By JESSE GRAHAM
FAMILY violence will be front and centre at a Healesville community forum, with experts gathering to give advice on warning signs, prevention and resolution to domestic abuse.
The Rotary Club of Healesville, along with Yarra Ranges Council and Yarra Valley Community Health have organised the Family Violence Awareness Forum, which will be held at the Memo Hall on Wednesday 3 December from 7pm.
Health Promotions co-ordinator at Yarra Valley Community Health (Eastern Health) and speaker at the forum, Julia Blackburn, said the focus of the evening was on the prevention of family violence and exploring its causes.
“One of the key things is that we see violence against women as a gendered issue – it’s identified as male violence against women in the majority of cases,” Ms Blackburn said.
“We’ll look at things like rigid gender stereotypes and … inequalities between men and women – issues around respect towards women and look at the broader cultures of violence in society.”
Ms Blackburn said the issues would be discussed in depth, from preventing violence in the home to police responses and service responses and how to seek help.
She said it was important to note that violence wasn’t always about physical abuse, but could be emotional, sexual, financial, spiritual, as well as physical.
“Sometimes, there’s no physical violence, but there’s a lot of emotional violence and abuse,” she said.
“We’re talking about power and control over another person.”
Around four presenters, all health professionals or police representatives will be talking on the night, and will be available to talk to attendees after the event formally finishes.
Ms Blackburn said she hoped the event would raise awareness of family violence and its many facets, and help to generate discussions between people and in the broader community.
The Family Violence Awareness Forum will run from 7-9pm on Wednesday 3 December in the Nan Francis Room at the Memo Hall in Healesville.
For more information, call 9294 6866.
