Rosie Batty applauds Australians for ‘confronting conversations’
Rosie Batty has applauded Australians for finally having “confronting” conversations about family violence.
Rosie Batty has applauded Australians for finally having “deep, confronting” conversations about family violence in the open, as she reflected on her year-long “conflicting” journey in the national spotlight.
The determined campaigner is preparing to pass on the Australian of the Year baton but remains firmly committed to raising awareness of violence against women and children and shifting the blame from victim to perpetrator.
Ms Batty said she was mindful that she had become a public figure, with some people seeing her as a type of “tragic celebrity”, but insisted her time in the role had given her “amazing opportunities”.
“Whilst family violence is still happening behind closed doors, the conversations aren’t,” she said in her final speech as Australian of the Year.
“We are now having deep, confronting conversations, the ones we really need to have, in the home, workplace, and amongst our political parties.
“We are shifting the blame, previously placed onto the victim, and redirecting it to where it squarely needs to be: to the perpetrators of this violence. And that is significant progress that I am proud of.”
Ms Batty was named the 2015 recipient of the national award after her son Luke was killed by his father at a local cricket ground in February 2014.
She said she was initially confused and overwhelmed by the appointment.
“I thought I had been given this award because of Luke’s death, I had made it to this point because of the traumatic and horrific event that was beyond my control,” she said.
“But I was reassured very quickly that it was not because of Luke’s death, it was because of the way that I responded and reacted to it.
“This journey has been conflicting too; I have juggled grief and loss, suppressing my sadness whilst enjoying the most amazing opportunities of my life.”
Malcolm Turnbull earlier described Ms Batty’s appointment as a “watershed” moment in the country’s response to family violence and announced a $500,000 grant for her Luke Batty Foundation.
Ms Batty last week acknowledged her role in raising awareness of the epidemic had placed immense pressure on underfunded frontline services, as she warned the battle was far from won.
In an interview with The Australian, Ms Batty also said her Australian of the Year title had given her a reason to get up every morning and move forward at a time when she was experiencing raw, unimaginable grief.
“For me in the second year, when perhaps I would’ve felt very alone, I have had the most emotional support that I’ve ever had in my life,” she said.
“That acknowledgement I was worthy of (the award) and then doing the best I could and everybody’s support, I’ve grown as a person and it’s helped me on my journey without Luke. When people talk to me about Luke and I know that he hasn’t been forgotten, that means everything.”
• If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, family or domestic violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800737 732 or visit www.1800RESPECT.org.au
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