Jacquie Petrusma, Minister for Women

Heather Nancarrow, ANROWS CEO

Violence against immigrant and refugee women to be better addressed

Addressing violence against women is very important to the Tasmanian Government and Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS), but particularly those who are immigrants or refugees to Australia.

The ASPIRE (Analysing Safety and Place in Immigrant and Refugee Experience) Project Research Report launched today, aims to increase the understanding around violence against these women.

One of ASPIRE’s chief investigator’s was University of Tasmania School of Medicine lecturer Dr Linda Murray, with research conducted at locations including Hobart, Glenorchy and Launceston.

“The ASPIRE project report found the experiences of immigration undoubtedly shaped women’s experiences of family violence after their settlement,’’ Ms Petrusma said.

“The report is a welcome addition to our understanding of family violence and provides a foundation for future work by the Government to better support immigrant and refugee women in Tasmania.’’

ANROWS CEO Heather Nancarrow said, “It’s heartbreaking to read the stories of the women, shared though the photovoice method in the research, who have endured such hardship in their lives but Minister Petrusma’s commitment to ending family violence for women is heartening.’’.

Seeing an end to family violence is a top priority of the Hodgman Liberal Government, which introduced the Safe Homes, Safe Families, Tasmania’s Family Violence Action Plan 2015-2020, that included a $26 million additional commitment to deliver 19 actions, such as more counselling, housing and legal services.

The recently released Third Action Plan of the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children 2010- 2022, will provide further opportunities to address the findings of the ASPIRE Project.

Tasmania is a founding member of ANROWS, and has contributed more than $100,000 to support its research and will provide a further $150,000 over the next four years.

If you or someone you know is impacted by family violence, call the Safe at Home Family Violence Response and Referral Line on 1800 633 937 or visit 1800respect.org.au. In an emergency, always call 000.

Download the free Daisy app in the App Store or Google Play for more information about national, state and local services. Daisy is available in 28 languages.

Violence against women starts with disrespect. To learn how to Stop It At The Start visit www.respect.gov.au

Contact: Rosita Gallasch
Phone: 0417 296 603

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