One in four women and one in 13 men will experience domestic abuse by an intimate partner, and Anglicare Sydney is making it easier for victims to recognise the signs and seek help.
A new suite of resources called KNOW Domestic Abuse launched by Anglicare in partnership with the Professional Standards Unit Safe Ministry Training program in October includes a website that explains what constitutes various types of abuse including financial, spiritual, social, verbal, emotional, psychological, physical and sexual, and encourages people to seek help if they, or someone they know, is living with domestic abuse. The new resources are designed to help victims of abuse recognise what is happening to them.
The resources include a course for ministry personnel that assists them to recognise and respond to abuse and is available through the Safe Ministry Training website. There are accompanying posters and flyers for distribution among church communities. The resources are designed to help church communities recognise and respond to abuse where they see it occurring.
“Domestic abuse is a serious problem Australia-wide. We want to help victims of abuse identify what is happening to them. And we want to equip churches to listen to and believe victims who come to them with stories of abuse. This resource will help churches respond appropriately to abuse where they see it happening and point people towards support and safety,” says Lynda Dunstan, Family and Domestic Violence Advisor for Anglicare Sydney.
The following is an extract from the resource:
“The Bible rejects all abuse, whether physical, verbal, or otherwise expressed from one person towards another and always condemns the misuse of power to control or exploit others. Therefore, domestic abuse is evil. Such sin is deceptive in its power and damaging in its effects (Psalm 7; Galatians 5:19-26; 2 Timothy 3:2-3).”
Anglicare Sydney provides counselling services for those who are or have been living in abusive situations and is able to refer people on to frontline service providers.
“We need to listen to victims of abuse, and believe their stories, and we hope this resource provides pathways out of abusive situations for those who are living through them,” says Lynda.
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Media contact: Tess Delbridge, Media Officer, 0407 066 813