special projects
Over the past five years the number of family
violence incidents reported to police in
Whittlesea has nearly doubled. In 2014-15
WCC saw 379 clients experiencing FV. WCC has
responded to this increase in request for support
by making a submission to the Victorian Royal
Commission into Family Violence and initiating
two family violence prevention projects.
WCFVP
The Whittlesea CALD Communities Family
Violence Project continues to support real
change in reducing and preventing family
violence in Whittlesea. Led by a project worker
funded through WCC, project partners include
The Salvation Army Crossroads, InTouch
Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence,
City of Whittlesea, Kildonan UnitingCare, Berry
Street, Whittlesea Community Futures, Plenty
Valley Community Health, and Victoria Police.
HAMDEL
Preventing Violence Against Women
in Partnership with Whittlesea’s
Iranian Community
Brother: I realized…Maybe there was
some opportunity I have taken from my
sister… Now I think- she has rights, she
can think, she can do what she wants…
This year saw the successful delivery of the
Hamdel Project, a 12-month prevention of
violence against women pilot project funded
by national organisation Our Watch and the
State Government. WCC partnered with The
Salvation Army Crossroads and Women’s
Health In the North to work alongside
Whittlesea’s newly arrived Iranian community
to design and deliver activities aimed at
promoting respectful, gender equitable
relationships and preventing violence before
it occurs. Evaluation from the project has
contributed to the development of a national
toolkit for working with communities to
prevent violence against women.
Sister: Before he was really angry and
we couldn’t talk to him…Now he is much
friendlier and he tells us that he loves us.
“
“
Before I thought FV was private
and now I know it isn’t. It is my
responsibility to care
Project participant
This information is so important
for everybody to know. Afterwards,
we discuss it with our family and
fri [