Family violence referrals by police to Women’s Health West have more than doubled in the past two years, prompting calls for more support for vulnerable women and children.
The Footscray-based service received a record 8452 police referrals from across the west in the 12 months to the end of June – an average of one every hour, and a 36 per cent increase on the 6209 referrals the year before.
The rate is now more than 10 times greater than the 708 referrals received in 2006-07.
WHW chief executive Robyn Gregory said the dramatic spike reflected improvements to how Victoria Police dealt with family violence as a crime, as well as the public leadership of police commissioners and other civic leaders.
“There is also a whole heap of publicity around family violence, thanks to the Royal Commission and Rosie Batty being made Australian of the Year and her awe-inspiring ability to turn a personal tragedy into a campaign to end family violence.”
Dr Gregory said the public conversation had helped more women make contact with services after years of suffering family violence in silence.
She has also noticed a shift in the willingness of other people to intervene, such as neighbours calling the police if they hear violent episodes.
The rapid escalation in referrals may help put women in touch with services, but it is also putting a heavy strain on Women’s Health West’s resources.
Dr Gregory said the federal government needed to “put its money where its mouth is” and boost efforts to support prevention programs.
“We need funds to help us respond, not just at the crisis point but to help women with healing and recovery and relocation, to deal with the trauma of family violence and help create a happier life.”
Dr Gregory said this could only occur with a break from the political cycle, and 25 to 30 years of real investment and commitment across the political spectrum.
She pointed to a $108,000 grant in the 2015-16 state government budget to fund a full-time children’s counsellor at Women’s Health West as part of a $3.5 million boost to counselling services for survivors of family violence across the state, as a positive sign the problem was being treated seriously at the state level.
