A local Indigenous support group has been given new funding to help respond to domestic and family violence issues.
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The North West Queensland Indigenous Catholic Social Services is one of 11 grassroots organisations who will share in over $100,000 to provide culturally appropriate domestic and family violence support in communities across Queensland.
NWQICSS got a $10,000 grant and its CEO Faisal Khan said the money will be used at the youth hub at the Catholic Church.
"One of the main issues we identified was lack of education among the youth when it comes to domestic and family violence," Mr Khan said.
"Their understanding is low when they get involved in the youth justice system."
Mr Khan said they applied for the grant to help them design a program called Safe Step.
"Our community justice group will deliver 10 sessions to young people and educate them about domestic and family violence," he said.
"We will also have an elder who will provide culturally appropriate education to them."
As well as providing education, Mr Khan said they hoped the program would help reduce domestic and family violence.
It comes as a National Women's Safety Summit earlier this month agreed to develop plans to halt violence against Indigenous women and children with an emphasis on locally led initiatives.
Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Craig Crawford said domestic violence statistics in First Nation's communities were alarmingly high and part of a national crisis.
"It is important that we empower grass roots organisations to provide on the ground support for those people most impacted by domestic and family violence, particularly women and children," Mr Crawford said.
According to the Changing the Picture report developed by Our Watch, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are 11 times more likely to die from assault.
It also found Indigenous females experienced 29 times the rate of hospitalisation for non-fatal family violence assaults compared with non-Indigenous females.
Mr Crawford said the $10,000 grants will support organisations to work with young people, Elders and community workers to improve awareness of safe behaviours, healing, and community and family wellbeing.
"These grants will build capacity and upskill community workers to support families, young people, and build perpetrator programs to prevent the cycle of domestic and family violence,'' he said.
"It's about reframing relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through self-determination and community-led responses to eliminate domestic and family violence."
These grants support efforts as part of Queensland's Not Now, Not Ever response to domestic and family violence to build safer families.
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Minister for Women and Minister for Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Shannon Fentiman said we need to change how society views and treats women.
"The stark reality is that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are over-represented in domestic and family violence statistics and we need to look at what more we can do to support our First Nations families in this space," Ms Fentiman said.
"The successful organisations will be delivering some fantastic initiatives in our communities across the State to raise awareness about respectful relationships, what domestic violence is and how we can work as a community to call out violence."
For more information about the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Grants, visit https://www.qld.gov.au/atsi/grants-funding/domestic-family-violence-prevention
If you require assistance call DV Connect Womensline 1800 811 811 24/7 or Mensline 1800 600 636 (9am-midnight).
If your situation is urgent contact 000 immediately.
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Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
