The Midwest community has come together in a show of unity and commitment to ending Family and Domestic Violence (FDV) at a community-led gathering in Geraldton.
The event, part of the Midwest Yurla Wangga Family Domestic Violence (FDV) Primary Prevention (PP) Towards Ending Violence Project, was led by the WA Centre for Rural Health (WACRH) at The University of Western Australia.
Community members from Geraldton, Mullewa, and Northampton participated in open and culturally safe discussions about FDV primary prevention.
Key themes included the importance of fostering healing, the role of community support in FDV prevention, and the empowerment of Aboriginal women in sharing their experiences.
Attendees also received an update on the Yurla Wangga research project’s findings so far, providing valuable insights into FDV prevention strategies that resonate with the community.
Participants of the men’s and women’s yarning circles shared their thoughts about the qualities of a healthy and respectful Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander man, what a role model looks like, what men’s healing looks like, how to heal and strengthen families, ways to strengthen culture, and ways to stop FDV in our communities.
WACRH project Officer Levi Thorne says, “We want the voices of our Indigenous men in our community to stand up and start raising awareness about domestic violence.”
The gathering was well attended with 70 participants, comprising 35% male and 65% female attendees. The event was also well supported by a wide range of local service providers, including NGOs and government agencies.
While data collected from the gathering is still being analysed, preliminary feedback indicates that most attendees recognise FDV as a major issue within their communities.
Some of the emerging recommendations include continuing these types of FDV PP gatherings and yarning circles, having a Men’s Refuge to keep women and children safe in their homes, supporting an emerging Aboriginal women’s group, education and awareness raising on FDV PP with all sectors of the community – especially youth and young people.
Through open discussions and collective reflection, the event reinforced the need for a united approach to ending violence against women and strengthening families.
Photo caption: Men’s Yarning session at the Yurla Wangga Community Gathering, held at the Aboriginal Learning Centre at Geraldton Regional TAFE.