The Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women has declared May Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month.
The Department is organising a range of activities, many grant-assisted, to help raise awareness of domestic and family violence at a local level and to show support for community members affected by the violence.
Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Di Farmer said COVID-19 meant that many of the planned activities were being held virtually while others had been postponed.
“It is more important than ever that we tackle this insidious violence, with COVID-19 creating a unique set of challenges for victims that are well over and above those that they already experience,” Ms Farmer said.
“Now more than ever, social isolation means victims are at home more with perpetrators, and there may be additional pressures including job worries, financial pressure and general anxiety about the future.”
She said virtual candlelight vigils would be held throughout the month to raise awareness and remember victims of domestic and family violence.
“There will also be a number of art competitions and I know in Mount Isa the community have been creating awareness through yarn bombing, which will continue this month,” Ms Farmer said.
She said Australia’s first virtual Domestic and Family Violence Summit is to be held today (6 May) to discuss service delivery responses during COVID-19.
