Video – watch and listen within the framework of domestic abuse
Support for domestic abuse in Sydney Hills district
Phone our office on 1300 732 848
lisa harnum foundation
Family Violence Leave Recommended
Royal Commission recommends family violence leave provisions in Victoria
The Victorian government should begin a public campaign to urge other employers to provide family violence leave entitlements to their employees, a Royal Commission has been told
Quoted from Julie Kun, the deputy head of the Women’s Information and Referral Exchange (WIRE)
Family violence leave was more powerful than just “personal leave” because it sent a message to abusers that employers and society did not tolerate their behaviour”.
The hearing was told of a woman, who was not identified, who had moved to Australia after an arranged marriage in another country and hoped to continue working as a nurse. Her husband controlled her life and made it miserable.
Employer allowed time for counselling etc
Her supportive employer allowed her opportunities for counselling, leave at short notice and support for further training, and she was able to leave the abusive relationship, the commission heard.
Society should accept that women who suffer family violence be given time to free themselves from the danger of violence and eventually recover.
Read the full article here http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/employers-should-take-responsibility-for-family-violence-leave-commission-told-20150716-gidizs.html
Overcoming Domestic Violence | Moving Forward Workshop Series
Event Details
Hills Community Aid will provide a series of small group workshops for women who have experienced domestic violence.
Workshop topics will include:
- Healthy relationships
- Housing
- Budgeting and loans
- Work options
- Accessing benefits
- My rights
- Self care
Workshop facilitator
Workshops will be facilitated by Terrie-Ann Bolger, an experienced facilitator who has been developing, writing and delivering programs for women, like “Moving Forward”, for the past 6 years.
She has a Masters degree in Counselling and a Grad. Dip in Dance Movement Therapy. Terrie-Ann also has a passion for empowering others to discover their inner potential and obtain a healthy, well balanced sense of self.
Free registration
- Registration is free and the workshop series run for 8 weeks.
- Tuesdays 10:00 am – 12:00 pm, starting 28th July
Register or enquire by calling Teresa Falkner on (02) 9639 5620
Fundraiser | Comedy Trivia Night
Event Details
The Laugh Stand at Harold Park Hotel is excited to join forces with Tiffany Wallis to raise much needed funds and awareness for victims of domestic violence through the Lisa Harnum Foundation.
We’re putting on a big comedy and trivia night full of head-scratchers and belly-laughs!
So get a team together, settle in for drinks from 7:30 pm, and then at 8:00 pm tackle 3 brain-busting rounds of trivia with host Lewis Scamozzi!
Then after 9:00 pm sit back, relax and enjoy an hour of high-energy comedy with host Julia Wilson (‘Stand Up Australia’), Kyle Legacy (Laugh Mob), Alex Wasiel, Arnie Pie (Arnold Luichareonkit) and Dane Hiser from hit web-series The Joke’s On Me!
Bring some cash with you for an awesome raffle with a growing list of prizes that include:
- Photo-shoot by Essence & Flaunt Photography!
- Moo Gourmet Burger vouchers!
- 3 month membership to Fernwood gym!
- Really cool Active Jump Vouchers from FX Zone!
- A spectacular Comedy Pack with show tickets and DVD’s!
A BIG thank you to all our sponsors for donating these brilliant prizes!
See you there for a load of fun for a great cause!
Have questions about Comedy and Trivia night? Contact Tiffany Wallace
Click this link to book your tickets.
Domestic Abuse – One Woman’s Disturbing Story …
Six years of abuse!
LIZ (not her real name) is a talented, articulate and confident young Hills woman who is just piecing her life together after escaping to a safer environment following six years of abuse.
The charming, successful businessman who swept her off her feet was her “knight in shining armour” when they dated. “He said the right things and did the right things.”
Everything changed after the honeymoon
All that changed the day after their honeymoon when he exploded into a violent rage, destroying some much loved belongings.
”It was so out of left field,” Liz said.
The abuse got worse after the children were born
Things got worse after the couple’s children were born.
“People think domestic violence is a punch to the face but there are so many other forms of abuse, stalking, intimidation and financial control,” she said.
“He’d also throw things at me and smash things.“
“I didn’t fear for my children’s safety because the abuse was directed at me, but they became very anxious watching the abuse of their mother. “I had no self-esteem. “For years I was told I was worthless and amounted to nothing without him.
Controlled every area of my life
“I was always a strong person before I married … I would never have thought I could have got to the point where someone else controlled every area of my life.
“People think domestic violence happens in other parts of Sydney, but it happens right here in the Hills.
“Women get stuck, they can’t find a way out and it’s not sociably acceptable to talk about it.”
She said that finding information on what help was available had been really hard.
Left home only after support from counsellor
After several failed attempts to leave home, she finally did it, but says if it hadn’t been for support from counsellor Deborah Sanasi and financial support from her mum she would never have been able to leave.
“I tried to find a lot of help in the Hills area and it wasn’t till I got to the first AVO stage in the safe room that I had access to support networks and legal advice. Until then I didn’t know what to do or where to look.”
Liz now runs her own business and is backing moves by the Lisa Harnum Foundation to establish a refuge and information hub in the Hills.
This article first appeared in the Hills Shire Times newspaper.
