Forum targets family violence

ORGANISERS have rated a forum on family violence as positive on all fronts.
The forum was organised by Cardinia Shire Council and the City of Casey with Victorian Police. More than 200 people attended the event last Thursday at the Cardinia Cultural Centre in Pakenham.
Guest speakers included former MP Phil Cleary, former Family Violence Commissioner with the Law Reform Commission Noreen Toohey, Family Court magistrate Judith Pierce, and a former victim and now family violence awareness educator Kate O’ Callaghan.
The forum focussed on recent changes in the family violence arena, including how police and the courts respond to family violence incidents.
Mr Cleary, former footballer and exWills MP, spoke about family violence and the effect on his life of the death in 1987 of his sister Vicki, and his subsequent journey advocating law reform and legal justice.
Mr Cleary spoke about the prevalent use of the ‘provocation’ defence and subsequent changes in the criminal justice system, vital to changes in attitudes, feelings and judgments on the issue.
“That is the quintessential essence of the problem — the provocation defence,” he said.
‘The bright side of all this is that we have come a long way.
“The challenge is to all men out there. We all have a role to play, including the police, public and media. But we have made a big step forward. It is inspiring.”
Judith Pierce provided details of the final report on family violence and of the extensive research undertaken over the past two and a half years, with input from thousands of people.
She outlined the six major areas for reform including:
PROTECTION in crisis situations;
THE type of response by police and the courts;
CONSISTENT and effective outcomes;
TRAINING and assistance for people in courts and in family violence arena;
MORE effective protection orders; and
THE need for safe and accessible courts for victims.
“In advocating for change, we are seeking an intelligent and perceptive flexibility in the way we do our job,” Ms Pierce said.
“In 10 years’ time we will see a system with that capacity.”
Ms Toohey outlined the changes in the Sunshine Family Violence Division and the steps that have been taken in the pilot, covering Melbourne, Sunshine and Frankston, to encourage change in the family violence arena.
“It is critical that the men have services provided to initiate change,” she said.
“The defendants need help, too, and the new system provides counselling and advice for all parties and with new laws we can ensure that this happens,” she said.
Family violence awareness educator Kate O’Callaghan received a standing ovation after her speech, which recalled her personal “roundabout of abuse” and her treatment by the police and the criminal justice system.
“The justice system let me down, offering more sympathy for my abuser,” she said.
“In his summing up, the judge talked about how long [the abuser] had to wait for the court decision and plied sympathy on him for that.
“None was given to me for the fact that he was out and about for three years while I lived in fear.”
Ms O’Callaghan spoke of her new life and her desire to see change in the system.
“Family violence is a big issue, but we must ensure that it is not a ‘deadly’ issue,” she said.