Opportunity for Change: Our role in a project for a culturally appropriate response to family violence

We’re proud to announce our involvement in a new community consultation project to develop a culturally appropriate response to family violence in the Afghan community. 

The project will provide us and other services with an important opportunity to hear from the local Afghan community and to be guided by their stories to better deliver culturally appropriate and inclusive services, both within Relationships Australia Victoria (RAV) and more widely across the community. 

These conversations are particularly important given that culturally and linguistically diverse community members often face additional challenges which make them less likely than other people to report family violence or seek support. This may include language barriers, different cultural experiences and beliefs, and a lack of understanding about laws and expectations. 

We are currently undertaking extensive consultations with the local community to better understand their needs; and programs, activities and actions we can take together that can help to prevent or reduce family violence. 

This will be followed by a consultation process with staff across the family violence sector in the City of Casey. 

RAV’s role will be to develop the framework for community consultation, support engagement activities with community and the family violence sector, and assist with program development and facilitation. 

The project is run in partnership with TaskForce Community Agency and is funded through the City of Casey’s Community Service Organisation Funding Program 2021-2024 in the southern Melbourne area. 

If you have experience or are able to assist with developing a culturally appropriate response to family violence, please contact Hafiz Asadi at Taskforce, by emailing [email protected] or phoning 0466 339 574.