It’s hard to keep track of the women murdered in Australia. There are too many: in recent years, more than one a week. However, thanks to our careful monitoring of the media, police contacts and the amazing work of The Red Heart Campaign, we do our best.
Each woman had her own story. Each had dreams, potential and aspirations. Most lived quiet lives. Some were mothers, some were not. Some were employed, some were not. Some had higher education, some did not. In their deaths, though, they had three things in common: for almost all, they died at the hands of someone who knew them very well, usually by someone who had once said, 'I love you', usually by a man [and, NO, this is not man-bashing or man-hating, it is simply a fact] and, for most, their death didn’t come from nowhere - many had sought help and expressed fear.
I wish there was a magic wand we could use to reverse the tide but there isn't.
This is not a woman's issue. It's not up to women to solve this.
This is not a men's issue. It's not up to men to solve this.
This is not a police issue. It's not up to the police to solve this.
This is not a court issue. It's not up to our courts to solve this.
This is EVERYONE's issue and it's up to us ALL to solve it.
The first few days and weeks after a major violent event — with the victim [usually a woman] leaving, a court hearing the dispute, going through the divorce procedures — are the most dangerous and that's why the Safe Houses are so important. They have trained professionals skilled in helping individuals find safe shelter, make safety plans and provide them with those things a woman usually leaves without such as toiletries, clothes, hygiene products and baby/child necessities.
Were it as simple as that. If only the Safe Houses received adequate government funding. But they don't and that's where charities such as impact come into play: we help provide those things most of us take for granted. Please help, the need is great and is only getting greater. Your tax deductible donation WILL make a difference. The infographic here gives you some idea of how your donation will help one or more women and her children AND, you need to know, because we don't have any paid staff or premises, more than 98 cents in every dollar donated will go to where you expected it to go - the rest goes to incorporated fees and insurance.
We can't solve the problem but we can help at grassroots level to make a very real difference to real women and their children at a very real point of crisis. Please help.
Kathy Kaplan OAM
Each woman had her own story. Each had dreams, potential and aspirations. Most lived quiet lives. Some were mothers, some were not. Some were employed, some were not. Some had higher education, some did not. In their deaths, though, they had three things in common: for almost all, they died at the hands of someone who knew them very well, usually by someone who had once said, 'I love you', usually by a man [and, NO, this is not man-bashing or man-hating, it is simply a fact] and, for most, their death didn’t come from nowhere - many had sought help and expressed fear.
I wish there was a magic wand we could use to reverse the tide but there isn't.
This is not a woman's issue. It's not up to women to solve this.
This is not a men's issue. It's not up to men to solve this.
This is not a police issue. It's not up to the police to solve this.
This is not a court issue. It's not up to our courts to solve this.
This is EVERYONE's issue and it's up to us ALL to solve it.
The first few days and weeks after a major violent event — with the victim [usually a woman] leaving, a court hearing the dispute, going through the divorce procedures — are the most dangerous and that's why the Safe Houses are so important. They have trained professionals skilled in helping individuals find safe shelter, make safety plans and provide them with those things a woman usually leaves without such as toiletries, clothes, hygiene products and baby/child necessities.
Were it as simple as that. If only the Safe Houses received adequate government funding. But they don't and that's where charities such as impact come into play: we help provide those things most of us take for granted. Please help, the need is great and is only getting greater. Your tax deductible donation WILL make a difference. The infographic here gives you some idea of how your donation will help one or more women and her children AND, you need to know, because we don't have any paid staff or premises, more than 98 cents in every dollar donated will go to where you expected it to go - the rest goes to incorporated fees and insurance.
We can't solve the problem but we can help at grassroots level to make a very real difference to real women and their children at a very real point of crisis. Please help.
Kathy Kaplan OAM
