WOMEN in rural Australia are not safer than women in the cities, especially when it comes to domestic violence.
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This is a message that the executive officer of NSW Rape and Domestic Violence Services Karen Willis will stress when she speaks at a Goulburn forum on preventing domestic violence next Wednesday from 7-9pm.
Ms Willis is one of three speakers at the event, as well as Member for Goulburn Pru Goward and Police Superintendent Zoran Dzevlan.
Ms Willis said regional domestic violence rates were 1.5 times higher, compared to metropolitan areas.
“It is hard to know why rates were higher in the country, but research shows cases are often related to traditional gender roles and that services are more isolated in the bush, so it is often also harder for rural women to get help,” Ms Willis said.
The forum has been organised by the Southern Tablelands group of the CWA as part of a statewide fundraising and awareness campaign, in partnership with the Rape and Domestic Violence Service, with the CWA National Conference in May passing a resolution to tackle domestic violence as a priority.
CWA Goulburn Evening Branch president Margaret Clinton said many of the 400 branches across NSW were raising money and awareness about the issue, including the Southern Tablelands Group.
She said domestic violence was a “societal issue” and that the CWA had launched the 1800 RESPECT phone number for women to reach out for help, especially in isolated rural areas.
Mrs Clinton said as well as the speakers on the night there would be a panel of local people who were involved at the coalface.
These include the police Domestic Violence Liaison Officer Simone Houghton, Anglicare Regional Community Services Director Simon Bennett and a local White Ribbon Ambassador.
“The forum is for everyone in the community because it is everyone’s problem. We would particularly like to see men attending,” Mrs Clinton said.
The Prevention of Domestic Violence forum will be held on Wednesday, October 7 at the Goulburn Workers Club Auditorium from 7-9pm. Everyone is welcome to attend.