Mackay Mayor’s Charity Ball to give 50 per cent of proceeds to Mackay Women’s Services intervention therapies
A sold-out Mackay ball will help boys who’ve experienced physical, emotional and sexual violence and are at risk of aggressive behaviour
Mackay
Don't miss out on the headlines from Mackay. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The trauma inflicted on an eight-year-old Mackay boy manifested into him smothering his baby sister’s face and attempting to strangle his four-year-old sister.
His father is in jail.
He is just one of many Mackay males aged nine to 18 referred to Mackay Women’s Services for intervention therapy because they have personally experienced or witnessed domestic, physical and sexual violence or abuse.
Executive director Linda-Ann Northey said the cries for help from mothers, grandmothers, aunties, the Child Safety Department and police officers inundated the centre with not enough funding to go around.
She said other examples of trauma in the home including having toys broken, being yelled at, having basic needs such as food and blankets withdrawn as punishment, and not being provided with basic love and healthy relationships.
“Unfortunately what we find is those who actually witness and see someone else they love getting abused will be just as impacted as if it was for themselves,” Ms Northey said.
She said the trauma could materialise as aggression at school and towards their family members, truancy, disattachment, poor mental health, self-care, an unhealthy view of relationships, “very few” coping mechanisms and stunted emotional development.
“The impacts are horrendous,” Ms Northey said.
She said as adults, they could be drawn to risk-tasking and mind-numbing behaviours and resort to childish behaviours, using their physicality to get power and control.
Ms Northey said they could also become perpetrators of domestic violence, which had power and control alongside gender inequality and entitlement at its core.
“They see that lack of gender equality (in the home) and they might feel they incorrectly have more rights,” she explained.
“They have very poor coping skills and very poor understanding of what healthy relationships are and they need power and control around their world.”
On the flip side, Ms Northey said studies showed they were more likely to become adult victims of domestic and family violence.
More stories:
Charity Ball gives back to Mackay kids with heart defects
Plans to ease ‘extreme shortage’ of psychologists
The upcoming sold-out Mackay Mayor’s Charity Ball will give 50 per cent of the proceeds to the service’s intervention therapies which aim to stop the intergenerational violence and abuse.
“The interventions can make a huge difference to a young person because their brain is not fully developed and young people can be resilient if they’re given the support,” Ms Northey said.
She thanked the Mackay community and the mayor’s domestic violence task-force for its amazing support.
“There’s so many caring people, business owners and sponsors who are going to the ball,” Ms Northey said.
The ball will also give 50 per cent of proceeds to HeartKids.
Subscriber benefits:
How to activate your free Courier-Mail subscription
How to get Daily Mercury news straight to your inbox
Originally published as Mackay Mayor’s Charity Ball to give 50 per cent of proceeds to Mackay Women’s Services intervention therapies
VIDEO: House driven down Qld highway
Think a passing semi-trailer is difficult to deal with? Try being stuck in traffic behind a whole house.
The Palaszczuk supporters who have abandoned Steven Miles
An exclusive Courier-Mail poll reveals many of the voters who helped an Annastacia Palaszczuk-led Labor secure victory at the last state election have returned to the LNP.