NAMBUCCA Valley Phoenix (NVP), a local community support provider, is turning its attention towards combatting domestic violence in the district.
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NVP is working with the Aboriginal community in Bowraville to increase awareness of domestic violence and to help identify people’s current strengths in order to build stronger families.
Hayden Strong, a community support worker with NVP and a descendent of the Ngarabal and Gumbaynggirr people, was inspired to work in Aboriginal men’s health by his father who has worked for many years as an Indigenous mental health worker.
“Through my father and through school I’ve learned the not-so-favourable statistics of the health of Aboriginal men compared to non-Aboriginal men throughout this country. We are here to support locals and their families with identifying strengths, skills and passions that can be harnessed to create stronger families,” Hayden said.
The program at NVP offers men’s groups, women’s groups, youth activities, general information and referral services. They also offer a friendly ear if anyone just wants to sit down and chat.
Domestic violence is believed to be one of Australia’s most common crimes, with the problem being bigger in regional areas.
Furthermore, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women experience both far higher rates and more severe forms of violence compared to other women.
Despite this, people residing in regional parts of the country, including the Nambucca Valley, usually benefit from a tighter community and living geographically closer to friend and family networks. Therefore there is a great opportunity to initiate change in this community and to effectively combat the scourge of domestic violence.
If domestic violence is something that affects you or if you’d like to learn more, contact Nambucca Valley Phoenix on 6564-7677, strongerfamilies@nvp.org.au or visit their website www.nvp.org.au.
