Toora Women Inc provides services to women affected by homelessness, the justice system, and alcohol or drug dependency. Photo: File.
Seeking help to escape from an abusive relative or partner is never easy, especially if you depend on them. Women from culturally and racially marginalised communities (CARM) know this well, but there is help.
For 40 years, Toora Women Inc has provided domestic violence support to vulnerable ACT women who have decided to take action.
CEO Kellie Friend said women in abusive situations should know help is at hand.
“As terrifying as the decision to seek help might be, they should feel comfortable, safe and trusted in contacting us,” she said.
“We have the capacity to support them and their children in recovering from their trauma and whatever physical requirements they may need.
“We also want people to know what violence is. Quite often, our clients come to us and say they’ve been hit, which is all they see as family and domestic violence.
“But when we talk to them about psychological abuse or coercive and financial control, they start to understand the extent of the harm has been far broader and more significant than what they originally understood.”
Toora Women’s director of service delivery Carley Thomas said women frequently want the violence to stop but don’t want the relationship to end. Yet the abuse could also be spiritual, by ridiculing a woman’s beliefs or preventing them from practising them; social, by constantly demeaning a woman publicly or separating them from their community; and even technical, by harassing or stalking a woman through devices.
Those facing abuse can come from any part of the world and at every age. They could be older women in long-term abusive relationships or just arrived from another place where these kinds of abuse are legally or culturally accepted.
Ms Thomas said that while the understanding and awareness of domestic violence in CARM communities has improved through education and generational change, cases are on the rise, and more work must be done.
Toora Women have the Aleta Outreach Program, which helps women plan out their journey towards building a safe and independent life; and the Heira House Residential Support Program, which provides women assistance in finding accommodation, education, employment, legal advice, counselling and support for any immigration issues they may have.
These services are available to any woman escaping family and domestic violence, 16 years or older, who do or do not have children, and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds with no permanent residency.
The organisation is always looking for more donations and funding to maintain and expand its services, which is especially difficult at the moment, Ms Friend said.
“A donation of $20 can provide a toiletry pack for a single woman, giving her dignity and hygiene. A donation of $150 helps a family with warm bedding, doonas and blankets to provide them with warmth and comfort.”
You can donate to Toora Women.
If you are experiencing domestic or family violence, DVCS has a 24-hour crisis response line, which can be reached on 6280 0900.
If you are in danger or if it is an emergency, call Triple Zero on 000.
For confidential support for parents and carers, contact Parentline ACT on 6287 3833.
For support from Menslink, call 6287 2226.
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