“We’re going to see a bit of a tsunami of people who need support,” she said.
“Life circumstances have become very stressful and complicated, even the most robust of families and robust relationships have been sorely tested during things like home-schooling, lockdown, (and with) financial stress.”
Ms Pike said “it would not at all surprise” her if a lot of families in Shepparton and across Victoria had been dealing with new or escalated conflict or violence without seeking help.
In positive news, victim survivors who choose to leave a violent home may now be eligible for one-off federal welfare payments of up to $5000.
The assistance comes in the form of $1500 cash, with the remainder in goods and services or direct payments of bonds, or school fees.
The UnitingCare Australia consortium has been selected as the service provider for the two-year Escaping Violence Payment trial.
The payment is intended to help pay for the costs associated with setting up a new, safe home — an expense Ms Pike said was a “critical barrier” to escaping violence.
“If you don’t have money, where are you going to go?” she said.
“Physical control is sometimes accompanied by financial control, and people just don’t have access to funds.
“The money being made available in the program is really tailored around the needs of each specific person — for some it’s accommodation, cash, petrol in a car. But then there are other things people need like legal support, the bond for new accommodation, things for their children, or physical goods like a cot for a baby.”
Family violence rates in Shepparton dropped by 2.6 per cent in 2020 compared with the previous year, but like Ms Pike, police fear many incidents go unreported.
Victoria reported an overall surge in family violence incidents of nine per cent for the same period, as the state grappled with multiple COVID-19 lockdowns.
In April, Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Bowler of the Shepparton Family Violence Investigation Unit told The News crime statistics were not always an accurate representation of the rates of domestic violence in Shepparton.
“Is it still occurring in the community? Yes it is. Is it still occurring at alarming rates? Yes it is. And is it still under-reported? I would say yes, it is,” he said.
Uniting Vic.Tas is taking referrals for the new support payment from other crisis services, as well as offering it directly, meaning people who are already seeking help with another organisation can still access the emergency funds.
“It takes an enormous amount of courage to ask for help, and it’s something people often feel ashamed about even though they don’t need to.”
To learn more about the payment visit www.unitingvictas.org.au or call 1800 668 426.
If you, or someone you know, is experiencing domestic or family violence, services are available, including:
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) — a confidential information, counselling and support service;
Kids Help Line — (1800 551 800) — a free 24-hour, confidential and private counselling service specifically for children and young people aged 5 to 25;
Safe Steps — (1800 015 188) — a 24-hour national sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line;
Men’s Referral Service (1300 766 491) provides telephone counselling, information and referrals for men; and
If you are in danger or in an emergency, always phone 000.
