Minister for Family and Community Services Pru Goward today encouraged women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds experiencing domestic violence to take action.
Minister Goward launched updated fact sheets translated into 21 languages, including Arabic, Chinese, Persian, Korean, Samoan, Somali, Macedonian, Hindi and Dari, to promote services and support to vulnerable women and children.
“The fact sheet provides information about legal process, victim’s rights and services for victims of domestic violence,” Ms Goward said.
“In particular, it provides information regarding exclusion orders, as one of the conditions which may be applied for in an Apprehended Domestic Violence Order.”
These translated fact sheets are now available on www.domesticviolence.nsw.gov.au or the Community Services website www.community.nsw.gov.au and will be distributed to various Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities across NSW.
Minister Goward said that while domestic violence affects women from all cultures and backgrounds, the crime is generally under-reported by women from CALD communities.
“Around 150 out of 2,000 calls made to the Community Services Domestic Violence Helpline each month are from people from non-English speaking backgrounds,” Ms Goward said.
“In some countries, there is no law against domestic violence; so some recent immigrants may not recognise domestic violence as violence, or a crime.
“This particular initiative is all about promoting access to information.”
Minister Goward said under the NSW Government’s Staying Home Leaving Violence program, women experiencing domestic violence no longer have to leave their home in order to leave their violent partner.
“The program, offered in 18 different locations across the state, allows women to remain in their normal routines and local community, while being supported by family and friends,” Ms Goward said.
“The NSW Government has also recently announced the expansion of the Staying Home Leaving Violence program to 5 new sites in NSW.
“The expansion will take place in two stages, with Cessnock, Gosford and Tamworth to commence in 2012, and Parramatta and Holroyd commencing in 2012/13.
“In addition, Blacktown and Quakers Hill will receive an additional $150,000 per year over two years on top of its annual funding to cater for the growing need in that area.”
Staying Home Leaving Violence offers:
Minister Goward said the expansion to five new sites will enable the service to reach more than 700 families across NSW each year.
“The expansion is part of a $2.5 million investment into this unique service which protects women and children experiencing domestic violence by enabling them to stay at home, while the perpetrator is removed, Ms Goward said.
“A vital element of this innovative program is providing information about applying for an Exclusion Order, which these fact sheets address.”
Today Minister Goward also praised the role of multicultural caseworkers in the community.
“We have 62 dedicated multicultural caseworker positions state-wide, with approximately 15.3% of all employees as at June 2011 who spoke a language other than English as a child,” Ms Goward said.
“Multicultural caseworkers have specialised language and cultural or cross cultural skills which can support other Community Services staff working with CALD clients and communities.”
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