Domestic violence rates have soared in Australia amid the pandemic. This week another five women were killed, bringing the total number of deaths this year to 50.
Support organisations are dealing with increasingly complex cases and higher demand. Despite a $150 million federal package to support domestic violence services across the country during COVID-19, funding has been slow to hit the ground, with states and territories allocating just a fraction of the money they’ve received.
Where’s the money gone?
The $150 million allocated in this year’s federal budget is just a drop in the bucket, advocates say. By July, 11.6% of Australian women in a relationship had experienced some form of abuse by their partner, while one in 20 women experienced physical or sexual violence. Fifty percent of those subjected to violence said the abuse had become more frequent or severe since the start of the pandemic.
$130 million has been distributed across four payments to states and territories, while the remaining $20 million is being used to “raise awareness” of national helplines 1800RESPECT and MensLine Australia.
NSW received the bulk of the, getting $39.6 million, but has allocated just $18.8 million of that.
Victoria received $31.5 million and has allocated $14 million — most of which went to providing crisis accommodation for perpetrators (so victims could remain at home), along with case management.
Tasmania received $3.6 million, more than half of which has yet to be allocated. Women’s shelters in the state are full, turning away those in crisis. A state government spokesperson told Crikey the funding has been reserved to respond to potential spikes over the Christmas and New Year period.
In Western Australia, just $2.8 million of the $14.2 million in commonwealth funding has been allocated. A spokesperson from the WA Department of Communities told Crikey more would be handed out between December and February.
South Australia received $9.7 million in commonwealth funding and has allocated $5.37 of that.
Spokespeople in the relevant state departments in the Northern Territory and Queensland didn’t respond by deadline to Crikey’s questions about how much money has been allocated.
Slow funding leaves services strained
CEO of women’s housing service WISHIN Jade Blakkarly told Crikey there was a lack of transparency around how the money would be allocated.
“We need that clarity and certainty so we can plan and start to do the work well and not feel like we’re waiting and then reacting,” she said.
“We welcome the investment but it’s the beginning of what we need.”
Blakkarly said a second concern was around a separate pool of funding — the Homes for Homelessness tender.
“We were disappointed to see it didn’t have any reference or understanding to gender and homelessness … it was very generic,” she said.
Homelessness for women, Blakkarly said, often looked very different, with women and their children more likely to move between the houses of friends and family members, sleep in cars, and live in overcrowded conditions rather than sleep in public.
But funding has focused on rough sleepers. Of those in Victoria’s hotel stay program, just 25% were women, despite women making up 43% of the homeless population.
“Over 75% of the women who come to [our housing services] have experienced family violence,” Blakkarly said.
“We’ve had a really large increase from COVID-19 and everyone who comes to us has higher levels of need, so we’re needing to put a lot of support and resources and it puts a lot of pressure on us.”
Major gaps identified
CEO of Women’s Safety NSW Hayley Foster told Crikey that 2020 will be remembered as the worst year for domestic violence.
“Organisations are seeing an increase in demand, as well as case complexity and severity,” she said.
The funding announced, she added, was moderate. “Most services have not been able to employ a new full-time staff member with the funding provided.”
A second issue, Foster added, is that the funding can only be used to increase the capacity of existing services — making the gaps in the system even more apparent.
Gaps include case management services, services in regional and rural areas, as well as Indigenous and culturally diverse services.
CEO of Women’s Health NSW Denele Crozier told Crikey organisations had also struggled to reach women in need during the height of the pandemic.
“When the courts closed, we were unclear about what was happening to the women … everything went underground for a couple of months.”
Amber a good article for as far as it goes. But really articles of this nature are a dime a dozen and at best akin to COVID19 where the best way to treat it currently is by hosing down outbreaks of the virus (hotspots). It is at best a reactive action where what is vitally needed is proactive action. This involves going head on with the question ‘How do we explain domestic violence (DV)?
Obviously by its sheer scale as you indicate in your article it is a societal issue. In other words, what is it about our present society or its historical development that may explain DV? It certainly cannot be explained by the personal pathology of the individuals involved without concluding that there are a lot of ‘sick’ people out there.
Is it a class based issue? Such a suggestion causes feminists to be incensed and yet numerous studies show that physical violence against women and even killing of women is more frequent in lower socio-economic relationships. In fact to discount such findings as the result of poor research is a cop out. Class based explanations detract from what some feminists believe to be THE cause of DV that is male aggression and the desire to dominate. But then why do not all males engage in DV and how do we explain female violence against a male partner?
In other places I make mention of what some term; ‘The Nordic Paradox”. The Nordic nations such as Norway, Sweden, Denmark and their close neighbour Finland have some of the highest levels of gender equality and equity in the world. Yet the rate of violence against women in the Nordic nations is as high if not higher than in Australia. So how does one explain this in nations where the governing bodies have passed such favourable gender based laws presumably with the agreement of the people?
What can and should be done is for DV workers and researchers to go into our schools and run workshops for both teachers and Year 10 -12 students – particularly girls on what we know of DV. We certainly have enough to put forward a fairly accurate profile of the likely DV offender and the tactics and techniques used to maintain abusive relationships. Fore-warned is to be fore-armed and may provide a proactive approach to reducing DV in our society.
Should be making the perpetrators responsible not victim blaming young girls who haven’t even left school. DV still occurs in all social demographics…one problem with some of the statistics is they traditionally have been gathered in shelters and so miss women of higher socio economic standing who have more options on where to go And more ability to help themselves.
It is well documented also that most violence is committed by men Against women and against children and against men. Then there is coercive control which is on the rise as a safer option for Abusers to use than violence … yes it is a social issue and in some parts of this country it is very much condoned and supported and encouraged by social groups of men and some spiteful women.
Lack of proper education and knowledge and inability to understand statistics and do the research which is not pleasant, also leads to myths and stigma against women and some men and victim blaming and even frustration of a persons efforts to escape and find safety. Our government policy and banking system and shortages of jobs for women all of which are politically engineered problems as well as too low jobseeker rates keeps people trapped and dependent on abusers… things could be so much better if it wasn’t for a culture of mean spiritedness from the top down and a lack of or shortfall of societal understanding and support … those who need to escape need more freedom to do so… and the problems are systematic through Australian society, law, culture and finance and sometimes religion it can take decades to escape an abuser, it can be impossible and it often continues after one leaves through the family court system being abused, through stalking and many other means. …
By the way i am no feminist and my socioeconomic levels fell dramatically in my escape…. oh yes, have i been there… and studied these things looking for ways to rebuild my life and improve life for my children…one is male… i see men encourage him to do the wrong thing… since when did women become the enemy and hating and controlling women become a badge of manhood? When men became afraid they were losing their control and rights and male priveledges over women… when we learned we could say no to housework and stuff like men often do… when we stoped having to do as we are told in the kitchens and bedrooms and sometimes boardrooms…. and why shouldn’t society Be more egalitarian. Are you saying that women having more rights in Scandinavian countries But domestic violence is still a problem there, is a justifying reason to force women back into the dark ages of male dominance? … “happy wife… happy life” … or judge a man by the smile and happiness on his partners face. Women are not the enemies of men… men are…
Hello Bluebush,
I am sure that your contribution has been much appreciated by many of those who work in and have experienced DV.
Re the Nordic states the clue is in the word ‘paradox’. One would expect that nations who have apparently embraced notions of gender equality and equity would not be experiencing high levels of DV. Is it because the law is moving ahead of old attitudes of behaviour that have yet so to speak catch up. Or is there a significant minority of persons who are feeling swept along by too rapid change and are making a statement of their own regarding the gains being made by females. But I am only guessing.
As I say paradox is a good word to describe this situation.
Perhaps the reporting rates are different in Scandinavia, ie because there is gender equality then there is more of a willingness to report violence.
Are the partner murder rates as high as Australia?
Sounds like Philip K Dick’s ‘future crime‘ – or movie Minority Report for those here who seem to struggle with reading.
A good piece Amber. The other issue is the massive growth of homeless older women created by superannuation and the progressive wind back of decent aged pensions. Inherent in superannuation is the massive public subsidy which mostly goes to well-off, mostly men. I guess the allocation for domestic violence should not be counted as spending on women, but spending because of men behaving badly.
So, where’s all the federal funding gone ?..Geeez, that’s a hard one .There’s been billions flying out the back door .Best ask the Big Mates Rates clubs..Sorry girls, you’ll just have to wait your turn, until some it trickles down into your cupped begging hands..
I have just read the comments, that people should “be responsible” for their own choices. Yes. Responsible like Kelly Thompson? She was responsible for her choice and realised he was a dud and tried to leave and when she did, no one helped. Everyone had the attitude: well you chose him… you can live and die with him.
She asked for help. She got the counter cops who also handle the lost wallets and bikes. They had the same attitude as Erasmus: “you get what you accept, and what are we supposed to do about your bad choice?”
If you declare violence by a stranger on a street you get a detective!! with actual experience and knowledge.
Maybe even a team.
But people declaring domestic violence to police get more help from their neighbours… and stranger’s walking by, than the police.
So what you actually mean is: once a woman says :”I do” or agrees to live with a man and then realises he is actually a complete controlling psycho it is tough. Suck it up. Live with it. Because no one will help you leave. No one.
And the truth is, it is the ones who get the courage to leave.. they are the ones who usually end up dying. Because leaving is not acceptable. And by the time the cops realise this, the woman is dead.
May, what a refreshing change to hear from someone who actually knows what a complex and multi-pronged issue DV is and does not attempt to reduce it to some simplistic examination and explanation.
Those who speak of women’s having ‘choices’ to leave and other simplistic comments do more damage regarding this issue than good.
C Wright Mills did the discipline no longer term favours at all with his “The Sociological Imagination” sixty years ago. Laws as strong as those in physics, chemistry or bio chemistry are required for the construction of social policy (and not, I submit, “impressions”).
Much less ‘feelings’ – upon which solid base so much is now stacked.
Assuming responsibility for one’s actions and the instances quoted by you are entirely separate matters May. Failures by the authorities absolves nothing with regard to personal responsibility.
Agreed, that either spouse could descend into alcoholism, gambling or substance abuse over a period time with ample opportunity for the other party to make alternative arrangements. One transgression ought to suffice in order to make a decision.
As with (idiotic) travel warnings (just read the news) does the government need to publish matrimonial warnings? With rational intentions Mr Hyde can be detected at the outset. One’s friends can be a good guide.
As an aside, the majority of expats working in Asia and the Middle East are on the run from alimony and not a few are quite deranged. Similarly I have witnessed the conversation of some (not many) to rational behavior.
This federal government just does not care.
Repeat.
DOES NOT CARE!!