Campaspe Police Acting Inspector Damian Keegan participates in Uncle Rick Ronnan's Welcome to Country. Photos: Emily Donohoe.
Photo by
Emily Donohoe
A collaboration between Victoria Police and Aboriginal community leaders, Campaspe Police Service Area has launched the Police and Aboriginal Community Protocols Against Family Violence (PACPAFV).
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These are training and guidelines to help support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander victim-survivors and people using violence.
Western Region division 5 Acting Superintendent David Bowler highlighted the need to implement the protocols, which had been several years in the making.
“It's a very complex and deeply painful issue, and it has devastating effects on individuals, families and entire communities,” he said.
“It's an issue that must be addressed with compassion, cultural sensitivity and more importantly, a commitment to meaningful action.”
Campaspe Police Acting Inspector Damian Keegan, Western Region division 5 Acting Superintendent David Bowler, Uncle Rick Ronnan, Njernda chief executive John Mitchell and Dhelk Dja Loddon Campaspe regional co-ordinator Tara Hicks.
Photo by
Emily Donohoe
Acting Superintendent Bowler drew on the distinct causes of family violence in Aboriginal communities.
“It is interwoven with historical trauma, systemic racism, cultural dislocation, social exclusion and economic disadvantage, colonisation, the forced removal of children from their families, and the continued marginalisation of Aboriginal peoples have created a legacy of trauma that still echoes today,” he said.
“Indigenous females are 35 times as likely to be hospitalised due to family violence related assaults as other Australian females.
“To effectively address family violence within Aboriginal communities, collaborative initiatives have been established.”
Victoria Police members, Njernda representatives and community partners attended the launch.
Photo by
Emily Donohoe
The aim of using PACPAFV is to improve relationships between police and community, and reduce family violence rates in the long-term.
Through the protocols, when police respond to an Aboriginal family violence incident, they will approach it with cultural sensitivity, providing specialised resources and supported by Police Aboriginal Liaison Officers and Aboriginal Community Liaison Officers.
Acting Inspector Damian Keegan reiterated the importance of PACPAFV, shown by an organisation-wide commitment.
“We’re supported here today by our family violence commands from Melbourne, we’ve got representatives from our family violence units within Bendigo,” he said.
“I have both the senior sergeants from Campaspe here as a commitment that this isn’t just going to be a document that sits there.
“It is an undertaking that we will actually work within the document and with the community.
“We’ve also increased our PALO roles within Campaspe Shire.”
A Victoria Police vehicle wrapped with Indigenous art was borrowed from Wodonga police for the launch.
Photo by
Emily Donohoe
Njernda chief executive John Mitchell welcomed the PACPAFV, drawing on the need for Aboriginal voices to inform Aboriginal issues.
“It’s important to myself, not only to me, but for our community and best outcomes for our community,” he said.
“You’ve got to have empathy, you’ve got to have respect, and you’ve got to look at our mob with Blak/Black eyes; how we live, how we breathe and how we think.
“I think this is an excellent way for a partnership... to be here for our region is just beautiful.”
Uncle Rick Ronnan uses cherry ballart, wattle and gum leaves.
Photo by
Emily Donohoe
Booklets have been created for victim-survivors during family violence incidences, explaining PACPAFV and providing contact information.
The booklet features a piece by Barkindji artist Lorraine Mitchell, drawing on Dhungala and the eastern long-necked turtle, the Yorta Yorta totem.
While the protocols have been in place for some time across the region, the launch was a chance for Victoria Police members, Aboriginal leaders and community partners to enjoy a barbecue and yarn together.
