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Albany community unites for 16 days to stop violence against women

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Sarah MakseAlbany Advertiser
Anglicare WA Albany Women’s Centre support worker Corinne Stoner, mobile outreach support Chelsi Mier, Pivot Support Services chief executive Ian Neil, Anglicare WA Albany Women’s Centre manager Jo Fictoor, team leader Es-Mare van Wyk, Albany MLA Rebecca Stephens, Great Southern Police Acting Inspector Craig Wasley, Acting Senior Sergeant Vaughan Mackay, Southern Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Asha Bhat and Albany Youth Support Association chief executive Ian Clarke.
Camera IconAnglicare WA Albany Women’s Centre support worker Corinne Stoner, mobile outreach support Chelsi Mier, Pivot Support Services chief executive Ian Neil, Anglicare WA Albany Women’s Centre manager Jo Fictoor, team leader Es-Mare van Wyk, Albany MLA Rebecca Stephens, Great Southern Police Acting Inspector Craig Wasley, Acting Senior Sergeant Vaughan Mackay, Southern Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Asha Bhat and Albany Youth Support Association chief executive Ian Clarke. Credit: Laurie Benson/Albany Advertiser

Albany residents are being urged to stand up and speak out for a safer community as part of a Statewide push to end violence against women.

Albany community services and businesses have united to host a raft of community events to mark the 16 Days in WA to Stop Violence Against Women campaign.

The campaign will begin on November 25, to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

It will end on December 10 — International Human Rights Day.

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Last year, 65 per cent of assaults recorded in WA related to family and domestic violence, and of the 22,257 victims, 73 per cent were female.

In WA, 48 per cent of the victims of homicide and related offences last year were related to family and domestic violence, and of those 28 victims, 19 were female.

Aboriginal women are 32 times more likely than non-Aboriginal women to be hospitalised because of family violence.

This year’s theme, “Don’t be silent when you see violence”, aims to show everyone has a role to play in ending gender-based violence — by calling out disrespect towards women and promoting equality in the community.

Southern Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Asha Bhat and Anglicare WA Albany Women’s Centre team leader Es-Mare van Wyk.
Camera IconSouthern Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Asha Bhat and Anglicare WA Albany Women’s Centre team leader Es-Mare van Wyk. Credit: Laurie Benson/Albany Advertiser

Albany organisations including Anglicare WA, Southern Aboriginal Corporation, the Albany Family and Domestic Violence Action Group, and the Department of Communities are hosting community events to raise awareness.

Anglicare WA Albany Women’s Centre team leader Es-Mare van Wyk urged the entire community to take part.

“We are hoping the community as a whole will come together and participate in as many events as they can,” she said.

A community dog walk will be held at Middleton Beach on November 28, there will be a sausage sizzle at Eyres Park on December 4, and local businesses and organisations are encouraged to wear orange to work on November 29 to mark the cause.

To start the campaign, Albany Town Square will be flooded with orange light and stay that colour for the entire 16 days. Ms van Wyk said family and domestic violence affected the entire community.

“The solution to ending family and domestic violence has to be community-led, and paramount to finding a solution is events that raise community awareness to the prevalence of this issue,” Ms van Wyk said.

Albany events being held for the 16 Days in WA campaign.
Camera IconAlbany events being held for the 16 Days in WA campaign.

“Everyone has a role to play — understanding what unacceptable behaviour is, calling out and being prepared to take action.”

“In our beautiful town, each week the police respond to anything between 25-30 calls relating to family and domestic. One call is too many.”

AFDVAG chairwoman Asha Bhat said the campaign would amplify the diverse voices in the community advocating to end violence against women and children.

“We are calling for individuals and organisations to listen to and believe survivors, end the culture of silence and put survivors at the centre of interventions,” she said.

“Individuals can participate in different events around town to create public awareness about what needs to change to prevent it from happening in the first place at local and regional levels.”

For more information, visit the AFDVAG Facebook page.

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