Over the past six months contentgroup has been fortunate enough to be part of Lifeline’s DV-alert program.
The DV-alert program is the only nationally accredited training program that provides skills to recognise, respond and refer cases of domestic violence.
Lifeline implements the training, which is attended by health, allied health and other support and community workers across Australia, with additional support provided by of the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FAHCSIA).
This week I was fortunate to be invited to travel to Broome with colleague David van Dijk to film the launch of the new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander course.
The launch of the course was held the night before the first workshop dedicated to tackling domestic violence within indigenous communities. We conducted a number of interviews as part of the video we were producing.
I can honestly say it was one of the most eye-opening and rewarding experiences that I have been involved in.The passion and hard work on show from the 27 participants and three trainers that took part in the inaugural workshop was unparalleled.
All participants from across Western Australia brought with them years of experience, stories, methods and the common passion to fight domestic violence. We heard stories of their own struggles against domestic violence; and stories of how they overcame their own personal experiences and now are advocates of how to respect, recognise, respond and refer.
From conversations I held during and away from the workshop the roles that these people play in Australia can’t be underestimated. Not only will these health care workers take away a better understanding of domestic violence, but they will take away with them a new network of friends who will be there to support them.
Australians face domestic violence every day, but if more people can follow the lead of the 27 amazing people that made history by attending the first indigenous DV-alert workshop, then Australia will be a better place.
David Polglase
Senior Communications Coordinator