Strong Aboriginal Women (SAW) were brought together to workshop ‘Breaking the Silence about Family Violence.”
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Over a series of five days, women from the Gloucester region were invited to learn about what to do and who to talk to about a domestic violence situation.
Facilitators from the Education Centre Against Violence, Virginna Elliott and Pam Greer worked with the group to help “empower the women through knowledge.”
Members from Victims Services also attended some of the sessions held at the Christian Outreach Centre from Monday, March 27 until Friday, March 31.
This first SAW workshop is part of a series of three that will be delivered in Gloucester over the next few months.
“Breaking the Silence about Family Violence” examined common communities attitudes about domestic violence and the impact it has on women, children and young people.
Pam and Virginna were very pleased with the turn out and the way the women have come together to support each other.
Pam explained how this topic has historically been difficult within the Aboriginal community.
“It’s letting them know it’s a crime, it’s not their fault and that there is help available,” Pam said.
The Victims Support sessions let the women know about the wide range of support available to them from financial to emotional that can assist someone who needs to “start again.”
A banner was laid out on a table for the women to place artwork on during the week.
Pam said that in the beginning, some of the women didn’t think they had anything to contribute but by Thursday it was almost full.
There are around 30 banners in NSW that Pam hopes one day soon will be brought together.
The next session runs from May 16 to 18. For more information, contact the Bucketts Way Neighbourhood Group.