Whittlesea CALD Communities Family Violence Research Report 2012 | Page 7

Empowering
CALD
women

Objective: The model will facilitate increased access to
support groups by CALD women as a means to enabling
women to access services and increase their confidence to seek
and obtain support.

Key achievements in 2014

o
o

$20,025 in grants delivered to 6 women’s support groups
Training/community legal education delivered to 74 women

16 group leaders trained in identifying and responding to FV
55 women participated in community legal education sessions
1 in 5 participants later sought support for themselves
or someone they knew

Pretraining
‘I know a lot about what family violence is and what my legal rights
are’
‘I know where to go for information and advice about family violence
support’
o

8%
52%

Posttraining

92%
100%

6 women from these groups joined the Women’s Advisory Group and have become key
advocates for their groups and wider communities.

“The women felt great, important, independent, to have a voice, are capable of meeting people in
different positions, to have more confidence in using English and have socialised with other women
from different communities.

”

“Throughout the sessions, there were moments of laughter, joy and sadness as the bonds grew
between the women and the ups and downs of life were shared.”
“Providing childcare and transport services has been immensely beneficial for the group, assisting
them to overcome the transport barriers and family responsibilities that often prevent women from

”

participating in community events.

“It helps us belong”
(Feedback from Final Reports)

Future: Round two of the grants will support more local women’s groups, with additional
training opportunities and enhanced community legal education sessions. An adapted version of
this element will be implemented with the local Iranian community as part of the Our Watch
project, including both women and men’s groups, and enhancing training and engagement
opportunities.

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