mental health and community issues, substance misuse, and so many influential factors such as finance that result in people having arguments here,” Senior Constable Mailley said.

As an example, he shared a case of Naracoorte where someone’s partner was being released from prison and was likely to cause this person significant harm.

“So, we then were able to help her escape the situation by hiring her a car and a trailer, and she was then able to escape the situation,” he shared.

Senior Constable Mailley said on a positive note, people’s attitude towards domestic violence had changed.

“So, whereas once people would walk by people having an argument thinking I am not getting involved. These days people do, and they report to the police.

“And even if people somehow have that domestic connection and the police get involved when they are having an argument, it’s recorded as a domestic abuse statistic.”

He said it was sad that domestic violence had become a societal issue.

“There are so many attempts to change, and hopefully the Royal Commission will give us some good answers.

“On a local scale, we can only do what we can do. A huge thank you to the community for their support. We cannot address domestic violence, child abuse, and everything in between without their support.”

Government response

Responding to questions from The [Naracoorte Community] News on challenges facing the region in terms of domestic violence, the Department of Human Services said the state government had a comprehensive set of measures to tackle domestic, family, and sexual violence that were being strongly implemented.

“We also continue to fund crisis services, perpetrator intervention programs and a range of other measures,” the department said.

“We know that women in regions and particularly in small communities can face barriers when accessing support.

“Our network of hubs across regions is playing a strong role in tackling these barriers.”

Royal Commission

The state government has established a Royal Commission into Domestic, Family, and Sexual Violence, which commenced on 1 July 2024.

The Commission’s Terms of Reference require it to examine four key themes—prevention, early intervention, response, recovery, and healing—and how efforts in these areas are coordinated across government, the sector, and the community.

Community consultations will involve sector representatives, survivors, children and young people, experts, community and private sector organisations, and members of the diverse communities that make up South Australia.

Aboriginal communities will be heard as will culturally and linguistically diverse communities, the LGBTQIA+ community, people living with a disability, older South Australians, and people living in regional and remote communities.

Opposition response

Shadow Minister for Human Services Michelle Lensink told this newspaper [Naracoorte Community News] that the prevention of domestic and family violence was a key strategy that required sustained funding.

“Teaching young people about respectful relationships and how to spot the signs of controlling behaviour will help to save a lot of future heartache,” Ms Lensink said.

“I have no doubt that the Marshall Government’s disclosure scheme, which enables someone to enquire about a partner’s past record, has saved lives.”

South Australia Police

According to SAPOL, domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behaviour by one person against another within a marriage or dating couple, or within a family across generations.

Domestic and family violence can occur in same-sex marriages or partnerships where one partner assaults another.

It can occur in any family and can take many forms including intimidation, isolation, emotional abuse, verbal abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, financial abuse, spiritual abuse and control.

In some cases, SAPOL says family violence can also involve elder abuse, where a son or daughter commits a crime against their parent.

All domestic and family violence is unacceptable – you should report it to the police.

Statewide services

Women in regional South Australia can access an array of statewide services, including:

  • 24-hour Domestic Violence Crisis Line (1800 800 098) which is available statewide for crisis counselling, support and referrals to safe accommodation.
  • Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS), which enables people who may be at risk of FDV to obtain information about their partner or former partner, so they can make informed decisions about their safety and the future of the relationship.
  • Personal protection app, which serves as an ongoing government response to support women escaping domestic and family violence and links at-risk individuals to police through a 24-hour monitored security centre.
  • Domestic and Family Violence Safety Alliance specialist services (in the South East, the Services run by Centacare).
The Naracoorte News 9 October 2024

This article appeared in the Naracoorte Community News.

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