Gender equity organisations appeal for pandemic action

Issued on April 2 by Gender Equity Victoria (GEN VIC), the statement says women working in essential roles including nursing, disability and mental health care, aged care, early childhood education, teaching, family violence, housing and homelessness, social support and retail were at increased risk of gendered violence during the pandemic. 

“We are concerned that Victorian women will be at risk of family and other forms of gendered violence while self-isolating at home.

“Expert research conducted in Victoria into the connection between gender and disaster has found that family violence incidents spike during and after catastrophic events.”

Women’s Health and Wellbeing Barwon South West chief executive officer Emma Mahony said vulnerable women, including those already living in violence, women with a disability and women settling in Australia for the first time, were of particular concern. 

“I think one of the really important parts of this, and we see it straight away, is the lack of economic security for women.

“Women are really over-represented in insecure, casual workforces. There’s lots of pockets of women who haven’t been eligible to some of the government support.

“There’s an elevated risk of violence and elevated risk of homelessness. Some of the things that keep us safe and connected are really being compounded by the nature of the virus.”

Ms Mahony said occupational violence and intimate partner violence were likely to increase during the self-isolation period, as women spend more time either at work or at home. 

“There’s layers of occupational violence that are happening in those frontline service environments all the time, but with the layers of isolation and further control and limits around women’s movements, we’re already seeing a spike in the rates of intimate partner violence.”

Ms Mahony congratulated the federal government on its proactive response to the virus, and said last week’s announcement of free childcare was a “stunning example” of both inequality and the supports needed to get through the pandemic.

“Paying for childcare is a stunning example of a way forward, a world that’s more fair and more equal. 

“Some of these incredible changes could really provide opportunities to steer people from the margins into the middle.”

She said her critical message to women was “to be connected is to ask for help”.

Government actions suggested in the statement included funding gender and disaster workers across Victoria, protecting obstetric, gynaecological, sexual and reproductive health services from COVID-19, and boosting family violence prevention and responses activities to cope with the increased demand.

People experiencing domestic or family violence should call 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732, SafeSteps Family Violence Response Centre on 1800 015 188 and Triple Zero (000) in emergencies.