Medical experts, lawyers, politician among panellists for Byron Bay forum on AVOs, harassment, violence

A local psychologist, a former judicial officer and other community leaders will join the discussion about how communities can better care for women targeted by toxic, damaging behaviour.

Consultant psychologist Jane Enter and Barefoot Law's Mark Swivel will be among the panelists at a forum on AVOs, harassment and abuse in Byron Bay. Pictures: contributed (left), Mark Stapelberg

When women are subjected to harassment, intimidation or abuse, the flow-on effects can go well beyond the individuals involved.

It can affect their entire community and the “culture of the place”, according to Byron-based consultant psychologist Jane Enter.

Ms Enter will be among the panellists at a community forum to be hosted by Barefoot Law next week.

Titled “It’s Not OK: A Community Forum on AVOs, harassment, abuse and violence”, the free event will feature Ms Enter along with former magistrate David Heilpern, general practitioner Dr Tonya Coren, social worker Jenelle Brown, Byron’s deputy mayor Sarah Ndiaye and Barefoot Law founder Mark Swivel.

In a social media post announcing the forum, Mr Swivel said after the March for Justice, women were experiencing “a continuum of harassment, abuse and violence” and the forum would look at “how we can raise community standards”.

Ms Enter has experience working with people impacted by damaging behaviour. 

Retired Lismore magistrate David Heilpern will be one of the experts at the forum on June 17.

“I have a special interest in stalking and intimidation and harassment because I see the flow-on effects in my practice in terms of anxiety, depression, people moving towns, people feeling unsafe,” she said.

“It affects their entire way of feeling comfortable and safe in the world.”

She said victims of this behaviour aren’t the only ones impacted; the flow-on effects can manifest in their children’s mental health, the state of their community and the “culture of the place”.

“You think it’s just single act but the effect on people’s psychological wellbeing has a ripple effect.”

Ms Enter has seen clients, including public figures and health professionals, who had been stalked and moved to a new city or state because a perpetrator’s behaviour made them feel so unsafe.

Ms Enter said the forum would offer an “essential” discussion which she hoped would be a positive step toward change.

Byron's deputy mayor Sarah Ndiaye will be involved in the forum. Picture: Liana Boss

“What I’m hoping it’ll do is create greater understanding for how these events affect people and bring some empathetic views to the table,” she said.

“I think we’re incredibly lucky to have someone like Mark Swivel in this area who’s not only a great intellectual but a creative and really a committed community-minded person who literally wants to do good.”

She said they don’t just want to attract those already “converted to a particular way of thinking” and was hopeful there would be a strong contingent of young people present.

“I hope that young people come because they’re the future of society,” she said.

Byron Bay based consultant psychologist Jane Enter.

Mr Swivel said there was a need for better understanding in the community about apprehended violence orders work and the complex issues related to harassment and abuse.

“We really need to come together and talk through people’s experiences,” he said.

“The whole community can have a better understanding of a hugely complex issue.”

Mr Swivel said at the “very worst end of the spectrum where women end up being killed by their partners”, victims have often been “detached from all their social contacts” and are extremely isolated.

So it’s vital the community gathers around people at the receiving end of abusive behaviour, he said.

“I think we rely on our formal service providers too much,” Mr Swivel said.

“We expect the police and courts to somehow solve domestic violence.”

Mark Swivel is the founder of Barefoot Law.

Instead, the communities around victims could do more to wrap around victims, he said.

There have also been reports of abusive behaviour impacting women’s willingness to engage in public life; Lismore City Council candidate Sally Flannery recently announced she would no longer run in the September election.

And Byron deputy mayor Sarah Ndiaye has this week had a police application for an AVO against a member of the public before court.

The respondent, John Anderson, wasn’t present at court and while the AVO was imposed on Monday and has indicated he would seek to have it annulled.

“I’ve spoken to women who regard harassment and abuse as a material disincentive to getting involved in public life,” Mr Swivel said.

“The reality is the obstacles for participation for women are already so great.”

He said discouraging women from being involved in politics was problematic.

“It’s a fundamental distortion of representative democracy,” he said.

The forum will be held from 6 to 7.30pm on Thursday, June 17 in the Cavanbah Room at Byron Community Centre, 69 Jonson St Byron Bay.