Social progress: Primary Care Connect executive manager family violence Chris McInnes says the structure of society must shift to end gendered violence.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
While some things have changed in the 20 years since Primary Care Connect executive manager family violence Chris McInnes started out in the sector, in her view the fundamental cause of gendered violence remained the same.
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“Gendered violence is really a structural issue in society, that looks at male privilege — or male entitlement — and how men see their right to be dominant over women,” she said.
“And that can come out in a range of ways.
“I think there’s a continuum, from a male that might express entitlement or privilege about what they expect, to catastrophic situations when men kill women.”
Although men also experience domestic violence, data shows women and trans and gender diverse people are far more likely to become victim-survivors.
One woman is killed every nine days by a partner, and one man every 29 days, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
Rather than demonising individual perpetrators, Ms McInnes says the media needs to shine a light on the patriarchal structures that seed gendered violence.
In other words: address the causes, not only the symptoms.
Midway through 16 Days of Activism Against Gendered Violence, a global campaign that concludes on Friday, December 10, Australians learned a damning report into federal parliamentary workplaces found 40 per cent of women had experienced sexual harassment at work.
Australian Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins recommended sweeping changes in the landmark Set The Standard report.
Ms McInnes said men only had to look at what was happening in Federal Parliament “to get a sense that they have the right to treat women however they want to”.
“Family violence against women transcends class, it doesn’t just happen in low socio-economic areas,” she said.
To tackle the structural issues at play in society, Ms McInnes said, men must be respectfully engaged in conversations about how to reduce the rates of gendered violence.
And for victim-survivors, support services must place self-determination and safety front and centre.
“Women are the ones that feel the shame of it,” Ms McInnes said.
“Women are the ones that feel they have failed and that’s largely because of that social construct about how we reinforce what women ‘should do’.
“Some of those barriers really impact on women being able to get help.”
Self-determination central: Chris McInnes of Primary Care Connect says women experiencing gendered violence may choose to stay with their partner for a range of reasons, and must be supported whatever their decision.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
The Orange Door Goulburn launched eight months ago in Shepparton, uniting family support, victim-survivor and perpetrator services to offer a collaborative and holistic response to family violence.
The Goulburn network is a partnership between a range of service providers including Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative, FamilyCare, Primary Care Connect, Nexus Primary Health and the Victorian Government.
Since April, 5990 individuals have engaged with Shepparton’s Orange Door, and the multi-agency service has issued 3840 referrals.
Ms McInnes said she could see an improvement in connections between agencies at Orange Door, and it was helpful for victim-survivors and their families to have one place as the first port of call.
“You’ve got services for child well-being, family violence, and people who use violence, all coming together to give much more holistic responses, and working out the best pathway,” she said.
And while structural issues in society are slow to change, Ms McInnes sees a shift for the better in the way family violence agencies interact with the public, by supporting women to stay in a relationship if that is their preference.
Ms McInnes said choosing to stay should not determine whether a victim-survivor was offered support, although she said “that still occurs in some services”.
“What the evidence tells us is women don’t necessarily experience safety when they leave. In fact, it’s the riskiest time,” she said.
“So saying, ‘Why doesn’t she leave?’ is nonsense. We need to make sure women have a choice.”
Help is available
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, you can call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.aufor free support, 24 hours a day. To speak to an interpreter call 13 14 50.
The Orange Door Goulburn is also a free service. To get in touch call 1800 634 245 from Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm (excluding public holidays), or email goulburn@orangedoor.vic.gov.au
