HEARTBROKEN after her boyfriend ended their relationship, ‘Kylie’ fired back dozens of text messages and emails saying she loved him and if he didn’t get back with her, she’d kill herself.
This is one scenario Wyndham community lawyers will use to underscore family violence when they take to the stage in a string of performances this month.
From physical abuse to the less-obvious emotional or financial abuse, the lawyers-turned-thespians will deliver more than 16 sessions at community halls and schools, each including five role-plays and discussions, as part of their ‘November No Violence’ campaign.
With police figures showing almost 6000 reported incidents of family violence last year in Wyndham, Melton, Maribyrnong, Brimbank and Hobsons Bay, community development lawyer Shorna Moore said the idea to put on the performances was in response to a worsening problem. “Family violence is a growing concern particularly in Wyndham, recording the second highest rate of family violence incidents of local government [areas],” she said.
“It is also an area of law that is most difficult to deliver education and that is why we have decided to try a creative approach that will be less confronting for audience members . . . especially when we are dealing with highly sensitive areas of law such as family violence.”
Ms Moore said the plays would be a useful tool for different cultural communities who weren’t used to discussing these topics in a public forum.
“Many newly arrived people are very motivated to learn how our legal system works in Australia. I believe though that community lawyers need to create culturally specific education programs when delivering legal education regarding highly sensitive issues, especially family violence,” she said.
Lifeline 13 11 14.
