By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
A NEW family violence campaign seeking to raise awareness in local schools was launched in Berwick last week, the day after damning statistics revealed Casey had the highest number of reported family incidents in the state.
Family Violence Prevention Minister Fiona Richardson joined Narre Warren South MP Judith Graley at Kambrya College to launch the Say NO to Family Violence campaign on Friday, where students were informed of the harrowing family violence figures in Casey for the last year, according to the latest Crime Statistics Agency report.
“Tragically, in the City of Casey, we see the highest recorded number of family violence incidents of any local government area – 3759 incidents of family violence were recorded just in the last 12 months in the City of Casey,” Ms Richardson told the room.
“That’s nearly 4000 families torn apart by violence, just here in your local community, and just over the last 12 months.”
Ms Graley, who presented Kambrya principal Michael Muscat with a special book at the launch, plans to roll out the campaign across many Casey schools and community organisations.
“We thought a little bit about where we should start, and we thought schools are great because the kids are all there and so in many ways it’s an easy start but it’s an appropriate beginning as well,” Ms Graley said.
Emphasising why a family violence campaign for schools was so important, Ms Richardson said statistics had also revealed 1200 children in Casey had witnessed family violence in the last year.
“And I understand the impact of family violence on children, I am one of those, now adults, whose life was impacted by family violence in a very significant way,” Ms Richardson said.
“And can I say to those children, or young adults, who are here that may be impacted, it’s important to speak out.
“It’s important to speak to your colleagues, it’s important to speak to your friends, it’s important to speak to your school leaders and your teachers about what you’re experiencing because they can help you.
“You’re not alone, you’re not isolated, there are people that do care about you and do want to help.
“It’s important that you take that step.”
Indeed, it appears the children from Kambrya have already been talking to their teachers and peers about the issue.
As part of the new campaign, the Kambrya students have been encouraged to create banners, promoting the initiative, and in the process have discussed the issue regularly with art teacher Deborah Russo, who at the launch admitted she had not known the extent of the damning Casey statistics.
“I was unaware going into my classroom, but became aware as I was talking to children about family violence,” she said.
“With questions about what happens in the future and how do you relate to people who have been violent to you, and those sorts of things I found quite a heavy thing for me to deal with in the classroom.
“But then the students got their head around it, we listened to a few performing artists, their music … .on a website with people who had been exposed to family violence as young people.
“Then the students went about making their own drawings, then we collaboratively looked around at all the work that we’d done.
“People chose what they liked, what they thought was powerful.
“It’s created a conversation that now has actually put me closer to the group of students that I’m dealing with.”
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/saynotofamilyviolenceinnarrewarrensouth?ref=hl.
For more photos from last week’s launch, turn to page 57.
