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A Call for an Immediate Humanitarian Ceasefire in Gaza

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A Call for an Immediate Humanitarian Ceasefire in Gaza

A Statement from the Centre for Non-Violence.
As a not-for-profit organisation working in family violence prevention and crisis support, we hold grave concerns for the safety and wellbeing of all Palestinians in Gaza, and especially for the women and children and diverse communities.

The rules of war and International Humanitarian laws must be observed no matter what – even in the absence of reciprocity.

The Australian Government must not support any nation that breaks International Humanitarian laws.

The people of Gaza have been witnessing and experiencing endless violence since the 7 October.

No child in Gaza is safe.

Since this onslaught has begun a new unique acronym has been created to describe what is occurring in the hospitals of Gaza: WCNSF – wounded child, no surviving family. This is an acronym that should never have come into existence. The number of children without any remaining family, some with life changing horrific injuries is in the thousands.

There must be an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.

We are deeply concerned of reports from humanitarian organisations like the International Red Cross and Médecins Sans Frontières of deliberate and concerted attacks on sites of safe haven such as schools, hospitals and mosques. We are also deeply concerned of the reports from Gaza of the Israeli military deliberately targeting clearly marked MSF vehicles.

We also unequivocally condemn the direct targeting on Al Awda Hospital on the 21 November – the last remaining functional hospital in Northern Gaza – one day after the cease-fire ended.

These sites have become the only refuge available for thousands of displaced people, including women and children.

This deliberate targeting of a medical facility is in serious violation of International Humanitarian law.

Nowhere in Gaza is safe.

Our hearts and minds are with the humanitarian workers: the doctors, the nurses, the support staff, working to save the lives of the wounded, while under siege and under fire. It is a losing battle and one they shouldn’t have to fight.

The need for medical and essential supplies are urgently needed now.

MSF have reported they are now down to Panadol, ibuprofen and bandages. These do little against injuries sustained by bombs, rockets and bullets. Victims, the vast majority of whom are children, are left with open wounds and have no access to clean water or pain relief.

For the millions of people of Gaza facing these horrors, we see you, we believe you.

We call on the Australian government and the United Nations Security Council to unequivocally condemn these crimes against humanity.

We ask that the Australian government immediately stop supporting Israeli government actions in Gaza by:

  • Calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire
  • No longer supplying weapons to Israel.
  • Support and provide safe passage for humanitarian organisations such as MSF and the International Red Cross to deliver essential humanitarian relief.

It is our determination that one day when a child in Gaza will look to the skies at night, and it will no longer be filled with air-strikes, but instead scattered with the lights of a thousand stars.

For Media Enquires please contact

Centre for Non-Violence: Clare Shamier, Head of Business Development and Advocacy, 0488 281 528

Submission to National Plan to End Homelessness

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Submission to the National Plan to End Homelessness

Submission by the Centre for Non-Violence.
A safe, affordable, and decent home for our clients is the foundation for a safe, nourished life free from family violence.

‘The most effective and important change we can make to end homelessness is preventing people from becoming homeless in the first place.’[1]

The Centre for Non-Violence (herein ‘CNV’) is Central Victoria’s leading family violence prevention and crisis and support service. With offices located on Dja Dja Wurrung, Yorta Yorta and Taungurung Country in Bendigo, Echuca, Kyneton and Maryborough, the organisation provides a range of programs and services that respond to and work to prevent family violence and homelessness across the Loddon region. With more than 30 years of operation, the organisation has helped thousands of women and children to escape family violence, and has worked with men who use violence to address behaviours and attitudes that have led to acts of family violence in the home.

Key Recommendations:

  1. Every person has the right to a safe place to call home.
  2. The most effective and important change we can make to end homelessness is preventing people from becoming homeless in the first place.
  3. The National Housing and Homelessness Plan needs to include policy areas in scope that can achieve:
    • universal prevention to reduce the overall number of people at risk of homelessness
    • targeted prevention to reduce risk of homelessness for people who are more vulnerable to becoming homeless
    • crisis prevention to prevent homelessness for people at imminent risk of homelessness
    • Support the important work of homelessness, housing and family violence services in providing emergency responses and support for people to gain and sustain housing.
  4. The National Plan must address major drivers of homelessness across the population, including racism and discrimination, the adequacy and security of income support, people’s access to affordable housing and importantly safety and wellbeing.
  5. Prevention requires the Federal Government to address gaps in other human service systems that cause homelessness, such as provision of family violence prevention and support services, adolescent mental health supports, and tenancy and legal advice.
  6. Homelessness services simply do not have the capacity to provide support for everyone in need:
    • this has devastating consequences for people who are turned away.
    • has system consequences including missed opportunities for prevention of homelessness and for prevention of re-entry to homelessness, and,
    • creates significant costs and pressures on other service systems, such as family violence, acute health, child protection and justice services

Introduction:

There is a significant need for greater investment and long-term policies that see more families in safe and secure homes.

Australia is facing an unprecedented tightening of the rental market and a serious shortfall of social and affordable housing. This, coupled with a cost-of-living crisis and an increase in mortgage defaults, also means re-homing people who have lost their home is extremely difficult.

This challenge is exacerbated by the fact that many more people are becoming homeless than ever before. These are individuals and families, who, if they had access to affordable housing, would not need to engage in support services that are already at critical capacity.[2]

We know, from working in and alongside housing services, that the only way forward is to reduce the number of people seeking homelessness and housing support.

While the Federal Government does recognise that communities in regional settings are at most risk of insecure and unaffordable housing, what we need is more than recognition. We need place-based action that has long term investment and support at the federal level. And importantly, recognises that factors contributing to homelessness is not simply a housing issue’. The National Plan therefore must not simply be about investment in housing services, but take into account and devise policies that seek to stop homelessness from occurring in the first place. This will require extensive engagement in other social support services, such as health, disability and family violence services.

Homelessness, Housing Security and the Intersect with Family Violence:

Family violence is the leading cause of homelessness in Australia. Of all adults seeking housing support as a result of family violence in 2018-2019, 90% were women[3]; and with soaring rents, low vacancy rates, interest rate rises and housing affordability at an all-time low, we know the situation is only getting harder for women and children seeking safety, wellbeing and a life free from violence.

1. Every Person has the Right to a Safe Place to Call Home

A safe, affordable, and decent home for our clients is the foundation for a safe, nourished life free from family violence.

  • An absence of affordable housing options increases the likelihood of victim survivors remaining with a violent perpetrator.
  • The risk of homelessness when considering whether or not to leave abusive partners or family members is paramount:
    • 100% of victim survivors at CNV have had to make an assessment of whether to stay in the abusive relationship, or risk housing insecurity and/or homelessness (short term decision making on when or possible to leave)
    • Between 70-90% of victim survivor clients have had to consider housing affordability (rental prices, mortgage repayments) as part of their journey from family violence (short to medium term decision-making)
  • On average, more than 65 per cent of CNV victim survivor clients face a lack of safe and affordable housing
  • A significant number of victim survivor clients either have to remain in relationship or are forced to return to the abusive relationship in order to avoid homelessness/housing insecurity and the flow on effects of unaffordable/unavailable housing (ie. associated rising cost of living, loss of community (where a move from the region to a more affordable/available housing market)
  • Our staff are increasingly finding it difficult to provide quality support to victim survivors and their children if they do not have a safe or reliable place to call home.

Across the family violence sector, and CNV is no exception, staff face significant pressure as a direct result of the housing crisis. Finding affordable, safe and secure housing has become a primary focus for many of our Specialist Family Violence Practitioners shifting focus from family violence and safety. Significant time is spent providing necessary support to women and children victim survivors, and, men who use violence to find housing (including both short term emergency housing, and longer-term private rentals) in order to reduce the risk in escalation of family violence.[4]

  • The current lack of affordable housing options, inclusive of rental properties, inhibits victim survivors’ safety and recovery as they continue to face uncertainty. A choice between facing homelessness or risking a return to the home of the perpetrator is no choice at all.

2. The most effective and important change we can make to end homelessness is preventing people from becoming homeless in the first place.

As stated, family violence is the leading factor for homelessness in Australia. As a family violence prevention and support service we see daily the impacts that a housing sector in crisis is having on women, children and diverse communities experiencing family violence. Women and children are overrepresented in homelessness data as a result of family violence.

Within this context, we must address the gendered drivers of violence against women and girls, children and diverse communities through effective policy and project development. This will require significant systems change in addressing racism and discrimination. We know that our legal and government systems are not always working towards equality, and in order to reduce the number of people experiencing or at risk of homelessness we must begin to dismantle barriers to equality and justice through targeted legislative reform.

3. The National Housing and Homelessness Plan needs to include policy areas in scope that can achieve:

  • Universal prevention to reduce the overall number of people at risk of homelessness

This includes long term commitment to building more social and affordable housing, and a nationalisation of policies that support diversity, inclusion and culturally safe policies and frameworks to better inform the real estate sector, especially within the private rental market.

  • Targeted prevention to reduce risk of homelessness for people who are more vulnerable to becoming homeless

The National Plan needs policy development that takes into consideration the oftentimes complex and intersectional needs of people facing homelessness. Within the family violence sector we understand that those at most risk of harm due to a lack of safe, accessible and affordable housing are women and children experiencing family violence. This is exacerbated for First Nation women and those from diverse communities, as well as for women living with disability.

  • Crisis prevention to prevent homelessness for people at imminent risk of homelessness

The family violence sector requires a better, and more targeted response to crisis, emergency and transitional housing for victim survivors and their children. The use of hotels and motels is not a viable, safe or financially sustainable option – and the sectors over-reliance on the private hotel and motel industry to provide emergency accommodation to some of our most vulnerable community members is simply not appropriate. The sector is calling for specialised crisis, emergency and transitional housing options that are able to provide trauma informed support and management.

  • Support the important work of homelessness, housing and family violence services in providing emergency responses and support for people to gain and sustain housing.

The crisis of housing affordability increases demand on specialist family violence services and is ultimately costly for the service system and those who use it.

The demand on services is significant. For example, the Centre for Non-Violence provided over 14,000 nights of crisis accommodation support for victim survivors of family violence during 2022-2023.[5]

  • Short Term Emergency accommodation is not meeting the needs of the community.

It is failing to appropriately address victim survivor safety and wellbeing during the most high-risk post separation time period.

Our staff have unanimously reported on the difficult and time-consuming effort required to find emergency accommodation. This is further impacted by the following factors:

  • Reliance on private market (ie motel accommodation) poses significant risk considerations for women and children fleeing family violence as these spaces are not fit for purpose (ie secure locks, visibility of vehicles from street etc)
  • Due to competing emergency accommodation demand with other support services there are instances where both perpetrators of family violence have been housed in the same motel as victim survivors of family violence – this poses significant risk to safety and sense of safety and wellbeing for victim survivors
  • Motels are not appropriate spaces for women with children to live in (ie. space for privacy, ability to cook etc is not available)
  • Women with more than 2 children require family suites in motels which are often not available.
  • Accessibility to emergency accommodation for women and children who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander is significantly reduced.
  • Time that would be better spent addressing the support and service needs for clients by our specialist trained family violence practitioners is instead spent searching for suitable accommodation. Staff reported this takes on average in excess of 2-3 hours per case. And due to the short-term nature and lack of availability for longer term housing, it is an issue that often arises several times during a single client case management. 

4. The National Plan must address major drivers of homelessness across the population, including racism and discrimination, the adequacy and security of income support, people’s access to affordable housing and family wellbeing.

Access to safe, secure housing is a gendered issue. Women and children are significantly discriminated against and have reduced access to safe and secure housing both in the private rental market and in home ownership. This is not simply an issue of housing availability, but significantly an issue of housing that is not available for women and diverse communities.

The private rental market has been of particular concern for our staff who have identified that real estate agencies have significant oversight of application processes including:

  • Requirements for previous rental history (often women have not entered the rental market before or have not rented in their own name)
  • Access to financial arrangements (notably income sources). There is significant discrimination against women receiving support and disability payments.
  • Single women with no children and women with more than 2 children are most significantly impacted. This includes women who have secure employment.
  • Accessibility to the private rental market is further reduced for women who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and women from migrant and refugee communities. Prevailing discriminatory attitudes and larger family sizes place significant strain on women seeking safe and secure housing.
  • Men who use violence (including clients and/or former partners of victim survivor clients) are often able to secure a private rental in a shorter time-frame – often within a few weeks/2-3 rental applications.
  • Men who use violence have access to accommodation programs such as ‘A Place for Change’ (CNV and Haven Home Safe partnership) which provides the opportunity for longer term housing to be purchased for perpetrators.  In this program the partnership is able to purchase long term housing – ie., serviced apartments for up to 6 months to house perpetrators. It is imperative to extend this type of funding for victim survivors. Our statistics are telling us that it is women, not men, adversely affected by the housing crisis and therefore are in greater need of dedicated housing investment.
  • There must also be an urgent review into the adequacy of income support payments and social support services including health and disability services. When working with our clients, a significant number of women who face homelessness have complex needs that can include reliance on income support streams. This is then further exacerbated for First Nation women, women from diverse communities as well as women with disability who are experiencing family violence (inclusive of direct family members as well as carers), who are at even greater risk of harm, compounded by a lack of accessible and affordable housing.[6]

5. Prevention requires the Federal Government to address gaps in the provision of family violence prevention and support services.

It is imperative that the lived experience of victim survivors is acknowledged through more sustainable policies that better address structural social and gender inequalities to address secure housing and risks to homelessness for women and children. Lives depend on it.

Our staff hold knowledge through expertise in the family violence sector of the structural inequalities and oppressions faced by women, children and diverse communities. This, coupled with a housing landscape that is largely inaccessible, presents challenging and often complex situations that can lead to workforce burnout, vicarious trauma and feelings of hopelessness and frustration[7].

These are conditions that no worker should have to face on a daily basis. Our service is already seeing a rise in the number of people seeking housing help because they cannot afford private rental prices[8] and after decades of failed housing policy, including a shortfall of 640,000 social and affordable homes[9], we are leaving women and children, during one of their most vulnerable times, exposed to serious risk of harm and death.[10] A greater commitment to investment in social, community and public housing is needed and requires strategic national and state government engagement: purpose-built housing that can offer stability and dignity for those most vulnerable in our community should never of been left to the private market to solve. Equally, the responsibility for the housing crisis should not fall on the shoulders of our staff, and yet they are holding themselves responsible for the safety and wellbeing of their clients.

6. Homelessness services simply do not have the capacity to provide support for everyone in need:

    • this has devastating consequences for victim survivors who are turned away, with many forced to choose between homelessness or a return to the home of violence.
    • has system consequences including missed opportunities for prevention of homelessness and for prevention of re-entry to homelessness, and,
    • creates significant costs and pressures on other service systems, such as family violence, acute health, child protection and justice services

Concluding Notes:

CNV as a leading family violence prevention and support service has been advocating for greater and sustained investment in safe and affordable housing that considers the client journey from to emergency and transitional housing, to long term housing: a safe place to call home.

We are, as an organisation deeply concerned with the ongoing, and far-reaching impacts that a lack of affordable and safe housing is having on communities, including the impacts on our staff when trying to support families seeking a life free from violence.

As it stands, the housing sector, as the Federal Government is all too aware, is failing to meet the most basic of needs to those most vulnerable in our communities. The National Plan to end Homelessness must provide a comprehensive and coordinated approach to policy and legislative reform that considers the drivers of homelessness, and invests in and refers to the support systems and expertise of those working within the sector and with individuals and families at risk or experiencing homelessness.

In closing, CNV is seeking to encourage all levels of government and relevant sector representatives to work together in addressing the systemic issues facing communities at risk of homelessness.

References:

[1] Homelessness Australia 2023. ‘The 10 Year Housing and Homelessness Plan: Key Messaging and Submission Guide’, August: available from: Submission GuideHomelessness Plan (homelessnessaustralia.org.au) [accessed: 11 October 2023]

[2] Pedlar C 2022. ‘Bendigo’s rental affordability worse than rest of regional Victoria’, Bendigo Advertiser, 1 December. Available from: https://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/8000397/regions-rental-market-deemed-unaffordable-in-new-report/ [accessed: 25 July 2023]

[3] Safe and Equal 2021. ‘Fast Facts’, produced in conjunction with Respect Victoria. Available from: https://safeandequal.org.au/resources/fast-facts-2022/ [accessed: 5 July 2023]

[4] In Australia, an estimated 3 per cent of women (275,000) experienced violence by a current partner whereas 15 per cent of women (1.4 million) experienced violence by a previous partner https://safeandequal.org.au/understanding-family-violence/statistics/# Sourced from: ABS (2016) Personal Safety Survey [accessed 11 July 2023]

[5] Refer to Appendix One:  Housing Needs in Response to Family Violence 2022-2023– A CNV Snapshot.

[6] Refer to: Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with a Disability: Final Report, p.18. Available from: https://disability.royalcommission.gov.au/system/files/2023-09/Final%20Report%20-%20Volume%203%2C%20Nature%20and%20Extent%20of%20Violence%2C%20abuse%2C%20neglect%20and%20exploitation.pdf [Accessed: 18 October 2023]

[7] CNV 2023. collated data from staff discussions and feedback workshop: ‘Have Your Say – ‘Housing Crisis and Impacts on Work’.

[8] A Safe Place to Call Home – Mission Australia’s Homelessness and Stable Housing Impact Report (2023) https://www.missionaustralia.com.au/media-centre/media-releases/mission-australia-s-homelessness-impact-report-reveals-rising

-demand-for-services [accessed 11 July 2023]

[9] Quantifying Australia’s unmet housing need: a national snapshot (2022) Community Housing Industry Association https://apo.org.au/node/320820 [accessed 11 July 2023]

[10] One woman a week and one child every two weeks is killed as a result of family violence. Leaving the relationship is one of the most dangerous times for women and children, and this is compounded when there is nowhere for them to leave to. For further information https://www.safesteps.org.au/victoria-lights-up-in-purple-2023/  [accessed 11 July 2023] and https://safeandequal.org.au/understanding-family-violence/statistics/# [accessed: 11 July 2023]

Appendix One:

Housing needs in response to family violence 2022-23 – a CNV snapshot. Click here to view.

Open letter in support of Equality and Justice

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Open letter in support of Equality and Justice

A Joint Statement by the CEOs of six Central Victorian organisations.
Australia is on the cusp of a historic decision in the advancement of First Nations equality and justice. As not-for-profit organisations living and working on Dja Dja Wurrung, Taungurung, Yorta Yorta and Wurundjeri country, we are committed to walking in solidarity with First Nation communities in the pursuit for equality, justice and truth-telling.

Australia is on the cusp of a historic decision in the advancement of First Nations equality and justice. As not-for-profit organisations living and working on Dja Dja Wurrung, Taungurung, Yorta Yorta and Wurundjeri country, we are committed to walking in solidarity with First Nation communities in the pursuit for equality, justice and truth-telling.

We write this open letter as First Nations communities face backlash against what is a simple ask: the opportunity for them to be able to have a voice on issues that directly affect and impact their lives, children, and kin.

We are concerned not only in the amplification of misinformation over the upcoming referendum, but also about the harmful narratives taking place across our communities.

Our organisations acknowledge our privilege and will use that to amplify the continuing impacts and

oppression of colonisation and systemic racism on First Nations people.

At a time where we are about to turn the page on one of our most important chapters, we must ask those of us who do not identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander to acknowledge and accept our role in the living history of colonisation, and ongoing oppression of First Nation families and communities.

We have a responsibility to recognise and acknowledge the enduring trauma inflicted on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as a result of colonisation and systemic racism.

We also recognise the strength and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in their fight for equality, justice and truth-telling. We recognise and deeply respect the diversity of lived experience and voice within First Nation communities and regard a Voice to Parliament as an important step towards equality and justice.

We have been given an invitation as a nation, to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Nations people of these lands and waterways and, to acknowledge their sovereignty and sacred connection to them. We also have an invitation to uphold the unique human rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as outlined by the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; to seek a future where they have power of their voice, rights, destiny, and that their children flourish. This invitation is to have a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament.

On October 14, we have a chance to re-write history and undo the lie of terra nullius, to undo the constitutional mistake of the past where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples were not recognised as the First Nation peoples of these lands – over 60,000 years of continuous living history and culture – older than any other culture in the world – exists today on the very lands we are privileged to call home.

We have an opportunity to begin as a nation, a journey of healing.

It’s time for equality. It’s time for justice. It’s time to say Yes.

Media Enquiries

Margaret Augerinos – CEO, Centre for Non-Violence

Tricia Currie – CEO, Women’s Health Loddon Mallee

Julie Oberin – CEO, Annie North

Trudi Ray – CEO, Haven Home Safe

Damian Stock – CEO, ARC Justice

Kate Wright – CEO, Centre Against Sexual Assault Central Victoria

Submission to the Inquiry into the Worsening Rental Crisis in Australia

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Submission to the Inquiry into the Worsening Rental Crisis in Australia

National Submission by the Centre for Non-Violence to the Senate Standing Committees on Community Affairs.
A safe, affordable, and decent home for our clients is the foundation for a safe, nourished life free from family violence.

Dear Committee Secretary,

Thank you for the opportunity to make a submission into Australia’s worsening rental crisis.

The Centre for Non-Violence is Central Victoria’s leading family violence prevention and crisis and support service. With offices located on Dja Dja Wurrung, Yorta Yorta and Taungurung Country in Bendigo, Echuca, Kyneton and Maryborough, the organisation provides a range of programs and services that respond to and work to prevent family violence and homelessness across the Loddon region. With more than 30 years of operation, the organisation has helped thousands of women and children to escape family violence, and has worked with men who use violence to address behaviours and attitudes that have led to acts of family violence in the home.

Our submission will specifically address the following Terms of Reference:

  1. the experience of renters and people seeking rental housing,
  2. rising rents and rental affordability;
  3. actions that can be taken by governments to reduce rents or limit rent rises;
  4. improvements to renters’ rights, including rent stabilisation, length of leases and no grounds evictions;
  5. factors impacting supply and demand of affordable rentals

 Recommendations:

  1. Tackle the Social Housing Shortfall

We need to urgently build at least 25,000 social homes each year for 20 years to tackle the social housing shortfall.

  1. A Fairer Tax System for Housing

Phase out negative gearing and capital gains tax exemptions and use the funds to create more social and affordable housing.

  1. Nationally Consistent Protection for Renters, including:
    1. An end to no cause evictions rolled out nationally, including at the end of a fixed term, as recently implemented in the ACT;
    2. Ending unfair rent increases by setting clear limits for rent prices and increases;
    3. Minimum standards to make rental homes liveable; and
    4. Real, independent enforcement of laws that protect renters, including around privacy. It should not be up to renters to enforce the rules by taking action against their landlord.

The Centre for Non-Violence (herein ‘CNV’) makes this submission with a determined plea to government to address the housing crisis. Family violence is the leading cause of homelessness in Australia. The provision of social and affordable housing for all who need it is one step to supporting increased safety and wellbeing in our community.  Preventing and addressing the structural drivers of violence against women and children and inequality requires coordinated investment across prevention and response.

‘Family and domestic violence is the main reason women and children leave their homes in Australia (FaHCSIA 2008).  Those who have experienced family and domestic violence made up 41 per cent of Specialist Homelessness Services clients in 2019–20.’[1]

Of all adults seeking housing support as a result of family violence in 2018-2019, 90% were women[2]; and with soaring rents[3], low vacancy rates, interest rate rises and housing affordability at an all-time low, we know the situation is only getting harder for women and children seeking safety, wellbeing and a life free from violence. While the Federal Government does recognise that communities in regional settings are at most risk of insecure and unaffordable housing, what we need is more than recognition. We need place-based action.

It is imperative that the lived experience of victim survivors is acknowledged through more sustainable policies that better address structural social and gender inequalities to address secure housing and risks to homelessness for women and children. Lives depend on it. During recent staff consultations with our family violence practitioners, it was identified that:

  • 100% of victim survivors have had to choose between whether to stay in the abusive relationship, or risk housing insecurity and/or homelessness if they leave (short term decision making on when or possible to leave)
  • Between 70-90% of victim survivor clients have had to consider housing affordability (rental prices, mortgage repayments) as part of their journey from family violence (short to medium term decision-making)
  • A significant number of victim survivor clients either have to remain in violent or abusive relationships, or are forced to return to the abusive relationship in order to avoid homelessness/housing insecurity.

CNV has over 30 years of experience in the sector.  Our experience, combined with both national and international research, unequivocally demonstrates that access to safe, secure housing is a gendered issue. Women and children are significantly discriminated against and have reduced access to safe and secure housing both in the private rental market and in home ownership. This is not simply an issue of housing availability, but significantly an issue of housing that is available for women.

For example, men who use violence have access to accommodation programs such as ‘A Place for Change’ (CNV & Haven partnership).  In this program the partnership is able to purchase medium term housing – such as serviced apartments for up to 6 months to house perpetrators of family violence. It is a missed opportunity by the state and federal government to invest in these types of funding models for victim survivors. Our statistics are telling us that it is women, not men, adversely affected by the housing crisis and therefore are in greater need of government investment.

The private rental market has been of particular concern for staff who have identified that real estate agencies have significant oversight of application processes that often lead to discriminatory screening practices such as:

  • requirements for previous rental history (often women have not entered the rental market before or have not rented in their own name).
  • access to financial arrangements (notably income sources). There is significant discrimination against women receiving support and disability payments.
  • single women with no children and women with more than 2 children are most significantly impacted by discriminatory screening practices. This includes women who have secure employment. Staff reported that this cohort are one of the hardest to find homes for.
  • accessibility to the private rental market is further reduced for women who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and women from migrant and refugee communities. Prevailing discriminatory attitudes and larger family sizes place significant strain on women seeking safe and secure housing.

Affordability in the Loddon region is at an all-time low, and combined with a national cost of living crisis, the negative impact on local communities cannot be overstated. Soaring rental prices in the region and rising costs for basic utilities means that there are now people, who are engaging with housing and homelessness services for the first time. These are individuals and families, who, if they had access to affordable housing, would not need to engage in support services that are already at critical capacity.[4]

Our staff face significant pressure as a direct result of the housing crisis. Finding affordable, safe and secure housing has become a primary focus for many of our Specialist Family Violence Practitioners shifting focus from family violence and safety. Significant time is spent providing necessary support to women and children victim survivors, and, men who use violence to find housing (including both short term emergency housing, and longer-term private rentals) in order to reduce the risk in escalation of family violence.[5]

A safe, affordable, and decent home for our clients is the foundation for a safe, nourished life free from family violence.

Our staff hold knowledge through expertise of the structural inequalities and oppressions faced by women and children. This, coupled with a housing landscape that is largely inaccessible, presents challenging and often complex situations that can lead to workforce burnout, vicarious trauma and feelings of hopelessness and frustration[6].

These are conditions that no worker should have to face on a daily basis. Our service is already seeing a rise in the number of people seeking housing help because they cannot afford private rental prices[7] and after decades of failed housing policy, including a shortfall of 640,000 social and affordable homes[8], we are leaving women and children, during one of their most vulnerable times, exposed to serious risk of harm and death.[9] A greater commitment to investment in social, community and public housing is needed and requires strategic national and state government engagement: purpose-built housing that can offer stability and dignity for those most vulnerable in our community should never of been left to the private market to solve. Equally, the responsibility for the housing crisis should not fall on the shoulders of our staff, and yet they are holding themselves responsible for the safety and wellbeing of their clients.

A choice between facing homelessness or risking a return to the home of the perpetrator is no choice at all.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment and we look forward to the Committee’s findings.

Yours sincerely,

Margaret Augerinos

CEO, Centre for Non-Violence

Centre for Non-Violence can be contacted on 1800 884 292 | The Orange Door Loddon can be contacted on 1800 512 359 | The 24-hour statewide safe steps family violence crisis response line is 1800 015 188 | Men’s Referral Service 1300 766 491 | In an emergency, call 000 | For information, visit: www.cnv.org.au/we-are-here-to-help

Media Enquiries:

Clare Shamier, Head of Business Development and Advocacy: 0488 281 528

References:

[1] Safe and Equal nd. Data sourced from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Specialist homelessness services annual report. Further information available from: https://safeandequal.org.au/understanding-family-violence/statistics/# [accessed: 11 July 2023]

[2] ibid 2021. ‘Fast Facts’, produced in conjunction with Respect Victoria. Available from: https://safeandequal.org.au/resources/fast-facts-2022/ [accessed: 5 July 2023]

[3] The national weekly average has risen by 40 percent over the last three years alone.[3] SQM Research, available online: https://sqmresearch.com.au/weekly-rents.php?national=1&t=1 [accessed 11 July 2023]

[4] Pedlar C 2022. ‘Bendigo’s rental affordability worse than rest of regional Victoria’, Bendigo Advertiser, 1 December. Available from: https://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/8000397/regions-rental-market-deemed-unaffordable-in-new-report/ [accessed: 25 July 2023]

[5] In Australia, an estimated 3 per cent of women (275,000) experienced violence by a current partner whereas 15 per cent of women (1.4 million) experienced violence by a previous partner https://safeandequal.org.au/understanding-family-violence/statistics/# Sourced from: ABS (2016) Personal Safety Survey [accessed 11 July 2023]

[6] CNV 2023. collated data from staff discussions and feedback workshop: ‘Have Your Say – ‘Housing Crisis and Impacts on Work’.

[7] A Safe Place to Call Home – Mission Australia’s Homelessness and Stable Housing Impact Report (2023) https://www.missionaustralia.com.au/media-centre/media-releases/mission-australia-s-homelessness-impact-report-reveals-rising

-demand-for-services [accessed 11 July 2023]

[8] Quantifying Australia’s unmet housing need: a national snapshot (2022) Community Housing Industry Association https://apo.org.au/node/320820 [accessed 11 July 2023]

[9] One woman a week and one child every two weeks is killed as a result of family violence. Leaving the relationship is one of the most dangerous times for women and children, and this is compounded when there is nowhere for them to leave to. For further information https://www.safesteps.org.au/victoria-lights-up-in-purple-2023/  [accessed 11 July 2023] and https://safeandequal.org.au/understanding-family-violence/statistics/# [accessed: 11 July 2023]

You Are Not Alone Research

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You Are Not Alone Research Project Call Out

Research project calls for service users to participate in focus group.
CNV has partnered with La Trobe University to conduct a research project about the lived experience of delivering and receiving services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Centre for Non-Violence developed the You Are Not Alone campaign in response to the premise that ‘the safest place to be is at home during the COVID-19 pandemic’.

In the early months of the pandemic, many health and welfare professionals, including practitioners at the Centre for Non-Violence, were concerned about an imminent rise in family and domestic violence as the pandemic unfolded.

We knew that women were in lockdown at home with their partner and were unable to seek help.

CNV has partnered with La Trobe University to conduct a research project about the lived experience of delivering and receiving services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are interested in talking with clients who reached out for and/or accessed support from CNV during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns:

  • Lockdown 2: July-October 2020 (111 days)
  • Lockdown 3: February 2021 (5 days)
  • Lockdown 4: May-June 2021 (14 days)

We want to hear service users’ experiences of working with CNV during this time.

In this research, we aim to better understand the lived experience and work out how we can better design services and systems responsive to needs.
Face-to-face focus groups are scheduled on 8 August 2023 from 10am-12pm with lunch provided.

Participation will be acknowledged with a gift card and supported with transport/travel and childcare costs.

If you are interested in participating or would like to find out more about this project, please email
[email protected]

Response to Family Law Amendment Bill Proposal

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CNV’s Response to the Family Law Amendment Bill Proposal

A public statement from the Centre for Non-Violence.
Central Victoria’s leading family violence response agency, the Centre for Non-Violence (CNV) welcomes the Federal Government’s steps to overhaul the family law system to ensure children’s wellbeing and safety remain central when making parenting arrangements.

CNV is encouraged by the proposed amendments outlined in the Family Law Amendment Bill 2023 that seek to ‘better recognise and respond to the impacts of family violence’[1] and in particular, providing a focus on ensuring children’s safety and wellbeing where family violence is present. These changes impact a number of areas within the Family Law and its systems, including providing greater powers by the courts to stop harmful proceedings, improved case management procedures to better support victim survivors (both protective parents and children in their own right) and new rules preventing perpetrators from accessing sensitive information, such as medical and counselling records of victim survivors – an act that has resulted in court sanctioned violence and abuse for far too long. Importantly, the proposed amendments also seek to repeal the provisions of shared responsibility where children’s safety and wellbeing is impacted by family violence.

As highlighted in the recent Royal Commission into Family Violence, it is imperative children are recognised as victim survivors in their own right; and to ensure children’s needs are met and voices heard, will require driving systems change. As we noted in our Joint Submission to the National Plan in 2021[2], the intersection between family law and child protection delivers some of the most unsafe conditions for women and children in our communities, and our efforts as a leading family violence prevention and support service remains steadfastly committed to keeping children safe with their protective parent.

Within this context, CNV supports the proposal to repeal the presumption of equal shared responsibility (Section 61DA) and Section 65DAA provision of equal, substantial and significant time of the Family Law Act. These changes hold the potentiality – if correctly supported and applied – to keep the perpetrator in view when considering the safety and wellbeing of children at the time of applying court orders.

Under the current system, these provisions are often misinterpreted, leading parents to negotiate parental arrangements from an incorrect assumption of entitlement; focusing the needs and wishes of the parent over the best interests, wellbeing and safety of the child. And as outlined by the Position Summary of the Women’s Legal Services Australia (WLSA) the presumption of equal shared parental responsibility must be ‘removed on the basis that it incentivises violent fathers to litigate through the family law courts, enables violent men to exert ongoing power and control, and has created a well-entrenched community misunderstanding that both parents are entitled to equal time regardless of violence and abuse.’[3]

CNV also welcomes the proposed measure of a standalone best interests provision to ensure courts when making arrangements, consider the best interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children – such as opportunity to connect with, and, maintain connection to family, community, culture and country. Relatedly, the amendment to subsection 4(1AB): ‘Definition of ‘member of the family’ and ‘relative’ to provide a definition of family member and relative that is inclusive of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family and kinship relations is an important and long overdue step in working towards systems change that can achieve effective and positive outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, their families and community.

However, there still remain gaps. Ensuring the safety and wellbeing for victim survivors requires nuanced approach that recognises the intersectionality of oppression – including representation and self-determination. And this is where we ask the government to review reforms with a people with disability lens. As succinctly outlined by Women with Disability Australia (WWDA):

In Australia, the legal definition of ‘domestic violence’ varies across jurisdictions and most do not contain definitions which do justice to, nor encompass, the range of domestic/family settings in which women and girls with disability may live or occupy. They do not contain definitions which capture the range of relationships and various dimensions and experiences of domestic and family violence as experienced by people with disability, (particularly women and girls with disability).[4]

The proposed Family Law Amendment Bill goes some way in not only recognising the importance of children’s safety and wellbeing, but also the need for systems change to ensure that the law – and its operations – is working to better support and promote children’s needs and wishes. Within this context, consideration then must be given to building capacity and capability within the family law system, so that everyone, including judges and family court writers is family violence informed, trauma informed, disability informed and culturally safe with a child rights focus. This includes adequate and committed funding for supporting children navigating the system such as building in greater access to trained and informed Independent Children’s Lawyers and Indigenous Liaison Officers in courts as well as pathways made available for victim survivors and their families to access family violence support services.

Finally, CNV is committed to amplifying the voices of women and children, and calls on all levels of government to recognise the importance of undergoing legislative and systems changes in order to place greater focus on addressing attitudes that excuse and condone violence against women and children, in all its forms. An overhaul of our justice system is a necessary part of this work.

References:

[1] Attorney Generals Department 2023. ‘Public Webinars – Family Law Amendment Bill 2023’, email correspondence, 13 February.

[2] The Loddon Consortium for Gender Equality and Violence Prevention 2021. ‘Joint Submission to the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and Children’, 20 July.

[3] WLSA 2023. ‘Exposure Draft of the Family Law Amendment Bill 2023’, Position Summary, https://www.wlsa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/WLSA-Position-Summary-Exposure-Draft-of-the-Family-Law-Amendment-Bill-2023.pdf [Accessed: 22 February 2023]

[4] WWDA 2023. ‘Submission to the Family Law Amendment Bill 2023’, shared via email (27/02/2023).

Give us a call today:

If you, or someone you know is experiencing or has experienced family violence to reach out. We’re here to help.

And equally, if you, or someone you know is using family violence, we’re here to help.

The Centre for Non-Violence (Monday- Friday / 9-5pm): 1800 884 292

The Orange Door Loddon (Monday- Friday / 9-5pm): 1800 512 359

Safe Steps (24/7 statewide family violence crisis support service): 1800 015 188

In an emergency: 000

For Media Enquiries please contact

Centre for Non-Violence: Clare Shamier, Head of Business Development and Advocacy, 0488 281 528