Workshop in recognising domestic and family violence comes to Geelong

LIFELINE is offering a fully funded domestic and family violence workshop for frontline workers in Geelong.

This is the first time the two-day workshop has come to the area and is a\part of a nationally recognised program funded under the national plan to end violence against women and children.

In the program, run by DV Alert, participants will learn how to recognise the signs of domestic and family violence, respond with appropriate care, and refer women and their children to the right support services. Lifeline community training facilitator Katie Allen said that while domestic violence also affected men, this workshop was designed to end violence against women and children.

“We know that most men that will suffer from violence will be outside the home, whereas women suffer mainly the violences within our homes, our home is a more dangerous place for us than in the street.

She said the workshops covered a lot of ground and the trainers were very experienced.

“They talk about underlying drivers of family and domestic violence, challenging attitudes when it comes to domestic violence, and how we as a community can change the story.”

The program will also include information around who they can report and refer to and how important self-care is when assisting someone who’s going through family of domestic violence.

Those wanting to complete the program do have to meet a criteria and need to be a frontline worker, which does include volunteers and those who work within the community sector.

Ms Allen said the more people that are trained in domestic and family violence means that more people will be able to help those at risk and be able to refer them to where they can get help.

The workshop will be held at the Warun Ponds Library on March 18 and March 19.

For more information, head to dvalert.org.au

People experiencing domestic or family violence should phone 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732).