Arman Abrahimzadeh: Domestic violence campaigns don’t receive enough funding and resources

EIGHT years ago on this day, I was driving home from an Adelaide city police station with my older sister Atena in morning peak hour traffic preparing to break the news of our mum’s death to our younger sister, writes Arman Abrahimzadeh.

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EIGHT years ago on this day, I was driving home from an Adelaide city police station with my older sister Atena in morning peak hour traffic.

There was only one question on our minds: how were we going to break the news of mum’s death to our younger sister Anita, who was only 12 years old at the time.

My mother’s death started with abuse in the privacy of our family home and ended with her public execution at the hands of my father before 300 witnesses. Her legacy is continuing community discussion on the issue which has killed 15 women in Australia in 2018.

Since mum died a lot has changed in the way we tackle and talk about domestic violence. I have seen a shift in the way we, as a society, have approached domestic violence. It started with blaming the victim and asking why they wouldn’t leave the relationship.

We then pointed the finger at authorities, police and the courts for being too lenient with perpetrators and not protecting the vulnerable. Only in recent times have we included perpetrators in the scenario and taken the conversation further to prevent the abuse from taking place.

This has been my observation since my mother’s death eight years ago. Since then, we have had changes in federal government and subsequently changes in the way we, as a nation, have tackled this issue.

Zahra Abrahimzadeh. Picture: Supplied

Three years ago my sisters and I, with the help of Central Domestic Violence Services, founded Zahra Foundation Australia. It is an organisation that economically empowers women who have fled abusive relationships.

Through my work as an advocate and public speaker at schools, sporting organisations and workplaces, I see that domestic violence prevention campaigns don’t receive enough funding and resources.

As a small, young non-government funded organisation our resources and funds are limited. I’m aware that other organisations in this sector have the same issues. This needs to be addressed.

I know it seems like I’m only focusing on the negative, but my mum taught us that the glass is always half full. Even when we faced homelessness, poverty and isolation after fleeing our family home, she still reminded us that things weren’t all that bad.

I’m eager to work with the new Liberal Government as I don’t believe domestic violence is the responsibility of a single department or minister. It’s an issue that affects many portfolios in some shape or form. Finally, my family thanks the foundation’s staff and board members for their hard work, especially chairperson Maurine Pyke QC.

ARMAN ABRAHIMZADEH IS A CO-FOUNDER OF THE ZAHRA FOUNDATION AUSTRALIA. If you or someone you know needs to talk about domestic violence, phone 1800 RESPECT