The fallout from COVID-19 has included a drop in overall crime in Noosa but an alarming 25 per cent increase in domestic violence.
Last Sunday Zonta Noosa organised a walk along Gympie Terrace to show a unified voice from the community saying no to violence against women and raise awareness of the issue of domestic violence in Noosa.The walk marked the beginning worldwide of “16 days of activism“ by Zonta clubs to halt violence against women. Zonta member Fiona Jacob said statistics showed raising awareness of the issue definitely helped improve the situation.
“A lot of people think there’s no domestic violence in beautiful Noosa, but there is,“ she said.
She said raising awareness gave women courage to speak out and alerted people to the issue.
Acting inspector Ben Carroll, who took part in the walk, said domestic violence issues took up 30-40 per cent of police time in Noosa.
“From a policing perspective it’s really important to be seen in this arena,“ he said. “We see so much of it.
Inspector Carroll believes the increase in domestic violence has resulted from the pressures placed on people by the pandemic.
He said police knew businesses were experiencing increased financial pressure, the sales of alcohol had increased significantly and the use of drugs had increased.
The COVID environment has caused added pressure that has led to unhealthy behaviours, he said.
Government welfare payments and stimulus packages had provided money in the community and crimes such as break and enters and robberies have dropped, he said. “People need money,“ he said.
Noosa police implore members of the Noosa community who are experiencing difficulties to seek assistance from the various support agencies operating across the Noosa Shire.
Zonta Noosa president Margie Fisher said across the 16 Days of Activism there were a range of actions planned and to draw attention to the campaign has adopted the use of the colour orange.
The organisation has worked with Noosa Council to post notices in public toilets to inform victims of domestic violence of local services available to assist them.
A banner has been erected at the Lions Park at Noosa Heads, the Hastings Street Association are organising orange lighting for the main Hastings Street
roundabout while Bendigo Bank and the Noosa Library are hosting promotional displays for the whole duration of the event, Margie said.
Noosa Zonta also prepares care packages for women and children fleeing domestic violence situations.
Zonta member Alison Upton said the packages were made up of 30 items and included toiletries and a document folder with pen and paper.
She said each month 6-8 were distributed to victims in Noosa.
To make donations for the care packages or for more information visit Zonta Noosa
on Facebook.
