GUEST SPEAKER - GREG KEW

The Chair Janet Blackley introduced guest speaker, Senior Constable Greg Kew, who is a Warrnambool boy returned to his home town four years ago as a highway patrol policeman. He now heads up the South Coast Family Violence Unit of the police, which was formed two and half years ago. Greg has been in the role since July 2014 and he spoke with passion and pride about the contribution he feels the police are making to help address and stem a serious community issue. Greg said while it is recognised that more police are needed, there are not the people in the community to fill the positions and police hierarchy now recognise that police need to work in smarter and different ways to tackle some social issues and this had led to the formation of the South Coast Family Violence Unit. In 2013 the Blue Paper recognised that many of the family violence offenders were repeat offenders and so Family Violence units have been set up across the state. The policing of family violence is now seen as a community issue and as such a multi agency approach is now taken to work with victims and offenders and their children. The Police Family Violence Unit works closely, and in conjunction with outside agencies such as DHS, Brophy, Bethany, CASA, Emma House, counselling services and men's groups. The aim is to break down some of the barriers which allow family violence to continue unchecked and unreported in many households.

Family violence knows no socio-economic boundaries and Greg stressed it is an issue much broader than men and women being physically abusive. Family violence also encompasses psychological, sexual, financial, physical and social isolation. In Victoria in 2013 family violence was the direct cause of 44 deaths – 29 women, 8 children and 7 men. These figures are the tip of the iceberg when it comes to suffering.

Victims are frequently too scared to seek help because they fear further victimisation. Of particular concern to the police and other agencies are the children who are subjected to family violence. The police now do extensive risk assessments of children and recognise that if they don’t engage with children in family violence situations and assist them to live in safer environments the inter generational cycle will continue.

Police take a proactive approach assisting victims to take out IVOs and getting counselling for victims and making referrals to relevant agencies. Victims are generally female but not always. In the past police family violence work was reactive and the focus has now turned around to being proactive. Generally police are called to the same families and now they make a point of not waiting until there is an incident instead visiting regularly and checking on the welfare of the victims. In this way slowly they are building trust and helping victims to recognise that help is available and this in turn is leading to more arrests and convictions. Greg said so far the police are very pleased with the results and one day recently in Warrnambool Court five perpetrators were locked up – either with prison sentences or further remand. Greg said it is very rewarding work but admitted that realistically family violence will never be completely eradicated – but good policing does make a difference. Police aim to stop the cycle, get kids away from family violence situations, get Mum and Dad support so police can prevent future perpetrators.