Demand for DV services to 'surge' - Northern Beaches Advocate

A Northern Beaches charity is preparing itself for a wave of domestic violence support.

LocalKind Northern Beaches, which is the new name for the Manly-based not-for-profit charity formerly known as Community Northern Beaches, says that changes to legislation to criminalise coercive control will cause demand for services to ‘surge’ when the new laws come into effect on 01 July 2024.

CEO of LocalKind Northern Beaches Craig Stevens said they expect a community education campaign (video above) in the wake of the new laws to raise awareness, particularly among victims who will be better able to identify when it is happening to them.

Craig Stevens

“We know that the legal and justice sectors are undergoing extensive training in coercive control. The NSW Government defines coercive control as when someone repeatedly hurts, scares or isolates another person to control them.

“Examples of coercive control are emotional abuse, shaming, degrading, humiliating, social isolation, limiting freedoms or controlling choices, harassing, stalking, monitoring, sexual abuse, animal abuse, financial abuse, cultural and spiritual abuse, and reproductive abuse,” explained Mr Stevens.

LocalKind Northern Beaches is part of the Northern Beaches Domestic Violence Network, providing complementary and supplementary services alongside network partners, such as the Northern Beaches Women’s Shelter, Women & Children First, and Lifeline Northern Beaches, to support those experiencing domestic violence, which includes coercive control.

“LocalKind’s Community Drop-in is usually the starting point for many concerned about their safety and well-being. The Drop-in is a safe, welcoming, no-strings-attached, no-appointment-necessary entry point to accessing support.

“The team, on stand-by during operational hours (Monday to Friday, 10.00am to 2.00pm), ensures all interactions are discreet, prioritises confidentiality, and maintains a delicate balance between providing support and safeguarding the safety and privacy of those seeking help.

“The majority of those who call on the help of LocalKind are women experiencing violence or coercive control who are not yet ready or able to leave their partner or accommodation.

“It can take months or years to reach the readiness to leave. During this time, LocalKind addresses immediate needs, carries out risks and safety planning, introduces required services, and provides emotional support, advice, and advocacy,” said Mr Stevens.

Mr Stevens said that social services and the not-for-profit sector were already seeing an increase in demand for services, and has asked for support from the Northern Beaches community.

“There are already around 250 new cases of domestic violence and coercive control reported each year on the Northern Beaches. We expect this to increase significantly as more victim-survivors recognise their situation and realise their rights under the new legislation.

“We want to have the capacity to meet the growing needs of our community by extending the team and opening another Community Drop-in location on the Northern Beaches so that anyone suffering in this way can approach us and lean on us for support.

“We receive some government funding which helps but doesn’t even cover our current costs. We are, therefore, reaching out to the local community now and asking you to donate whatever you can to help us step up to this challenge. Even $20 will add up to a significant impact on local life,” said Mr Stevens.

For more information about domestic abuse and coercive control legislation, visit the NSW Government website. Those wishing to support LocalKind Northern Beaches can donate on their website, and tick the ‘Domestic and Family Violence’ box on the donations page to direct a contribution to this cause.

Images: Northern Beaches Advocate

Operating out of a Northern Beaches Council owned building at 52 Raglan Street, Manly, opposite Manly Oval, LocalKind Northern Beaches is a community-based organisation supporting vulnerable and at-risk people with a range of services for domestic and family violence, homelessness, refugees and families, youth and children.