By BRIDGET SCOTT
A CITY of Casey resident has asked for the government to back an initiative which she developed in 2004 that is designed to help support victims of crime.
Janine Greening started the Victims of Crime Awareness Week and is seeking support in order to raise awareness and educate people both locally and state-wide.
Ms Greening, who runs the campaign during the first week of November, said she wanted her crusade to be officially recognised by both federal and local governments.
“We want it taken seriously,” she said.
“We want to see Australia working as a whole and being united.”
Ms Greening said the reason she started this movement was two-fold.
In 2000, her mother who was 73 years old at the time, was sexually abused and brutally murdered in her home in Seaford by two youths.
A victim of crime herself, Ms Greening said there needed to be more education and awareness for others who had experienced trauma.
The volunteer was part of a forum at the City of Casey Council chambers earlier this month which helped increase support for the idea of a national Victims of Crime Awareness Week.
Ms Greening was also behind a memorial which was approved by former Lord Mayor of Melbourne John So. It stands behind the police memorial in Kings Domain Garden on St Kilda Road.
“What we are trying to do is bring Australia together,” she said.
Ms Greening would like to see the City of Casey council dedicate a week to this campaign.
Councillor Amanda Stapledon is supportive of this cause and would like to see the second week of November dedicated to the victims of crime.
Both Canada and the United States of America recognise victims of crime and have a declared week.
Ms Greening said it was about educating everyone, including the media and government officials.
“We just want to be able to say it’s National Victims of Crime Awareness Week,” she said.
Ms Greening’s entire family is on-board the idea, and her teenage grand-daughters speak to other children about the concept.
The campaigner also started the Forget me Not Foundation which is a charity that deals with all different types of crime.
Ms Greening said they helped advocate for people and align this charity with Victims of Crime Awareness Week.
“We do this because we are passionate about what we do,” she said.
“Coming together brings about empowerment.”
