Reeta Verma is the president of the Women’s Support Network which has been set up in Brimbank. Ahead of the group’s first event on International Women’s Day, she spoke with Tara Murray about the network and her connection to Brimbank.
What is your connection to Brimbank?
My family have been living in Brimbank for the last 21 years. We settled here after living in Bendigo for 15 years.
What are your favourite things about Brimbank?
Brimbank has too numerous features for us to offer … In fact too many for me to count. Since you asked me for my favourite things, I will say the vibrant multicultural scene in Brimbank, the parks, the wetlands and green spaces were an attractive feature for our family to settle in Brimbank. People have great connections with each other, and schools encourage students to mix, mingle and share community events, fairs, and festivals. Brimbank offers places of worship for those who wish to continue with their spiritual and religious practices.
What do you do for work and how do you like to spend your free time?
I am a law academic and have taught at the tertiary level since 1990. I was a full time academic for 25 years and now teaching law as part-time basis. Since 2009, I am also a family dispute resolution practitioner. Since my migration to Australia almost 35 years ago, I have been involved in various projects involving women, girls, and seniors, among them is to educate women about their safety, legal rights, and responsibilities. I have been instrumental in raising a voice against family violence, particularly among the Indian community. I am working towards creating a society where there is ‘zero tolerance’ to family violence. I led several protests and walks to raise awareness of gender inequality and violence against women and girls.
You’re the president of the Women’s Support Network. Tell us about the network and what it does?
Women’s Support Network is a women-led organisation. The WSN aims to support women in vulnerable conditions and help them creating a prosperous, equitable, peaceful, and stable society in the west where women and girls can live, work and volunteer without any prejudice and fear. Our vision is to create connections with women from all cultural, ethnic, religious, and linguistic backgrounds, and inspire women from all ages from younger to older, to help them to create a vibrant, articulate, inclusive, and sustainable community across Victoria. Social isolation and loneliness caused by the pandemic has placed women into vulnerable positions, may it be caused by family violence, abuse, exploitation, neglect, job loss, physical or mental illness of a family member. We believe that women need support, connections, and a sense of belonging. Our mission is to provide opportunities to connect with each other and to identify programs and services that support women, particularly vulnerable women. We believe that if each one of us are united and work together, we can help, support, strengthen and empower women.
How do you spend your free time?
I love gardening, cooking, walking, and meeting with my friends. I like to spend as much time as possible outdoors where there are trees laden with fruit and flowers, lush green grass, mountains, hills, and water. Cooking gives me a sense of achievement, connections with my inner self, showcasing my love to my family and friends. In fact, it is very therapeutic for me. If I am not in the garden or in the kitchen, I will be walking somewhere with my dog, friends, or family.
