Albury-Wodonga family violence: Coronavirus lockdown spike in incidents
Vulnerable young women in Albury-Wodonga are the silent victims of coronavirus lockdown, with shocking domestic violence statistics revealing a huge spike in attacks. And experts fear the situation is about to get worse. Here’s why.
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Vulnerable young women in Albury-Wodonga are the silent victims of the coronavirus lockdown, with shocking domestic violence statistics revealing a huge spike in attacks.
And domestic violence experts warn the situation could get worse as financial pressures increase and Christmas approaches.
Wodonga recorded more than double the amount of family violence incidents in the year ending June 2020, with Albury recording 339 and Wodonga recording 837.
Women aged 25-34 born the brunt of the shocking spike.
Wodonga recorded 651 incidents where women were the victims of family violence in the year ending June 2020, and 186 where men were the victims.
In the past two years, domestic violence incidents in Albury have increased by an alarming 31 per cent, while Wodonga has seen an increase of 12.65 per cent.
The rate of violence against women has increased by 17.93 per cent since 2018, while the rate of domestic violence against men has remained stable, with 188 incidents recorded in 2018.
The Murray River Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service manager Jesmine Coromandel said there had been a sharp spike in the number of referrals in the past two months.
“I’ve been tracking the pandemic month by month in referrals from police, and the only time we’ve had an increase was July and August,” Ms Coromandel said.
“And it was a very significant increase.”
From January to September 2020, Murray River WDVCAS has received an average of 174 referrals per month, an increase of 20 referrals per month since 2018.
Ms Coromandel said she was concerned about the increase and feared it might get worse before the pandemic was over.
“Alongside changes to Centrelink benefits being rolled back, and the pressures of financial stress, let alone manipulation and financial abuse, I definitely am concerned,” she said.
“You can’t ignore the fact we’re in October and people start to feel pressure towards Christmas and they’re added stressors to any relationships, let alone an unhealthy or violent one.”
Ms Coromandel said it was important to raise awareness about domestic violence within the community to help victims speak up and seek help.
“The story begins with education about the prevalence and impacts of violence against women …” she said.
“Individuals becoming better informed about domestic violence is a key starting point to understanding the devastating and life changing experience for women, children, families and the community; emotionally, socially, financially, economically.
“Listening and respecting a person who has shared their personal story with you as an individual and or professional, and seeking clarification from that person what they would like you to do with the information.
“It could be that you are the first person they have ever discussed their DV with and it’s important to listen and be non-judgemental.”
Ms Coromandel said campaigning, fundraising, and lobbying to local members were all ways to help make change and reduce the levels of domestic violence within the community.
“There is no one quick fix and communities need to work together to improve the society we live in together.”
Anyone suffering from domestic or family violence can call the domestic violence hotline on 1800 737 732.
Contact Cassandra at cassandra.glover@news.com.au
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