SELF-isolation may escalate the incidence of family and domestic violence and support services, and the police are ready.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Liberty, Port Macquarie-Hastings' Domestic and Family Violence Specialist Service, wants anyone who feels unsafe to know there is help available.
The service says domestic violence is expected to rise amid the COVID-19 pandemic, as more families are staying home.
Liberty chief executive officer Kelly Lamb said for some local women and their children, home may not be a safe place.
"We need everyone to know that support is available, if you have worked with our service before or are experiencing abuse for the first time - whether it be physical, verbal, financial or psychological," Mrs Lamb said.
Mrs Lamb's statement comes after Attorney General and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence Mark Speakman said people could be confident that support services and the NSW Police Force are prepared and ready to respond if they need help.
"As citizens cooperate with social distancing directions, self-isolation and quarantine, there is an associated risk that domestic and family violence will increase," Mr Speakman said.
"Victims have a right to live a life free from violence every single day. When it's safe to do so, I urge them to contact our hard working frontline services for support."
Minister for Police David Elliott said police had ramped up their efforts to combat violence in the home, including more proactive operations to enforce protection orders.
Mrs Lamb said Liberty can help those who need to leave an unsafe situation.
"We can assist with emergency and temporary accommodation at any time of the day or night," she said.
"If someone is looking for ways to increase their safety at home, we can provide support remotely."
One woman is killed each week by a current or former partner in Australia and services like Liberty are concerned this rate will increase in response to changes brought about by COVID-19.
"With people working from home, children being home-schooled, workplaces closing and many workers losing their jobs, experts are warning that abusers may escalate their violence," Mrs Lamb said.
"For some women and their children, this current time of social distancing and self-isolation means being trapped inside with an abusive partner, while being cut off from usual support networks such as friends, family, colleagues and services."
Liberty staff are changing the way they work to use technology in ways which are safe, private and confidential.
This can include phone calls, text messages and even video meetings when it is safe to do so.
"The whole sector, including our team here in the Port Macquarie-Hastings region, is adapting to these changing and challenging times to ensure support is available at a time when it is needed most."
Women can contact Liberty directly on 6583 2155, by emailing info@libertyservices.org.au, or via www.libertyservices.org.au.
Other service providers can also make a referral on a woman's behalf.
Other available services include:
- 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) is a confidential information, counselling and support service;
- NSW Domestic Violence Line (1800 65 64 63) is a statewide telephone crisis counselling and referral service for women;
- Men's Referral Service (1300 766 491) provide telephone counselling, information and referrals for men;
- Link2Home (1800 152 152) can help refer women experiencing domestic violence to crisis accommodation; and
- Lifeline (13 11 14) is a national charity providing all Australians experiencing a personal crisis with access to 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention services.
If you are in danger or in an emergency, always contact Triple Zero (000).
What else is making news, sport?
Our COVID-19 news articles relating to public health and safety are free for anyone to access. However, we depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support.