We Thank Libby Jewson for speaking to "Our Homes"

Libby was kind enough to allow us to publish her notes from her speech.

Hi my name is Libby Jewson, Executive Officer WRISC Family Violence Support

Theme: In the Home

Thank-you for asking me to share some time with you. I would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, the Wautharong people and pay our respects to Aboriginal elders, past, present and emerging.

In the Home:

What does that look like? For me, it is a warm, welcoming, place, where my heart can rest, and where love exists. It is where memories linger, and where families are nurtured.

Where are you going tonight…..I can venture to suggest you will be going home too, to your warm and unique place you call home. Yes, we all take going home for granted.

BUT: The most likely place for a woman to experience violence is in her own home, from men they know.

And do you think you would ever be homelessness in your life?

BUT: For women, domestic or family violence against women is the single largest driver of homelessness.

In our homes, we expect to be healthy:

BUT: Intimate partner violence is the greatest health risk factor for women aged 25-44

As we get older we expect to be in a stable home environment:

BUT: The fastest demographic for homelessness is women over 50

In our homes, we expect our children to be safe:

BUT: Children and young people are also affected by violence against women. Exposure to violence against their mothers or other caregivers causes profound harm to children, with potential impacts on attitudes to relationships and violence, as well as behavioural, cognitive and emotional functioning, social development, and – through a process of ‘negative chain effects’ – education and later employment prospects

In Ballarat:

• Rental market is tighter than Melbourne, making it harder for women to find affordable housing

• The Victorian Council of Social Services theme leading up to the election for this region is lack of affordable HOUSING

• Comparatively, house prices are not cheaper than other larger regional and metropolitan areas.

• A Ballarat free of violence against women and their children is a Ballarat where women are not only safe, but respected, valued and treated as equals in private and public life

WHAT CAN WE DO?

• It has to be a whole of community response, to help everyone to enjoy a safe, stable home

• Through:

• Partnerships, agencies, clubs,

• Advocacy to government regarding homelessness gender equity(both local, state government, federal)

• Advocacy in our circles of influence

• Working together and ensuring the conversation includes men and the vital role they play in reducing family violence

• Advocating for equality between men and women – we know that gender inequality is the core of the problem and the heart of the solution.

• Affordable housing is a whole of government responsibility as well

I want to encourage you all in your journeys and your spheres of influence, not be afraid to talk about family violence, find out why it occurs, be curious, call out disrespect, wherever it occurs and in your relationships, practice respect, practice equality and so we are all free to go home…

• to safety

• to security

• to peace

THANK-YOU