By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
A GREATER Dandenong councillor and immigration lawyer has spoken out on the rising scourge of family violence in migrant communities.
Heang Tak writes in this week’s Community Voice column that migrant communities “suffer the most” from family violence.
He said the consequences could include a partner and children being left without an income and facing deportation.
On the other hand, he’s known of wives “cynically” taking full intervention orders against their husband to fast-track their two-year wait for permanent residency.
Mr Tak said more education was needed among new and emerging communities on the issue.
“Prevention is better than the cure.”
Denise Goldfinch, of Springvale Community Aid and Advice Bureau, said family violence had recently muscled into the bureau’s “top five” most common issues raised by clients.
According to police statistics, there were more than 850 family violence assaults reported in Greater Dandenong in the 12 months up to March.
As recently as last year, there were an estimated 400 intervention order applications at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court each month.
The violence was increasingly prevalent across all communities – “mainstream established” ones as well as new arrivals. Mental health and financial stress were rising factors, Ms Goldfinch said.
“There’s been a lot of talk that violence is just accepted in different communities. That’s not our experience,” Ms Goldfinch said.
“People generally don’t want family members – their women and children – to be unsafe.”
Victoria Legal Aid family violence education co-ordinator Allyson Foster runs a Settled and Safe program, which hosts open discussions on family violence and child protection in a way that’s accessible to new arrivals.
“What they struggle with is what is the appropriate intervention.
“They don’t have knowledge and trust in the system. They think intervention means the end of their relationship and the end of their family.”
