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16 Days in WA - Stop Violence Against Women

Friday, 19 November 2021

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16 Days in WA – Stop Violence Against Women runs from 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) until 10 December (Human Rights Day) each year. Now in its fifth year, 16 Days in WA draws inspiration from the global movement for 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence to drive a change in culture, behaviour and attitudes that lead to violence against women and their children. Here at ECU we will be lighting our Chancellery building orange as part of a State-wide effort to encourage change to stop violence against women.

Most Australians agree that violence against women is wrong. We also know that:

  • On average, one woman is killed every week at the hands of a current or former partner
  • One in four women has experienced physical or sexual violence from a current or former partner throughout their lifetime
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are 32 times more likely than non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to be hospitalised from family violence.
  • Women with disabilities in Australia are twice as likely than women without disabilities to have experienced sexual violence and intimate partner violence.
  • Two out of five LGBTIQ+ people have experienced family and domestic violence.

How family and domestic violence can impact our students

At ECU, we know that anyone can experience family and domestic violence and that this will inevitably impact on our own staff and students.

For example, an abusive partner or family member can impact on a student’s ability to complete their education. People can use various means to control and/or coerce the student and incite fear. This behaviour significantly impacts on a student’s mental health, concentration and overall potential to succeed. An abusive partner or family member can do this by:

  • Not allowing the student to access money to pay for their studies or other essentials items;
  • Controlling or monitoring the student’s mobility including not enabling them to attend classes/group assessments;
  • Deleting or sabotaging assignments;
  • Gaslighting or forcibly distracting or stressing the student around the time of important assessments;
  • Socially isolating the student from allowing them to engage in university activities including group assessments or networking events;
  • Isolating students from their families and communities;
  • Damaging and destroying their personal property (for example, smashing or stealing their laptops, other study equipment and/or their modes of transport); and/or
  • Secretly or overtly monitoring their emails, text messages, phone calls and other private password protected technology.

How we support our students

Support options for students impacted by family and domestic violence may include:

  • Flexible study arrangements
  • Access to internal support services and external referral information
  • Housing and transport advice and assistance
  • Support to report incidences both internally and externally.

Visit our website for more information for support both at ECU and in the wider community, including resources available to help you support someone who has experienced family and domestic violence.

We also have support available for our staff who are experiencing family and domestic violence.

References:
Our Watch
Private Lives 3 National Report

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