The hot topics that have Tasmanians talking Have your say, email talkingpoints@themercury.com.au
In 2023, 64 women died as a result of family violence. So far this year, 22 women have been killed. That is more than one woman a week. If the current rate continues, more than 78 women will be killed as a result of family violence this year.
Tasmania Legal Aid wants to play our part, in a range of ways, to stop family violence in our state.
At TLA, we see its tragic outcomes every day – our own state’s statistics are daunting. Between 2019-20 and 2022-23, reported family violence incidents grew from 3772 to 4669. We say “reported” because we know so many more victim-survivors are afraid to come forward.
TLA delivers a lot of community legal education, and we see firsthand the benefits of early intervention.
We also know young people want information about respectful relationships and consent and this information delivered at the right time, in the right place, will start the cultural shift we so desperately need.
Most Tasmanians would agree that we need to teach healthy and respectful relationships and that this journey must start early in every child’s life. This includes the three levels of a child or young person’s development: primary school years, adolescence and the transition to young adults.
TLA wants to be part of the solution. With a new government now sworn in, there is an opportunity for Tasmania to lead the way in early intervention and prevention of family violence.
The Lawyer in Schools programs have been shown to positively benefit the lives of children and young people by providing students with increased understanding of their legal rights, responsibilities and the legal system. Evaluations have also found that students experience an improvement in health and wellbeing, and feel safer and more supported.
TLA believes that all Tasmanian schools – public and independent – would benefit from a Lawyer in Schools program. Currently, no such program exists in Tasmania.
As a statewide service, TLA is well placed to deliver these sorts of programs, which would see legal practitioners working within the school’s wellness support team alongside nurses, social and youth workers. Students would meet with the school lawyer in the same way they would access their school social worker or counsellor.
Importantly, this would include early education and prevention for students who use, or are at risk of using, family and sexual violence in intimate partner relationships. Providing preventive services and referrals is just as important as providing responses to family and sexual violence.
Students would receive advice on specific legal issues that they encounter and lawyers would then link the students with existing services to provide ongoing help.
By working together with our communities, TLA, schools and our political leaders can eliminate the tragic and senseless deaths that occur as a result of family violence. One death is too many. And 78 is certainly a crisis that we can and must avoid.