Family violence groups call for Victoria’s first culturally specific refuge

Unlike Queensland and New South Wales, Victoria has no culturally specific family violence refuges

Zara* believes she and her children wouldn't be alive today were it not for the support she received while at a family violence refuge in New Zealand tailored to her cultural needs.

The mainstream refuge didn't understand the seriousness of abuse the ethnic women go through," Zara said. I have been told by my own family, community and society to reconcile so many times and every time the abuse worsens.

In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14 and the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 and the domestic abuse helpline is 0808 2000 247. In the US, the suicide prevention lifeline is 1-800-273-8255 and the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Other international helplines can be found via www.befrienders.org