With domestic violence rates increasing after disasters (like fires and floods), a free workshop is set to help people identify what’s going on and understand how to deal with it.

Run by Gender and Disaster Australia, the May 18 workshop is for all community members and disaster recovery workers.

Gender and Disaster Australia director Debra Parkinson said the two hour, federally funded session is for all genders – and will also cover the effects of disaster on LGBTIQ+ people.

“We want to facilitate a conversation so people can identify family and domestic violence and know what to do to respond constructively,” Debra said.

Evacuation centres

“In Lismore, after the floods, we heard about evacuation centre staff picking up on domestic violence and not knowing what to do to help.

“Community members might have friends and family at home who are experiencing violence after floods and we can have conversations about what ordinary people can do.

“Disaster is no excuse for family violence."

“It’s for men as well - men don’t ask for help. So, we talk about ways to get help for men who might need it.

 “One of the workshop trainers, Steve O’Malley, is a firefighter. He’s spent more than 30 years working with us since we did our first research on how men respond to disasters like Black Saturday. 

The hero danger

“There’s a gendered expectation applied to men and women in times disasters.

“There’s a danger of expecting people to be heroes in disaster – and it’s damaging to men who find it hard to live up to that protector/provider role.

“After the fires in 2018, we researched long term disaster resilience and interviewed 57 people.

Aftermath of flood

“Some people also had experience with devastating floods, where there’s a long hard aftermath and clean up.

“It’s tough until basic government and private services like power internet and water service are back on. There’s the clean up mud and debris and asbestos. It’s a big task.

Hierachy of grief

“There are pressures not to talk about it. There’s hierarchy of grief – that someone else’s needs are higher than ours.

“So, we put others’ needs first – and for women, there’s also pressure to be loyal to the man, making excuses like ‘he’s a good bloke, he’s suffering or traumatised’.

“We all have a right to a safe environment."

“There’s also pressure on communities, in the spotlight and pressured to be the resilient community that embodies the Aussie spirit.

“People also don’t say anything because they are thinking about the children.”

What to do?

Debra said there are help lines to call, where people can safely speak about what’s happening to them.

Workshop details

There will be two free workshops, but registration is essential because of limited numbers. Book here: Two-Hour Session: Lessons in Disaster Tickets, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite

Tuesday, May 17, from 1-3pm, at Brunswick Valley Community Centre

Wednesday, May 18, from 1-3pm at Goonellabah Sports and Aquatic Centre.