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Newsletter Bulletin
February 2023 |
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Welcome to the first edition of our newsletter for 2023.
Our goal is to work with you to raise awareness about the signs of domestic and family violence and how we can all take steps to intervene and contribute to preventing it in our homes, our communities and our workplaces.
The Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Council (Prevention Council) was initially established in 2019 to support Queensland to achieve the outcomes of foundational element one of the Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Strategy 2015-16 to 2025-26 – shifting community understanding, attitudes, values, beliefs and behaviours towards domestic and family violence.
With the renewal of the Prevention Council under the Queensland Government’s Fourth Action Plan of the Strategy, we are excited to be leading and supporting a range of specific initiatives that will further activate prevention efforts across the community.
The Council will continue our work across urban, regional, rural and remote Queensland in partnership with community, corporate and local government sectors, to harness local resources and build greater capacity for the delivery of practical primary prevention action and initiatives.
We will explore the barriers and opportunities to activating men as allies in prevention efforts so that we can promote effective pathways and messages that resonate as calls to action.
We will also be engaging with young people and attempting to disrupt intergenerational cycles of violence by promoting the benefits of healthy and respectful relationships. We know this work will be particularly important with young people who aren’t participating in existing and structured Respectful Relationships Education and look forward to partnering in this work across the community.
Community education and awareness is going to be essential to delivering on this program of work, but so too will be our partnerships with every one of you – championing our messages in workplaces, schools, sporting clubs, neighbourhoods and communities across Queensland.
Thank you for being part of this movement.
Vanessa Fowler OAM and Bob Atkinson AO APM
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New grant funding now open!
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Applications are now open for the new Keeping Women Safe from Violence grant program to support innovative programs and initiatives as part of the Queensland Government's shared commitment to ending violence against women and children within a generation.
The grant program is funded through the Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence Responses 2021-23 National Partnership Agreement with the Commonwealth Government, and provides one-off grant funding of up to $150,000 (excluding GST) from a total allocation of $3 million.
Applications will close on 24 February 2023 for initiatives to be delivered between April 2023 and 30 September 2024.
The grant guidelines and additional program information are available online at www.qld.gov.au/endviolencegrants. | |
Learn more |
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Meet Dr Faiza El-Higzi
We sat down with one of the longest serving members of the Council, Dr Faiza El-Higzi to dig a little deeper into what motivates her to contribute to the primary prevention space.
How did you first become an advocate for domestic and family violence prevention?
When I first started volunteering at the Islamic Women’s Association of Queensland (IWAQ) 20 years ago, I became more aware of the challenges that women in controlling relationships face. Back then there wasn’t awareness, and women from diverse backgrounds weren’t comfortable accessing mainstream organizations and shelters, preferring to seek support within their community from religious leaders or community elders.
IWAQ began to play an important role working with women to access support and continues to do so through the Sakina Shelter and the provision of culturally appropriate interventions. I become involved with the Not Now, Not Ever process by invitation of Dame Quentin Bryce who wanted to ensure the domestic and family violence strategy development process included the voice of culturally diverse women. I continue to be involved at a policy level and through my role on the Prevention Council.
You have worked with ethnically and culturally diverse communities for most of your career. How do you contribute this experience to the Council, so their work is inclusive and engages all Queenslanders?
In multiple ways, but primarily through ensuring that the Council are aware of the additional layer of complexity domestic violence brings for migrant and refugee women due to cultural and language barriers, visa status, isolation from their family and often a lack of financial independence.
I like to ensure that the Council are hearing these stories, but also the stories of how the community are responding to fill gaps in service provision, how they are proactively educating frontline services and improving cultural capability so that interventions are more tailored as well as inclusive.
Do you think Queensland is making positive progress toward preventing domestic violence?
Absolutely. I remember the first community attitude research report that informed us that the majority of Queenslanders didn’t consider coercive and controlling behaviours – like tracking movements through GPS and phone or withholding access to money – were forms of domestic violence. Generally, our attitudes and understanding have changed significantly on these issues.
I am seeing a positive shift in culturally diverse communities now too. Where there is more open discussion of domestic and family violence, and it's no longer considered a taboo or shameful subject. Where women are wanting to empower other women and their children by educating them on the seriousness of gender-based violence.
As a society we have also made progress in drawing attention to the role of bystanders in creating a safer environment for women, and on men holding each other accountable for their actions.
What are some of the most important cultural changes to domestic and family violence you have seen in Queensland since you started your journey?
The most important cultural change is the global acceptance across the community that women have a right to be safe. The shift in attitude from blaming women towards holding perpetrators to account and the improved understanding of different types of abuse that are linked to power and control is part of our move in that direction.
We have also seen a positive shift in the way the media reports on domestic and family violence.
Is there one myth about domestic and family violence that you find yourself frequently busting?
A common myth across many cultures is that control in a relationship reflects love and care. However, the greatest myth is that some cultures “condone violence and control”. My response to that is that using culture is an excuse, and perpetrators use this excuse to shift responsibility from themselves, because no culture that I am aware of sanctions violence in the home.
What would you personally like to achieve through the Prevention Council this term?
There is still so much to do! I am excited to be able to think and plan more broadly about our engagement with ethnic and cultural community leaders in the prevention space under the new Fourth Action Plan. I would like to see a stronger focus on prevention and early intervention through greater awareness raising in CALD communities and among young people - focusing on healthy and respectful relationships.
I also see great opportunity in communities drawing on their cultural practice and foundations to inform behavioral change programs so that interventions are more culturally appropriate and meaningful. | |
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Hosting an event for International Women's Day or during Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month?
The Office for Women and Violence Prevention hosts a community events calendar to promote events that occur during recognition weeks and months, as well as throughout the rest of the year.
Organisations and groups are encouraged to register an event and inspire the whole community to get involved in celebrating women and girls.
The calendar will continue to be updated in the lead-up to major events such International Women's Day, DFV Prevention Month and the #16DaysofActivism, so please check back regularly to find out what is happening in your region.
You can check out the 2023 calendar here. | |
Register your event |
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Free Virtual Panel Discussion: Who uses domestic, family, and sexual violence, how, and why?
PWC are hosting a free virtual panel discussion on violence perpetration in instances of domestic, family and sexual violence on Wednesday, 8 February 2023.
Hosted by Julie McKay, PwC’s Chief Diversity, Inclusion & Wellbeing Officer, the panel will explore Queensland University of Technology’s newly released State of Knowledge Report on Violence Perpetration: Who uses domestic, family, and sexual violence, how, and why?
Joining Julie on the panel are:
- Lula Dembele, Survivor Advocate and Founder of the Accountability Matters Project
- Professor Michael Flood, Queensland University of Technology
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Register Now |
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We want to hear from you!
We love hearing about community-led initiatives that are focused on preventing domestic and family violence.
Are you, your workplace, your service, sporting club or other community group planning any events, campaigns, projects or activities in the prevention space in 2023?
Is there a way that the Prevention Council can help play a role in promoting these initiatives or outcomes, or contribute to your messaging?
Drop us an e-mail and let us know what you are planning and any opportunities where the Prevention Council may add value.
It is important we keep working together to bring about effective change. | |
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An Opinion Piece ahead of Valentine's Day
Please share this opinion piece with your workplace and networks and support our efforts to raise awareness of the importance of healthy and respectful relationships. |
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What Love Looks Like
As Valentine Day draws nears, there are signs of love and affection in the air and everywhere you look. Some people will go above and beyond in their declaration of love – showering their partners with gifts, flowers and adoring sentiments.
But beyond the roses, chocolates and greeting card poetry – what does love really look like? How can we know if we are in a genuinely loving relationship, or one where love is used to justify controlling and abusive behaviours?
Sadly, too many people in relationships can feel trapped by their partner’s ‘love bombing’ – a form of emotional manipulation, where one person can bombard another with excessive affection, flattery and gifts in order to gain control in a relationship or justify abusive behaviours. When their aggression or possessiveness is questioned, an abusive partner may claim they are acting out of ‘love’.
Yet love does not look like bruises you conceal from family and friends.
Love does not manipulate, intimidate, gaslight, or punish.
Love does not tell you what you can wear, where you can go, who you can speak to, or how much you can eat.
True love lifts you up.
It listens, nurtures, and empowers.
It makes you feel valued and respected.
It supports your independence, your freedom, and helps you to grow.
It’s important to remember that not all domestic violence is physical. When one person in a relationship uses abuse or intimidating behaviour to control, dominate, humiliate or instil fear in another person, that too is domestic violence.
What might at first appear to be an isolated incident is commonly part of a pattern of abusive behaviour proven to be equally if not more harmful, and this is known as coercive control.
Knowing and understanding the signs of coercive control can help people identify, and respond to, toxic relationships. Coercive control encompasses a number of controlling behaviours – from cutting off support systems, gaslighting to confuse or manipulate, limiting access to finances, and monitoring activity through tracking by GPS or phone.
The Queensland Government has committed to introducing legislation to criminalise coercive control before the end of 2023. In drafting legislation, the Government will consult broadly – with survivors, the community, domestic violence service providers, legal experts, and the Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Council – to ensure legislation is clear, thorough, and effective.
Information about coercive control is also part of the updated Respectful Relationships Education being rolled out in Queensland schools this year. The new Respect program builds on the existing program, which was introduced in 2017, and includes new and strengthened information about consent, reporting of sexual assault, ethical decision-making, and the drivers of gender-based violence.
With proper education and support, our next generation of Queenslanders will navigate the world of dating with a greater understanding of the rights and responsibilities of individuals in relationships. They will be more aware of the drivers of domestic, family and sexual violence. They will see the signs of power and control, they will seek out help, and they will prevent further violence and abuse in their friendship circles, families and their own lives.
They will know what true love looks like.
Vanessa Fowler OAM and Bob Atkinson AO APM co-chair the Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Council. The Prevention Council is working to embed a zero-tolerance approach to domestic and family violence within our communities and across Queensland. | |
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For information and support options - www.qld.gov.au/dfvhelp
For confidential crisis support - DVConnect Womensline on 1800 811 811 DVConnect Mensline on 1800 600 636
In an emergency, call Triple Zero (000) and ask for Police |
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