Domestic violence kills 35 South Australians since mid 2010, prompting calls for major party policies to protect women and children

FRONTLINE workers and victims are calling on the major parties to commit urgently needed funding to curb domestic violence, as the death toll rises across the state.

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FRONTLINE workers and victims are calling on the major parties to commit urgently needed funding to curb domestic violence as the death toll rises across the state.

SA Police figures released to The Advertiser show at least 35 South Australians have died as a result of domestic violence since mid 2010 — mostly women and children. Less than two months from polling day, welfare workers and victims want concrete commitments of funding, law changes and awareness campaigns.

Among the top priorities are money for emergency housing and legal support, stricter requirements for abusers to undergo rehabilitation, more widespread respectful relationships teaching in schools and the establishment of an ongoing review of family violence deaths in SA.

SA Police figures show at least 35 South Australians have died as a result of domestic violence since mid-2010.

The calls come as News Corp SA pushes for reform through the #Engage4ChangeSA campaign, launched on Saturday to advocate for policy changes in the lead up to the election.

Arman Abrahimzadeh, whose mother Zahra was murdered by her husband in 2010, urged policymakers and voters to recognise that domestic violence should be a key election issue because it has a “ripple effect in so many different sectors”. “Police who are called out to an incident could be doing other work. Our health system is clogged if someone who’s been abused needs an ambulance. And there’s all those people who need emergency housing,” he said.

Mr Abrahimzadeh wanted dedicated funding for the MAPS taskforce which unites police, health, housing and child protection agencies to address high risk cases, and more places in offender rehabilitation programs.

Domestic violence victim Zahra Abrahimzadeh.

Victim Adeline Yvette Rigney-Wilson.

The YWCA Adelaide’s election strategy asks for $350,000 a year to run respectful relationships courses in schools and $75,000 a year to train public servants on intervening when people are at risk of, or experiencing abuse.

It also urges a media campaign “to shift the rhetoric from victim blaming to perpetrator accountability”, accommodation to house young women, aged 15 to 18, who are escaping violence and the establishment of an “ongoing, systematic” Family Violence Death Review based on a Victorian model. Centacare Catholic Family Services director Dale West said his organisation did not receive enough funding to house every woman and child seeking help, and there was demand for more trauma counsellors. He urged more focus on preventing violent behaviour, saying early intervention programs received a “pittance” of funding.

The State Government is attracting criticism for dragging its feet on promises made in a policy paper released in October. These include trialling a scheme enabling people to inquire about the criminal history of a partner and laws to allow public naming of repeat DV offenders — but none have been enacted.

The Opposition has flagged legislation to ban the forced marriage of children and a smartphone app to link victims to police and support services.

For help, phone 1800 RESPECT or the Domestic Violence Crisis Line on 1800 800 098 .