By Derek Schlennstedt
The lead family violence service in Melbourne’s eastern region – Eastern Domestic Violence Service (EDVOS), has welcomed new funding for an innovative program to promote gender equality, and protect women and children.
In an Australian-first, EDVOS has developed early intervention training for hairdressers to help women who may be facing violence or controlling behaviour at home.
The service trialled the same program last year in various locations around the outer east and is hoping to roll it out across the entire state.
Aptly, the program called HaiR, focuses on providing training for hairdressers to help direct domestic violence sufferers to the right support services.
“The HaiR program helps hairdressers to engage in conversations that challenge gender stereotypes,” EDVOS executive director, Jenny Jackson said.
“They can share experiences and recognise the sometimes subtle signs of family violence.”
“Women establish relationships and confide in their hairdresser – a caring hairdresser can maintain trust, while also helping their friend and client to a safer future,” she said.
The program gives hairdressers the capacity to act as an intermediary between support services and domestic violence sufferers as they have a closer connect with their clients.
However, Ms Jackson does insist that although they can direct people to the right support services, they were not counsellors who offered advice.
“Our aim is to eventually train all the hairdressers across the eastern region and we also want work with Box Hill Institute to work with student hairdressers and include the training as part of their curriculum.”
“The program recognises the signs of family violence and how to respond appropriately at the time but, they aren’t expected to be a councillor – moreso a signpost for the person to know where to get some support,” Ms Jackson said.
An outer east hairdresser who had been involved in last year’s pilot program said the training had helped them identify and direct clients to the right services and had opened their eyes to how prevalent domestic violence is.
“It was informative and opened all our eyes of the situation of dealing with someone who is experiencing domestic violence,” she said.
“We didn’t realise the actual extent of family violence, so many women deal with it every year.”
“I suppose people are more likely to open up about things when they are getting their hair cut, but you don’t want them to feel uncomfortable and want them to feel comfortable in coming back again,” she said.
About 17 per cent of the clients received by EDVOS are from the Yarra Ranges.
HaiR was started following a recommendation to the 2016 Royal Commission into Family Violence, and is backed by Yarra Ranges Council, Box Hill Institute, Australian Hairdressing Council and the Hair and Beauty Industry Association.
Anyone who has experienced domestic violence – or is experiencing it – is urged to call triple-zero or can call EDVOS on 9259 4200.
