By JONATHON HOWARD
AN INCREASING number of women from Brisbane and the Gold Coast are using Warwick Safe Haven to escape violence in the home.
More than 20 women, many of whom are accompanied by children, have sought refuge at Safe Haven in the past 12 months, according to figures from the Toowoomba Domestic and Family Violence Protection Service (DFVPS).
DFVPS women’s and children’s counsellor Kath (last name withheld) said Safe Haven offered free accommodation for three to five nights and the majority of the women stayed for up to four nights at a time.
Warwick Safe Haven is a community-funded support service which relies solely on donations and volunteers.
“The women have come from a variety of areas as far away as Brisbane or the Gold Coast,” Kath said.
“A number of local women have also utilised the support services and safety of the house over the past 12 months.”
The increasing workload has prompted a call for more big-hearted volunteers to provide struggling mums settle with a friendly and welcoming environment.
Volunteers are provided with training and volunteers always work in pairs.
Volunteers can also help with donations and other services where they have a particular skill set.
Safe Haven management committee president Bette said volunteers did not require counselling skills.
“Volunteers are the backbone of our operations,” she said. “And we’ve recently had several retire from voluntary positions, which we are now desperate to fill.”
Long-time Safe Haven volunteer, Margaret often helps distraught mothers and their children settle in at Safe Haven.
She said she takes comfort in knowing that Safe Haven is available to parents especially when there was previously nowhere for mothers to escape.
“My primary concern is for kids growing up in domestic violence,” she said.
Margaret said the role of Safe Haven volunteering was rewarding by helping comfort mothers through the trauma of violence.
“It’s an extremely rewarding role and I’d encourage others to volunteer and lend a helping hand.”
Safe Haven also receives a raft of support from local community groups including Zonta club, Sunrise Rotary club and the Warwick Anglican Church – to name a few.
To find out more about becoming a volunteer phone Toowoomba Domestic and Family Violence Protection Service on 4639 3605.
**Note: all last names have been withheld at the request of DFVPS.
BREAK OUT
WARWICK Safe Haven volunteer Margaret says local residents turning a blind-eye to domestic violence was simply “not OK”.
Police have also urged anyone witnessing domestic violence to instantly report the incident, but warned the public against intentionally placing themselves in danger.
Margaret said incidents where residents have witnesses an act of domestic violence were deeply concerning, and there was an onus on the community to help women in such situations.
“It’s not OK, I see it as a community responsibility,” she said.
“It is disturbing that people do stand around and not report, because I think there are ways of being able to do that safely.”
“If you see a car accident, 10 people jump on their phones calling police or the ambulance to get assistance, but we still don’t do that in the same way for something like this.”
Her comments have prompted vigorous debate from readers as to whether bystanders should intervene if they witness domestic violence, and if so how.
Margaret said victims in such situations were often reliant on the community stepping in to help, because they themselves were unable to.
But she said there was still a concerning community perception that domestic violence was a “private issue”.
According to a 2009 survey from the Office of the Status of Women, on in five residents still believed that domestic violence was a private matter and four out of five people did not want to get involve. She urged those in similar situations to call police immediately, and intervene if safe.
Police echoed the advice, saying that people should immediately contact police operations on 131 444, or dial triple-0 if they believe it to be a life-threatening emergency.
“You should not intentionally put yourself in a position where your safety is in danger,” a spokeswoman for QPS said.
Calls to police operations would be responded to according to their seriousness, and witnesses would be asked for details such as a description of the incident, location, descriptions of any people or cars involved, including car registrations.
