In partnership with DVNSW.
Tomorrow marks the beginning of May – also known as Domestic Violence Prevention Month and today we are in the car with peak body Domestic Violence NSW CEO, Delia Donovan, as she moves between meetings and prepares to launch the DVNSW's campaign ‘24 Hours on the Frontlines’.
“This year for Domestic Violence Prevention Month we are showcasing those tireless frontline workers” Delia explains “because we know their work never stops and it’s certainly not just one month a year. It’s seven days a week, it’s 24 hours a day.”
Last year 64 women in Australia were killed due to gendered violence with the majority of deaths occurring in NSW. We are not even halfway through 2024 and already we’ve almost surpassed over half that number of deaths – with NSW again carrying the majority. The systemic issue of domestic violence is more visible than ever before but those working tirelessly on the frontlines of violence often go unrecognised. This year and this month – Domestic Violence NSW has decided to change that.
“Here at Domestic Violence NSW we know first-hand that for every hour, someone like me is working hard to protect someone like you. I really want you to meet them – and support them to help end domestic and family violence”.
Delia explains that while Domestic Violence Prevention Month “is significant for our sector, [what is] even more significant is the fact that our sector has turned 50 this year”. Back in 1974, domestic violence wasn’t criminalised and those experiencing it had nowhere to go. This is where Domestic Violence NSW’s origin story begins.
“So basically 50 years ago you had these incredible trailblazer feminists squatting in derelict houses to ensure women and children fleeing domestic violence had somewhere to go.” The admiration in Delia’s voice is unmissable. “I mean, they had no funding, they had no support, but they knew they had to do something”. This is the legacy frontline workers continue to carry today.
“We are so lucky to have so many of these incredible feminists still working in the sector.” These are the local heroes and support services that Delia wants us to not just recognise – but support and invest in.
Join us this month as we follow the 24 hours on the Frontlines campaign run by Domestic Violence NSW. You can follow the campaign on Domestic Violence NSW’s Instagram, Facebook or Tiktok. If you want to know what the government should be doing in order to stop violence before it starts – you can read Domestic Violence NSW’s pre-budget submission here. If you want to join the fight against domestic violence, check out their recent pledge to see how you can make a difference.