WRISC – Providing Family Violence Support in Ballarat for 30 years

WRISC Family Violence Support Service Inc will be gathering for their Annual General Meeting on Thursday,  15 November, hailing 30 years of Family Violence support in Ballarat and the Central Highlands region. All are welcome to come along to hear about the great work WRISC has undertaken during this time as well as their important plans for the future.

WRISC’s work centres on support for women and children, affected by family violence, in their outreach, children’s and Aboriginal programs. WRISC’s strategic plan for the next three years also focusses on family violence as it affects the LGBTIQ, multicultural, differently abled and aged communities.

Interestingly, family violence is defined much more broadly than the common perception of physical violence by intimate partners within the home. It can also include emotional, financial and spiritual abuse, where ongoing power and control is exercised and can be perpetrated by other family members and carers within or outside the home environment.

In light of persisting reports of women and children who have been tragically affected by family violence, the need for services such as those provided by WRISC has unfortunately never been stronger. WRISC’s collaborative work with partner and other agencies is part of the whole regional approach to addressing family violence.

One of WRISC’s very successful recent initiatives, the Van Go Moorabool two-year demonstration project, is a mobile service using a van as a therapy space, which has brought art, music and play therapy to children experiencing family violence in and around the Bacchus Marsh and Moorabool areas.

Two past leaders of WRISC will be speaking at the meeting, highlighting their experiences working with WRISC and the lessons learnt to help us all keep working towards a positive impact for the future.

WRISC Annual General Meeting is set for Thursday, 15 November at 5.30pm for a 5.45pm start, ending at 7pm in the Trench Room, Ballarat Town Hall.