Submission to the Senate Finance and Public Administration Reference Committee - Inquiry into Domestic Violence in Australia Prepared by the Secretariat of the Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia (FECCA) July 2014 Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia (FECCA) Unit 1, No. 4 Phipps Close Deakin ACT 2600 (02) 6282 5755 admin@fecca.org.au
Contents Introduction... 4 The prevalence and impact of domestic violence in Australia as it affects all Australians and, in particular, as it affects:... 5 i. women living with a disability... 5 ii. women from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds;... 6 iii. women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds... 6 The factors contributing to the present levels of domestic violence... 7 The adequacy of policy and community responses to domestic violence... 9 The effects of policy decisions regarding housing, legal services, and women s economic independence on the ability of women to escape domestic violence... 11 How the Federal Government can best support, contribute to, and drive the social, cultural and behavioural shifts required to eliminate violence against women and their children... 13 Any other related matters... 14 Conclusion... 14 2
About FECCA The Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia (FECCA) is the national peak body representing Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds in Australia. FECCA provides advocacy, develops policy and promotes issues on behalf of its constituency to government and the broader community. FECCA supports multiculturalism, community harmony, social justice and the rejection of all forms of discrimination and racism, so as to build a productive and culturally rich Australian society. FECCA s policies are designed around the concepts of empowerment and inclusion, and are formulated with the common good of all Australians in mind. 3
Introduction FECCA welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the Senate Finance and Public Administration Reference Committee s Inquiry into domestic violence in Australia. FECCA commends the Committee s initiative to commence the inquiry to investigate the prevalence, causes and effects of domestic violence in Australia, including how the government should support, contribute to, and drive the social, cultural and behavioral shifts required to eliminate violence against women and their children. FECCA asserts that, despite recent achievements, culminating in the development of the Second Action Plan under the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children 2010-2022, there is a continued need to assess the adequacy of policy responses and the effects of policy positions regarding housing, legal services and women s economic independence and their impact on women escaping situations of violence. FECCA remains concerned about the prevalence of violence against women in Australia despite efforts to prevent and address the main factors that influence the issue. FECCA is also concerned that reporting rates regarding incidents of violence remain low, despite efforts to encourage women to seek assistance and to ensure that the best support is available to them once they decide to do so. As FECCA has highlighted on several occasions, domestic and family violence is a significant issue in some culturally and linguistically diverse communities, particularly in those less established and coming from very different cultural backgrounds. In many such communities, the issue is often hidden as a result of cultural and religious norms discouraging women from reporting abuse. Tackling domestic violence in new and emerging communities subsequently requires an innovative, all-inclusive and tailored approach, capable of challenging beliefs and stereotypes that have been deeply embedded in cultural practices. The submission that follows is FECCA s response to the key questions put forward for consideration by the Committee and provides a broad overview of key themes and issues that are of concern to FECCA s constituency. The submission reflects a culturally and linguistically diverse perspective with a focus on new and emerging communities as a particularly vulnerable group. 4
The prevalence and impact of domestic violence in Australia as it affects all Australians and, in particular, as it affects: i. women living with a disability Research suggests that, in general, women living with disability are twice as likely to become victims of domestic violence as those living without disability 1. Most often, their vulnerabilities are exacerbated by their impairment, their dependence on others for assistance, and their inability to effectively access support services. Violence can be used as a tool to maintain control over women with disability and to instil fear, which is further problematised by the perpetuator often being the person that the victim is depending upon. 2 Women with disability from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds face intersectional disadvantages determined by their impairment and their cultural background, which can bring with it cultural stigma towards disability and domestic violence, language barriers, lack of familiarity with the support systems available, and lack of awareness of their rights. More information on some of the specific issues affecting culturally and linguistically diverse women will be discussed in the following sections. Despite anecdotal evidence highlighting that women with disability from either mainstream Australia or culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds are most likely to become victims of violence, the lack of reporting and limited data collection and research make it difficult to establish the prevalence of domestic violence that affects these groups. Gaps in knowledge and data collection directly impact on the appropriateness of policy and associated processes that are designed to prevent violence or to provide support to victims. The need for a nationwide research into the prevalence of violence against women with disability and the support systems available to them has been highlighted by several reports looking at improving response strategies. 3 A report produced by the Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association of New South Wales, for instance, highlighted that service providers are often ill-equipped or unable to support the needs of women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds with disability as they encounter difficulties in physically contacting them and often lack awareness of the issues they are facing and resources to effectively address such issues. 4 As a result, despite multiple vulnerabilities determined by the intersection between disability, their cultural and linguistically backgrounds and violence, these women are less likely to receive assistance. 1 Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association of New South Wales (MDAA), Violence Through Our Eyes. Improving Access to Services for Women from Non-English Speaking Backgrounds with Disability Experiencing Violence, February 2010, p.24, available at http://www.adfvc.unsw.edu.au/pdf%20files/violence%20through%20our%20eyes.pdf 2 Ibid., p.11 3 Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC), Emerging Issues in domestic/family violence research, Research in Practice Report, No10, April 2010, p.5, available at http://www.aic.gov.au/documents/b/7/2/%7bb720c47b-56f2-4c4d-aa2c-57a2278fd87e%7drip10_001.pdf 4 MDAA, Op. cit., p.7 5
Women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds living with disability who become victims of domestic violence have, in general, fewer support systems available to them to leave the abusive relationship. 5 Coming from an immigrant background sometimes means that victims have no extended family or support networks available to them, and have, in general, fewer support options, resulting from their lack of familiarity with services, inability to access services due to their impairment, limited English skills and no access to interpreters, as well as limited options to access culturally appropriate information and service provision. ii. women from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds; Issues impacting on women form Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds are beyond the scope of FECCA s work, which focuses on issues impacting on people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. iii. women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds There is currently very limited comprehensive and accurate data and statistics available concerning culturally and linguistically diverse women s experiences of domestic and family violence in Australia. Anecdotal evidence shows that the rate of violence perpetrated against culturally and linguistically diverse women is high, and is determined by intersectional disadvantages. According to a research compiled by the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC), some studies on the nature and the prevalence of domestic abuse in immigrant communities have produced mixed results, while others have indicated that women from non-english speaking backgrounds could experience higher levels of violence 6. Other findings have indicated that cultural values and diverse immigration experiences add further complexity in relation to experiences of domestic violence and the likelihood of women reporting abuse and seeking assistance. 7 In order to understand how culturally and linguistically diverse women are affected by domestic violence, and to be able to develop appropriate response strategies, there is a need for more disaggregated data collection and reporting. It is necessary to determine the rates of violence against women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and the different variables and factors that influence them, including cultural background, economic status, level of education, religious beliefs and location. In its submission to the development of the Second Action under the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children, FECCA has highlighted the need for comprehensive data collection as well as strategies to encourage women to report violence. FECCA is pleased to see that the Second Action Plan released in June of this year does incorporate a focus on culturally and linguistically diverse women and continues to build the evidence base by expanding and enhancing data collection and research. 5 AIC, Ibid. 6 Nafiseh Ghafournia, Battered at home, played down in policy: Migrant women and domestic violence in Australia, Aggression and Violent Behaviour, 2011, issue 16, p.208, available at http://lib.scnu.edu.cn/ngw/ngw/xwbk/battered%20at%20home%20played%20down%20in%20policy%20mig rant%20women%20and%20domestic%20violence%20in%20australia.pdf 7 AIC, Ibid. 6
The impact of domestic violence on victims from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds is compounded by their hesitancy to seek assistance, report the abuser and leave the relationship. Some of the contributing factors include social stigma associated with domestic violence and separation or divorce in certain cultures, fear of deportation, unemployment, financial dependency, language barriers and lack of awareness of services, rights and support available. Most often, these women will have limited support networks around them, or by contrast, their immediate family can pressure them into accepting violence and can continue abuse. Victims can be reluctant to confide in others as a result of domestic violence being viewed as a private matter in particular cultures. In addition, lack of access to interpreters and culturally appropriate services, constitute additional deterrents to seeking support. 8 Without the support of their families or communities, and without being able to access other support services that are available, many of these women see no other option but to remain in an abusive relationship and endure the violence which can often have severe consequences including death. As has been noted, for instance: Lack of knowledge and access to services can exacerbate the isolation that all battered women experience and make leaving more problematic, with death as the ultimate outcome in some cases. There are certainly many indications that NESB [non Englishspeaking background] women are less likely to escape the violent situation than are the Australia-born. This may help us understand the finding that a disproportionate number of women killed by partners are immigrants. 9 The factors contributing to the present levels of domestic violence The incidence of domestic violence in culturally and linguistically diverse communities can be determined by a range of factors stemming from cultural and religious beliefs about the role of women in the society and marriage, immigration experience and background, social isolation and mental health issues associated with past trauma or the immigration experience itself. Immigration experience Very often, people from immigrant and refugee backgrounds have to deal, upon their arrival to Australia, with a complexity of issues that cause stress and frustration, including mental health issues caused by previous trauma, the immigration experience itself, and the process of adapting to a new culture, as well as social isolation and economic issues. Without justifying abusing behaviour, FECCA recognises that the lack of ability to manage the stressful experience of immigration, in conjunction with an individuals cultural beliefs, facilitate family and domestic violence. The immigration experience is particularly relevant to families that come from a refugee background as they bring with them an additional emotional baggage relating to their experiences in fleeing their country of origin (such as armed conflict, persecution, etc.). The refugee experience places additional burdens on a family s capacity to deal with the 8 Ibid. 9 P. Easteal (1996) as cited in Nafiseh Ghafournia, Op. cit., p. 208 7
stress of resettlement. Families, and in particular, men who have been previously exposed to violence, torture or trauma, can sometimes resort to violence themselves, in order to deal with stress. 10 Cultural beliefs and gender stereotypes Members of new and emerging communities in Australia are very often characterised by significant cultural differences and traditional gender stereotypes. They very often come from religious or cultural belief systems where there is shame associated with reporting or discussing sexual violence. In addition, they often bring different understandings of what violence is and consider divorce or separation from the husband unacceptable. What is perceived as domestic violence also differs from culture to culture. For example, as AIC has revealed in a recent report, women from particular cultures are less likely than those in the main sample to regard forcing one s partner to have sex to be an example of domestic violence 11. In many communities, domestic violence is only associated with physical assault and excludes other forms of abuse such as verbal emotional, financial or sexual abuse. 12 In some immigrant and refugee communities, the man continues to be considered the bread-winner of the family while women are responsible for household tasks. This means that women from new and emerging communities are very often economically dependent on their husbands, are financially insecure as a result, have no or limited language skills, can be illiterate, have very limited prospects of employment, and often rely on their husbands to communicate with the outside world. 13 Because of the barriers that they face with regard to communicating beyond the private realm, they lack access to information outside their immediate family, are not familiar with their rights and are not aware of the support systems available to them. Their submissive position within the family and lack of independence makes them more susceptible to becoming victimised. Clashes between traditional beliefs and mainstream Australian culture can be seen as a factor facilitating violence if the husband becomes anxious about a perceived shift in attitude on behalf of his wife who might be inclined to become more assertive and embrace a more autonomous role in the society. This can generate violent behaviour if the husband is trying to regain control over his partner and to instil fear. In some new and emerging communities, women risk being socially isolated and excluded from their families and communities if they seek to become more independent and autonomous. Moreover, they can also experience abuse from the immediate family, suffer from isolation and lack any form of emotional or other types of support to report abuse and to exit the relationship. Due to the barriers they face and their cultural beliefs, 10 UNSW Centre for Refugee Research, From Horror to Hope: Addressing domestic violence in refugee communities resettled in Australia training kit, Refugee communities and domestic violence, pp.6-11, available at http://www.crr.unsw.edu.au/media/file/1_session_5_text.pdf 11 AIC, Ibid. 12 Ethnic Communities Councils of Victoria (ECCV), Insights into adapting to change: women from new and emerging communities, 2013, p. 9, available to http://eccv.org.au/library/v2_final_2013_insights_into_adapting_to_change_women_from_new_and_emer ging_communities.pdf 13 Nafiseh Ghafournia, Ibid. 8
women from these communities are more reluctant to speak about their private life, including domestic violence, and are less likely to seek support. The adequacy of policy and community responses to domestic violence Policy responses Despite improvements and positive steps taken through the implementation of the National Plan, there are still numerous gaps in policy and legislation regarding domestic violence against women, which means that victims from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds fail to receive the support they need. Feedback received by FECCA reveals that policy implementation and service delivery often fails to recognise the specific circumstances and needs of women coming from new and emerging communities. Community workers, including legal and health practitioners that come into contact with victims of domestic violence from new and emerging communities are often not prepared, and do not have the requisite cultural knowledge to work with, and understand, the complexity of their situation, and often trainings and practice models are not made available to them. A report produced by intouch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence, reveals how law enforcement officers fail to use interpreters when interacting with victim of abuse, which severely impedes effective communication 14. This results in negative experiences in dealing with the police, which, in turn, discourages women from accessing such services when in danger. The report highlights that the same concern is valid in relation to other service providers. This makes women feel like their situation is not taken seriously, that they are marginalised and helpless. Lack of cultural sensitivity and stereotyping result in women losing trust in the ability of services to assist them and offer solutions to deal with their specific situation. FECCA has also received community feedback about concerns in the community that Australian doctors often fail to understand the culturally specific manner in which some women from new and emerging communities talk about domestic violence, and that they are therefore unable to identify their experience as being violent. One woman s personal account criticised her doctor for not effectively explaining that, under Australian law, she had been domestically abused, despite her having given insights into her domestic situation. 15 Another issue raised at the FECCA s community consultations was the lack of culturally sensitive women s health and domestic violence services is discouraging immigrants and refugee from seeking support and reporting incidents of violence. A 14 intouch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence, Barriers to the Justice System Faced by CALD Women Experiencing Family Violence, 2010, p.23, available at http://thelookout.sites.go1.com.au/sites/thelookout.sites.go1.com.au/files/legal%2520barriers%2520report %25202010.pdf 15 Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia, Multicultural Access and Equity: Strengthening connections between communities and services, June 2013, p.53, available at http://fecca.org.au/images/stories/documents/submissions/2013/fecca_multicultural_access_equity_report_j une2013.pdf 9
consultation participant, for example, highlighted that the lack of CALD [culturally and linguistically diverse]-specific shelters propagated a dangerous cycle because CALD women are often unwilling to turn to non-cald-specific shelters, and therefore return to abusive husbands and partners 16. In addition, lack of confidence in mainstream service delivery due to cultural beliefs is making women from new and emerging communities more reluctant to seek assistance. According to research undertaken by AIC women from culturally and linguistically diverse communities who sought assistance for family and domestic violence reported a negative experience with the services, while other women believed that if they decided to seek assistance with a mainstream service, they might not be believed 17. In order to ensure prompt and appropriate support for the victim, as well as prevent violent abuse, FECCA strongly believes that cultural competence training and professional support should be made available not only to domestic or family violence workers but to all professionals likely to interact with women at risk of being victims of domestic abuse, including health and legal practitioners, police, Centrelink officers and social workers. The importance of employing bi-cultural workers is also cited as a solution in this context, as the worker s own system of beliefs and cultural attitudes can influence the way they respond to cases and can help victims feel more comfortable about speaking with someone from their own background who understands their circumstances. 18 Community responses Due to cultural attitudes towards domestic violence and marriage in general, community responses are not always supportive of the victim and fail to sanction abusive behaviour. Thus women in these communities may feel undervalued by their communities, underrepresented, isolated and lonely 19. As highlighted by intouch, in many instances, women reported that their communities were aware of the violence they were subjected to, but failed to help them, while others felt threatened by their own families and their husbands families if they decided to leave the abusive marriage. 20 Enduring the husband s violent behaviour and staying in an abusive marriage is sometimes seen as a virtue and as a sign of a being good wife whose responsibility is to be submissive. In some communities, domestic violence is seen as an internal matter which should be dealt with within the community and without interference from law enforcement representatives or service providers. In such instances, women are disempowered and discouraged by religious or community leaders to leave the relationship or to report the abuse. According to a report prepared by the Hills Holroyd Parramatta Migrant Resource Centre and the Centre for Refugee Research from the University of NSW, women will generally contact their community or religious leaders first, as well as other influential 16 Ibid., p.96 17 AIC, Ibid. 18 intouch, Ibid. 19 ECCV, p.5 20 InTouch, p.16 10
people in their community and extended family members, for advice on their relationships. However the report noted that many community leaders and religious leaders try to cover up DV [domestic violence]. They do not provide appropriate response or support to both victims and perpetrators 21. Leaders of traditional communities will generally be the most conservative with regard to the roles that women and men play in their culture and they have a very strong and authoritative position with the community. Very often, the victims themselves become the offender in the eyes of the community members for trying to challenge traditional customs and beliefs around gender and family: The concept of marriage expands to a union between families and communities, not simply between two individuals. This notion has major consequences for a woman who wishes to leave her husband. Separation is perceived as a threat to the extended family and community. It is she who is perceived as the destabilising influence, rather than the abuser. 22 Some communities responses to domestic violence are motivated by a protective attitude towards what is perceived as their cultural identity and values which should be preserved and protected against interference from outside. In some instances communities prefer to protect themselves and their image by not reporting the social problems they face so that they avoid discrediting and negative profiling of their community 23. The effects of policy decisions regarding housing, legal services, and women s economic independence on the ability of women to escape domestic violence As highlighted above, the adequacy of policies has a direct impact on reassuring victims that leaving the relationship and seeking assistance would lead to the best outcome for them. Housing is, in general, a major issue for culturally and linguistically diverse communities, but immigrant and refugee women seeking to escape violence at home who can be indiscriminately affected and at high risk of homelessness. This can be due to eligibility criteria or cultural and language barriers to accessing domestic violence support services, women s refuges and shelters and homelessness support services. Some of the most common issues identified by FECCA s constituency with regards to housing refer to the lack of access to and the long waiting lists for social housing and the barriers faced in entering the private market due to affordability, discrimination, language 21 The Hills Holroyd Parramatta Migrant Resource Centre & The Centre for Refugee Research UNSW (2010), You can t hide it - Family Violence Shows. Family Violence in New & Emerging Refugee Communities, p.51, available at http://www.communitybuilders.nsw.gov.au/fv_report_v4._6_final_edited_26_7_10.pdf 22 InTouch, p. 17 23 UNSW Centre for Refugee Research, Op.cit. 11
barriers and difficulties in navigating it. For immigrant or refugee women with disability that fall victims of domestic violence these challenges are multiplied. The limited availability of culturally sensitive homelessness services and women s shelters along with a lack of interpreters have a direct impact on women from culturally and linguistically diverse communities seeking to leave an abusive relationship. Language barriers and sensitivities around their cultural practices can make some immigrant or refugee women more reluctant to leave their homes and move in shelters that are not culturally appropriate. Gaps in policies and legislation leave a large number of victims that are secondary holders of certain temporary visas without support and access to emergency housing or shelter. Victims of domestic violence on these visas who attempt to escape an abusive relationship find that they are ineligible for assistance and lack the basic legal rights to access basic support services including social security, Medicare, legal assistance or to seek refuge at shelters. The flow-on effects compel the victims to remain in the abusive relationship and to refrain from reporting it. Access to housing is compelled by the victims economic independence and their ability to support themselves financially. Family and domestic violence does not occur in isolation from other economic and social challenges faced by individuals. Settlement services in general should play a major role in ensuring that women from immigrant and refugee backgrounds are empowered both economically and socially so that they are not dependent on their families and can support themselves in case violence occurs. Their ability to speak English, to access information and to gain employment is paramount to their well-being and their ability to make the right choice to leave a violent marriage. Gaps in settlement services such as insufficient English language classes, lack of access to education, transport and childcare services along with inappropriate employment and training support have a direct negative effect on their ability to live independently. As many women from new and emerging communities have mainly household responsibilities while their husbands are the main source of income, it is important that policies geared towards improving their independence are addressing all of the above. Many of the women eligible to access legal services might not be aware of, or fully understand, their rights, and fail to seek legal advice and support. Lack of effective use of interpreters and limited cultural competency of service provider staff also affect women s ability to confidently access services on the basis of the latter believing they will not be properly understood. Moreover, lack of understanding of the legal system in Australia combined with language barriers can be very intimidating for victims from immigrant or refugee backgrounds, as they might fail to understand how the legal proceedings taken against their husbands will impact them and their families. The cultural competency of legal services is also important to ensure that a victim s situation is analysed and addressed within the appropriate cultural context, that the characteristics of the cultural background and immigration experience of the victim is understood, and that the appropriate language about domestic violence is used, especially when different cultures have different understandings of what constitutes domestic violence. 12
How the Federal Government can best support, contribute to, and drive the social, cultural and behavioural shifts required to eliminate violence against women and their children In light of the issues discussed above, FECCA presents the following recommendations to the Federal Government: Data collection and research 1. Disaggregated data and research on the prevalence of domestic and family violence within culturally and linguistically diverse communities should be collated at a national level to determine the rates of violence and the different variables and factors that influence it, including cultural or ethnic background, economic status, level of education, religious/cultural beliefs and location. The collected data and research should subsequently inform the development of a targeted national strategy to tackle violence across diverse communities. Community education and awareness 2. Adult education programs with a focus on anger and stress management should be developed and implemented, in order to help adult males and their families deal with stresses caused by the immigration experience. Adult education programs could be organised as one-on-one discussion sessions, or forums organised by the local community group. The sessions could also include a focus on the rights of women and children in Australia, and strategies to improve family wellbeing. This could also be complemented by more effective information dissemination strategies for new and emerging communities on the services available to them to deal with mental health issues and family and domestic violence cases when they arise. 3. Cultural beliefs that nurture family violence should be tackled through community education and awareness campaigns, with the intention of addressing gender issues in schools and promoting gender equality at a young age, when understandings and attitudes are formed. Such a strategy will ensure that cultural barriers are challenged and that harmful traditional beliefs are not perpetuated over generations. Young men and boys from new and emerging communities should receive particular support to understand and accept the different roles for women in Australian society, and build strong foundational principles at a young age. 4. Attitudinal and cultural changes towards family violence also need to be targeted not only at men, but also at young people and extended family members. Religious and community leaders could be engaged to promote awareness, positive and respectful community attitudes and to speak out against family violence. Engaging religious or community leaders that have strong credibility and a stance within the community will also facilitate better outcomes towards a climate of zero tolerance to family and domestic violence. 5. The Federal Government should seek to empower and encourage communities to identify and respond to domestic and family violence through providing grants to community organisations to hold localised awareness-raising events and activities. Given that violence against women in certain communities is very often nurtured by 13
cultural beliefs, it is imperative that the issue is tackled at a community level, and by community organisations that are the closest to the issue, are culturally aware, and have the ability to effectively engage with members of the communities they represent. In general, members of communities respond more effectively to campaigns that are run at community levels and are developed within the cultural framework they understand and can relate to. Policy responses and service delivery 6. The Australian Government should develop and implement a national framework to address violence that is culturally appropriate and responsive to the specific needs of people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities. The framework should aim to assist workers to understand the complexity of the immigration and refugee experiences and the ways in which this can make families vulnerable to domestic violence. It should provide guidelines on how to engage with people from diverse backgrounds on sensitive topics related to family violence, including awareness about sensitivities regarding the way women from these communities speak about, and understand, abuse. In order to ensure prompt and appropriate support for the victim, as well as prevent violent abuse, cultural competence training and professional support should be made available not only to domestic or family violence workers, but to all professionals likely to interact with women at risk of becoming victims of domestic abuse, including health and legal practitioners, police, Centrelink officers and social workers. Improving service delivery should also focus on building trust and encouraging women from culturally and linguistically diverse communities to access mainstream services and be confident that their complex needs and particular situations would be well-understood and catered for. 7. Relevant settlement services should be targeted and maximised to prevent and address domestic violence by empowering women, balancing gender inequalities and developing women s abilities to live an independent life through improved access to education, improved English skills and better employment prospects. Any other related matters FECCA has no further related matters to discuss. Conclusion FECCA recommends that the Government should embrace a holistic approach to addressing all the aspects of the refugee and immigrant experience as well as the specific factors that influence the incidence of domestic violence in culturally and linguistically diverse communities. Such an approach will ensure that strategies and programs are more tailored to address the specific triggers and facilitators of domestic and family violence. In concluding, FECCA highlights that, due to close community ties 14
and strong cultural identities amongst newer arrivals, it is important that Government works closely with communities affected by, and at risk of, domestic violence, and engages with their leaders to tackle the issue, especially where traditional gender norms and stereotypes are strongly embedded in a community s culture. Attitudinal changes must come from within the community in order to be most effective, and must emanate from the cultural authorities that specific communities are able to best relate to, and through education that is culturally appropriate and sensitive. FECCA is grateful for the opportunity to contribute feedback on behalf of culturally and linguistically diverse communities through this submission and the associated recommendations that are put forward for the Committee s consideration. 15