Shadow Minister for Women and Deputy Opposition Leader Sussan Ley is launching a domestic violence awareness drive to call on all Australians to use their social media to share the details of support services for those who might need to use them over the holidays.
This comes ahead of the holiday season as the latest data shows a spike in domestic violence over this period. And given the rise in cost of living pressures, many advocates are warning the violence rates could be even worse this year.
Already, 61 women have been killed by violence in 2023.
“It might seem like just a small gesture, but by sharing domestic violence support services on your socials, you might just save a life this Christmas,” Ley says in her plea to Australians.
“You might not need help but statistically someone you know will and many women who suffer in silence just need that extra prompt to seek support.”
As part of her awareness campaign, Ley has written to major Australian companies to ask them to consider ways to share support services on their platforms over the holiday period.
These companies include Woolworths, Coles, Bunnings; the social media giants including TikTok, Meta, LinkedIn and Google; and major fast food outlets including McDonalds and KFC. She has also written to major peak bodies including the Business Council of Australia, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Council of Small Business Organisations asking them to share her request with their members.
Ley has requested these organisations consider making a Christmas donation as well to “one of the many charities doing fantastic, lifesaving work in Australia”.
“As often occurs when the country is suffering through a cost-of-living crisis, charities and support services face significant increases in demand with a corresponding decline in donations,” she writes in the letter.
“Vulnerable women in Australia cannot afford to see domestic violence support services drop at the time of the year they are most likely to need them and in a year where so many women have already been killed at the hands of someone they know.”
In response to Ley’s campaign, LinkedIn has published this post in which they hope domestic violence support services will reach their 14 million Australian members.
“When it comes to domestic violence every single person can make a difference, but so too can big businesses with huge social media followings – that’s why I have written to many of them asking that they share these services too,” says Ley.
“We have already seen a tragic number of women killed this year, so my simple message to all Australians is: Save a life. Share these services.”
Domestic violence rates over the holidays
Last year, domestic violence related incidents in New South Wales spiked by 25 per cent according to data from the Parliamentary Library compiled from Victoria Police, NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, and Australian Bureau of Statistics.
In Victoria, it spiked by 16 per cent, and this is despite the fact that not all incidents of domestic violence are reported.
According to advocacy organisation No to Violence, using data from 2019-2020, states see an a significant increase in domestic violence incidents on New Years’ Day specifically. The Northern Territory saw a 58 per cent spike. In South Australia, 50 per cent more assaults occurred. In Queensland the spike was 112 per cent more, and in Tasmania, it was 75 per cent more.
The organisation says these significant spikes are due to alcohol, stress and a higher frequency of family gatherings. Police forces across Australia receive more family and domestic violence incidents on New Years’ Day than any other day of the year.
The key services to point to are:
If you are an immediate danger, call 000.
If you have experienced, or are at risk of, family and domestic violence and/or sexual assault:
· Dial: 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732
· Text – 1800 RESPECT – 0458 737 732
If you are concerned about your behaviour or use of violence, you can contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491.