Dorothy is very happy to be working with Afri-Aus Care under the guidance of the amazing CEO, Selba-Gondoza Luka. Afri-Aus Care programs include the Culturally Appropriate Womens group who use the UBUNTU guidelines and the Positive Change Model.
Rotary Melbourne members maybe interested in learning about a program where horses help women who have been traumatised and abused.
Very important: For Family, Friends and Neighbours -how to assess, discuss and find support for a victim of abuse.
Thank you Caroline Springs for promoting the "3RRR's" of primary prevention in your latest Bulletin. You rock!
What a terrific club brimming with Rotary fellowship! I was invited to present last week at the Rotary Nomads E-Club of Australia online. Thank you for making me so welcome. Did you know when I asked if they might have a Champion to represent their Club, FIVE hands shot up! One member asked if they could download and show the film on Elder Abuse at a theatre night. "Yes please!", I replied. Thank you Rotary Nomads. You rock!!! https://www.rotarynomads.org/
Rotary SAFE Families is witnessing, and very appreciative of the growing interest in its campaign in Stopping Abuse in Families Everywhere.
Last month, our first online meeting of some of our many Rotary Club Champions from Queensland, NSW and Victoria was exciting and optimistic! We had brain storming, previewing of different primary prevention methods (which are noted in this newsletter), we even had some fun in an energetic hour online.
We now have 50+ Rotary Clubs/Districts and Champions enlisting their support for Rotary SAFE Families. Requests for our program have also come from South African and Canadian Clubs. Onwards and Upwards!
Note: next meeting online for Rotary SAFE Families Champions and those interested in this initiative will be:
Monday, 11 October, 2021 @ 5.00 pm AEST
Invitations will be emailed out soon and detailed Zoom link will be sent after your RSVP.
Saturday, 11 and Sunday 12 September: I am delighted to have been invited to promote Rotary SAFE Families at our Rotary Zone 8 Conference for Rotary Foundation Australia.
Book online: https://rotaryzone8.org/
Breakout Session: "Impacting Lives - How Our Foundation Changes Lives"
Presenters: District 9800, PDG Philip Archer and Dorothy Gilmour - family violence prevention
Time: 2.30 -3.30 pm AEST. Saturday, 11 September.
Thanks to the Clubs who have invited me to present at a meeting. Unfortunately, some of these have had to be postponed due to Covid lockdowns. I look forward to presenting at: Canterbury, Fitzroy, North Balwyn. Please contact me: info@rotarysafefamilies.org.au if you would like me to present to your Club or organisation.
Newsflash: we are producing two X 10 minute films for Rotary SAFE Families' resources for any Rotary Club and public dowloading, incorporating the use of the Rotary SAFE Families' "3RRR's" of prevention of abuse to men and children. More details next month.
Life goes on with our entrance into the new season of Spring, 2021. Let it not be overwhelmed with Covid. There is too much Rotary work to be done!
The following story is of the outstanding work being done in the acknowledgement and prevention of elder abuse. Elder abuse is the most under-reported type of abuse in Australia.
What does SAFE Families AMBASSADOR and Champion status mean for Rotary Clubs and Community Organisations?
July has been a very active month for Rotary SAFE Families. We have gathered new Champions of Rotary SAFE Families and greatly appreciate their support.
We have launched a Facebook and LinkedIn pages. I hope you will find us on these social media sites and would love if you could take the time to "Comment" "Like" and "Share" or at least one of these. The more people who "Like" the post, improves the readership and thus the messages of Stopping Abuse in Families Everywhere, can reach many more targets.
Our first online meeting of Champions and Ambassador Clubs is planned for this week and if you have't received an invitation but would like to attend our first "brainstorming" of our "work in progress", please email me: info@rotarysafefamilies.org.au
The date: Thursday, 5 August. The time: 6.00 - 7.00pm AEST.
Next month's Newsletter will give the results and thoughts of the meeting participants.
Onwards and Upwards. Dorothy Gilmour
Elder abuse, a form of family abuse, is the mistreatment of an older person by someone with whom the older person has a relationship of trust. Massively under-reported.
Rotary SAFE Families has its own Facebook page!. Please "Like" "Share" and "Comment". Help spread our messages far and wide throughout Rotary and your communities. https://www.facebook.com/www.rotarysafefamilies.org.au
What do these Clubs have in common? ... They are part of SAFE Families "Stopping Abuse in Families Everywhere" as Ambassador Clubs and Champions.
Bateman’s Bay, Ballina on Richmond, Southbank, Box Hill Central, Yarraville, Lavington, Wyndham, Malvern, Mt Eliza, Brunswick Tullamarine, Doncaster, Caulfield, Keilor, Lilydale, Nunawading, Brighton North, Central Melbourne, Brighton, Horsham East, District 9600, Kew, District 9800.
Have your Club name added to the list!
Email Dorothy for information how you and your organisation can be simply involved in Rotary SAFE Families: info@rotarysafefamilies.org.au
Read about how your Club can make a difference by becoming a supporter of Rotary SAFE Families Stopping Abuse in Families Everywhere.
We need a "champion" from every Rotary Club and community organisation in Australia. Big ask, but achievable with your help. If you have someone in your Club/Organisation who would be the contact person for latest news and communications from SAFE Families, please send me their details: info@rotarysafefamilies.org.au You may like to change this person annually but please support us by providing a contact person. Remember, we can make a difference in prevention of family abuse.
Dorothy has had queries from her guest speaker presentations, regarding the referral of a victim or perpetrator of family abuse to Police. I have been asked if the referrer could be sued for informing. The attached is taken directly from a Victoria Police website: https://www.police.vic.gov.au/family-violence#discreet-help For your immediate downloading: Family_violence_help_from_Vic._Police.pdf
Do you remember in 1985, the Traffic Accident Commission promoted their slogan: "If you drink'n drive ... you're a bloody idiiot!"
It took many years of repetition and promotion for the message to sink in! It still hasn't registered in everyone's mental capacity, but it has saved the lives of thousands of drivers and passengers and pedestrians.
Why can't we stop abuse in families using the same method of repetition and promotion for the message "Abuse is NOT the norm"?
Our Police and community agencies are doing their best to change the story, but they need our help. Simple! If every Rotarian and person would apply the 3 RRR's, there would be change.
Rotary SAFE Families is now in its third year with much "work in progress" achieved. We plan to provide you with the latest updates on family abuse in Australia. We must all become responsible for striving towards cultural change with the Stopping Abuse in Families Everywhere. We hope that all our wonderful Rotary Ambassador Clubs and Rotarians, our community partners and those who are seeking change within their own families, will read our Newsletters.
We shall post answers to queries made via the website: www.rotarysafefamilies.org.au and at presentations by Dorothy to Rotary Clubs around Australia.
We must NOT be put off trying, taking the small steps - We CAN together "make a difference"!
Dorothy Gilmour was privileged to be invited to present Rotary SAFE Families at the April, 2021 Rotary Centenary Peace Symposium. Along with an academic from Swinburne University and Victoria Police Superintendent, Dorothy discussed the latest information and progress being made to prevent abuse occurring in Australia.
Have you checked out the Rotary International blog site "Rotary Voices" with stories from around the world? One of our projects was showcased in April 2021.
Rotary Club of Ballina on Richmond is a stalwart supporting Club in Stopping Abuse in Families Everywhere and "Rotary says NO to Domestic Violence!". This article showcases their Domestic Violence project at their recent Rotary Centenary Baton Relay.
Family violence occurs in all Communities, Cultures and Socio-economic groups and is not acceptable in any part of any culture. Family violence is against the law. There is no excuse for abusing a loved one.
You are the missing piece as we gather Rotary Clubs around Australia to create one collective voice: Stopping Abuse in Families Everywhere!
A challenging article from an address to the Rotary Club of Palm Beach, Rockingham by Holly-Anne which was re-printed in Rotary Down Under
