By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
A VICTORIA Legal Aid program has found many women from new and emerging communities were victims of family violence but not ready to end their unsafe relationships.
Settled and Safe, a 12-month program which has run since March, has tried to familiarise new arrivals with intervention orders and what constitutes family violence.
A forum of project participants last Monday raised a number of barriers stopping victims from getting help.
It was said many newly-arrived women would be stigmatised if they divorced.
There was also reported reluctance to break-up a family unit, which had already suffered the loss of family members due to homeland conflicts or misadventures during boat journeys to Australia.
Some were also fearful about their children being removed by child-protection services.
However there were reports that word was getting out.
The forum was told of a group of Iranian-Australian men who want to campaign against family violence, and a ‘Flying the Flag’ campaign for respectful relationships in Springvale and Noble Park.
Community groups at the forum were urged to at least refer victims to Victoria Legal Aid.
“It’s worthwhile to get some support and legal advice,” VLA family violence program manager Leanne Sinclair told the forum.
“Going to a lawyer doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to court. We can give that woman options on what she can do and put her in connection with other services.”
VLA managing lawyer Elissa Scott said many people arrived from countries whose laws and systems about family relationships were “very different”.
“Through the project we’ve reached into a wide range of marginalised communities that have a real thirst for learning about the law.
“Many have very few links in the broader community and do not know how to get help to keep safe from family violence.
“We trained settlement workers who work with these communities but who sometimes don’t know how to talk about family law and family violence problems.”
During the project, VLA teamed up with groups such as Victorian Immigrant and Refugee Women’s Coalition, African Communities Foundation Australia, Springvale Community Aid and Advice Bureau and Southern Migrant Resource Centre.
The program has received funding up until February.
