Here’s what Jann Gilbert of the Byron Shire Echo wrote about Stop Domestic Violence Day

As part of the 16 Days of Activism to Stop Violence against Women, Tweed/Byron LAC police commander Superintendent Michael Kenny joined Women’s Resource Service and DoCS staff to launch a new local referral card for victims of domestic violence. ‘It’s mandatory for police to hand out a card for referral services when they’ve been called to a domestic violence incident,’ says Kassa Bird, from the Women’s Resource Service.

‘For the past two years the cards given out by local police carried Tweed or State wide contact numbers. Our domestic violence outreach worker Julie Sowter and I approached Michael to see if we could produce cards with Byron Shire contact details so that Byron police could hand out cards for local resources.’

Kassa and other welfare colleagues are hoping to encourage greater use of referral services within the Shire with the introduction of the local resource card. ‘Until today these cards have had STD numbers on them and the services have been 45 minutes away,’ says Kassa. ‘Now they’ve got cards with local or free numbers so there’s much more access. Women can simply drop into the Centre or make a local call.’

Apart from the resources for women the card also carries contact details for the Ocean Shores Parent Resource Centre, which deals with both men and women particularly when there are issues around parenting. The Centre assists with family separation andencourages parents to learn about children’s development and other skills to improve their parenting. ‘The cards have been used for quite some time with a great deal of success,’ says Supt Kenny. ‘They are provided to the victim as a first point of contact, which is generally when police attend the family home.

‘The card is designed to provide information on where to get help, specific to the Byron Bay area. It fits easily into a purse or a wallet without screaming “domestic violence” at you. 

‘Police attend in a primary role, in relation to a possible crime or to look at Apprehended Violence Orders or Domestic ViolenceOrders for the protection of, usually, women and children. The card is the next step. It allows police to pass on information on behalf of other agencies that are able to help families.”