Gympie domestic violence breach rise shows disturbing trend

The region is losing the fight against domestic violence, with one expert saying her service gets 40 new requests for help every week and police stats revealing breaches of DVO orders are rising year on year

New domestic violence data shows a disturbing rise in the social scourge in the Gympie region.

The fight against domestic violence in the Gympie region is heading in the wrong direction, with one expert saying her service was getting about 40 new requests for help every week.

Community Action’s Erin House manager Talia Van Gils said the number of people seeking out the Gympie domestic and family violence service for help in 2021 was not only higher than it was last year, but they were more frequently caught in bad situations.

“When we do a risk assessment, they’re coming up as high risk,” said Ms Van Gils.

The disturbing trend was reflected in public data.

From May 2020 to April 2021 police data reveals there were 263 reported Domestic Violence Order breaches in the Gympie Police Division.

This was up from 235 over the same period during 2019-20.

The number of breaches in the Gympie police division has risen in the past 20 years.

Ms Van Gils said it was important to remember the data only showed breaches the police prosecuted.

“There would be 10 times that many,” she said.

But there was no doubt the trend was on the mark.

“It’s worse this year than previous years,” Ms Van Gils said.

“When we do a risk assessment … (new clients) are coming out as higher risk.”

She said it was true part of the increased numbers was due to the higher public awareness around domestic violence.

There was still plenty of work to be done though.

Ms Van Gils said people were aware to look for more obvious signs like injuries, but should keep an eye out for signs of coercive control too.

“Does she seem to be looking to him for permission?” she said.

Ms Van Gils says people were aware to look out for physical injuries, but there needed to be more done to highlight the dangers of coercive control. Source: iStock / Getty Images

A common example she heard was a couple would sell her car, “but somehow never get around to buying her a new one”.

Ms Van Gils said where this differed from a healthy relationship, where the sale of one of a couple’s vehicles was a normal choice, was in the pattern of behaviour around it.

“Does she get to use (the remaining) car, or does she need him to drive her?” she said.

Her quitting her job was another example; Ms Van Gils said “lots and lots” of families made that choice, but people needed to watch the “pattern of behaviour” surrounding it.

These patterns included him denigrating or humiliating her, like continually letting people know she does not keep the house clean.

And the results of coercive control could be horrific.

Ms Van Gils was aware of one case where the victim needed dental work.

“Her teeth were all broken because she had been made to chew rocks,” she said.

“He didn’t lay a finger on her.”

There have been 263 reported DVO breaches in the Gympie police division in the past 12 months.

Police said specialist officers have been working within the region’s Vulnerable Persons and Domestic Violence Unit to work with victims.

“Gympie police has two specialised officers from the WBD’s Domestic Violence and Vulnerable Persons Unit trained to assist local police to provide specialised advice, support for victims and conduct/assist with investigations,” the said.

“Gympie police has strong partnerships and works collaboratively with internal and external partner agencies to provide better support for victims of domestic and family violence, and to help identify high risk offending.

“Statistics demonstrate victims of domestic and family violence are accessing their right to protection and safety and are gaining the courage and confidence in the system to report incidents of domestic and family violence to police.”

Community Action Group is holding an event for Domestic Violence Prevention Month Thursday at Lake Alford from 4.30pm to celebrate “the healthy and respectful relationships that prevent domestic abuse”. All people are welcome.