This workshop will highlight the purpose, process and outcomes of an innovative project in Early Intervention within CALD communities in Sydney and Regional NSW (Coffs Harbour).
Research indicates that the majority of women - 8 in 10 report their experiences of Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) to family members, friends and or community leaders. This is anecdotally true for women in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities in which victims revert for advice to family members, community elders/leaders and religious leaders who are trusted and respected. Such leaders often lack knowledge, information and confidence in providing support to the victim survivors.
They act as active bystanders; often providing cultural and/or religious wisdom which tend to provide limited safety so victims are often sent back to violent environments.
SSI’s project “Supporting U – Responding to Multicultural Communities” has recruited women leaders from various CALD communities and provided intensive training in DFV, a process that transforms these leaders into Social Responders followed by regular learning circles.
This process of training and ongoing learning circles leverages on the status and role of women leaders who are “go to” persons within their communities and can use their influence to provide accurate and relevant information to support victim survivors who disclose to them.
As Social Responders, they are provided tools and equipped with information and knowledge that assists them in translating and nuancing information through the lenses of culture, community functioning , infrastructure and language.
Such a project sounds very simple; however, the power is in the ability to reach such “go to” women: accessing the right women, gaining buy in and commitment, and provide them with concrete advice for DFV disclosures they might receive. Our women social responders contribute to Early Intervention and conversations in the primary prevention space.