Have a safe and happy holiday!

By jen on December 21, 2011 in Blog

Happy holidays! We’d like to thank all of our readers, supporters and colleagues from 2011, and wish you a safe and restful holiday season.

If you need to seek help or advice during the holiday season, you can call the Women’s Domestic Violence Crisis Service or the National Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Hotline 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Women’s Domestic Violence Crisis Service: 1800 015 188

National Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Hotline: 1800 RESPECT or 1800 737 732

Or visit their 24 hour online counselling service: http://www.1800respect.org.au/

While the holiday season is a time of celebration for many, it can also be a time of danger and fear for women experiencing abuse in their relationship.

In our last media wrap, we included an article by Tanya Young Williams, spokesperson for the National Domestic Violence Hotline (NDVH) about the trend for increased incidents of violence during the holiday season in North America.

Most loving mothers will do whatever is necessary to create a fun and festive holiday environment for her children, however, for children living in a home where violence occurs, very often, Christmas represents a prolonged period of trepidation due to the anticipation of violence. Read more here…

Trigger points such as stretched household budgets, increased alcohol consumption and more time spent with families can heighten abuse.

It’s important to remember, however, that these trigger points only intensify violent behaviour – they are never the root cause of abuse.

In December 2009, the Womens Domestic Violence Crisis Service handled:

2338 calls from Victorian women needing help, and
247 calls from police seeking urgent refuge accommodation for victims.

In December 2009, Victorian police were called to:

Christmas Eve: 125 incidents of family violence
Christmas Day: 108 incidents
December 28: 144 incidents
New Year’s Day: 142 incidents

Many other incidents went unreported, with victims fearful of the consequences.

What an abusive relationship feels like

You may feel confused about whether it’s really abuse because sometimes the other person acts nice and is fun to be with, or because the abuse isn’t always obvious.
You find yourself ‘walking on eggshells’, being careful that you don’t upset them.
The abusive person’s needs and opinions dominate, and you feel controlled by them.

You may be in an abusive relationship, even if your partner doesn’t hit you or physically harm you. Read our webpage Are You Happy? if you’re worried about how your partner treats you.

Ways to stay safe

Tell people what’s happening

Tell friends, your parents, family, teachers or your workmates what’s happening. Ask them to help protect you, for example, by being around when your partner/boyfriend/girlfriend is there. You could use a code word to let them know you need help.

Try not to be alone with your ex

If you can, try and keep other people around. If you are out, arrange another way of getting home rather than going with them.

Stay sober and alert

Stay aware of what’s going on when you are around them. For example, try not to drink or use other drugs.

Listen to your feelings – if something doesn’t feel right, get away as soon as you can.

Be prepared: mobile, money, keys, papers

Have an excuse prepared so you can leave quickly if you feel uncomfortable or threatened.

Always have a mobile and extra money handy for a taxi or phone call if needed.

Plan where you will go if you need to leave in a hurry (eg a friend’s or family member’s place) and how you will get there.

Gather together any special things and important documents so they are ready if you need to take them in a hurry – such as:

your (and your children’s) birth certificate
bank cards
passport
immigration papers
Health Care or Medicare card, and
any medication you might need.

Put them in a safe place.

Keep children safe

Let your children know what to do in an emergency – where to go and who to telephone. Give them the numbers for the police, neighbours, relatives.

Have in mind a place where you and your children can go quickly, if necessary.

Have an excuse prepared so you can leave quickly if your partner becomes threatening.

Leave pets with friends or family

Research shows that 70 per cent of female domestic violence victims say that their abuser has threatened to, or has actually harmed a pet.

54 per cent per cent reported that their abuser had killed a pet, and a quarter of victims say they have delayed leaving their abuser because of concern for their pet’s safety. (The Age 2010)

Keep a contact list

Make sure important phone contacts are in your phone – and your bag.

Important numbers might include:

friends and/or family members you can trust
a domestic violence service (Victoria: Womens Domestic Violence Crisis Service on 9322 3555 or toll free 1800 015 188 (24 hours)
a taxi service.

The police

The police can help protect you from any more violence. For example, you can apply for a court order that tells your abusive ex to stop coming near you or harassing you. In Victoria, this is called an Intervention Order.

Many people are nervous about calling the police.

But if you are in danger, they are there to protect you. Police are used to dealing with violence in relationships or families.

If you need immediate help, call 000 and the police will come.

Or you can go to a police station to report violence.

Talk to someone about the abuse

Don’t go through this alone – talking to someone can help you to work out what to do.

Don’t feel ashamed – the abuse isn’t your fault.

Tell a friend, a family member, or talk it over with someone outside the situation, like the national domestic violence hotline (24 hours, free, confidential) 1800 200 526

If you are in danger

Call the police on 000.

Related links