By Abbey Cannan
Residents from across the Sunshine Coast marched to raise awareness and give their support for victims of domestic and family violence on Wednesday 1 May.
The march marked the start of National Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month.
Around 300 people attended the march including, Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson, Queensland Police Service Sunshine Coast District Officer In Charge Vulnerable Persons Unit, Senior Sergeant Kim Cavell and Centacare Coordinator, Angela Short.
Community members wore the colour purple and marched from the HMAS Brisbane Memorial, Alexandra Headlands and finished in Mooloolaba for a moving candle lighting ceremony to remember those who have sadly lost their lives to domestic and family violence.
A recent report issued by the Domestic and Family Violence Death Review Unit states that during the period 2006–2012 there was an average of 23 deaths a year in Queensland linked to domestic and family violence– and that this figure equalled 44 per cent of the state’s homicides for that period.
During the candle lighting ceremony numerous pairs of shoes were placed on the sand to represent a person that has died as a result of domestic and family violence.Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson said Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month continues to raise awareness about the occurrence and impacts of domestic and family violence to our community, and provide information about available support for those seeking help.
“The candle lighting and shoe ceremony on Wednesday evening at Mooloolaba illustrated the harsh and sad reality for many families every year who are impacted by domestic and family violence-related homicides,” he said.
“While we may live in a beautiful location like the Sunshine Coast, this is a sobering reminder that domestic and family violence affects our community, just like it does every other community across the nation.”
Centacare Regional Domestic and Family Violence Service manager Brigitte McLennan said the service had experienced a steady increase in demand for domestic and family violence support from people in the Sunshine Coast area.
“During 2018, our Centacare Regional Domestic and Family Violence Service supported 4837 domestic and family violence victims, almost 30 per cent would identify as at immediate and serious high risk of harm,” Ms McLennan said.
“The number of referrals we received from the Queensland Police Service in 2018 increased by 17 per cent on 2017 figures. That’s been a significant increase for us to cope with.
“The gathering of the local community to make a stand against domestic and family violence at our annual vigil is a really powerful way to encourage people experiencing domestic and family violence to come forward and seek help.”
For DV support services in the Noosa area, Noosa’s Salvation Army operate the Shine Houses, which are safe homes in Noosa. DV Connect Womensline (1800 811 811) and Mensline (1800 600 636) are a state-wide telephone service that operates 24/7. SCOPE (Suncoast Cooloola Outreach Prevention and Education) provides support services on 5430 9300. A family violence counselling service is also provided by 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732.
