An online petition urging the state government to invest in more women’s refuges in the western suburbs has attracted only 17 signatures in a month.
The Zonta Club of Melton, which launched the petition and works to empower victims of domestic violence, has called on the government to immediately fund more transition places in the west.
Club president Dawn Clark says it’s imperative that women and children fleeing violence have access to safe accommodation.
“In the west, we have only one refuge – and that’s not fair because we have a huge percentage of domestic violence cases here,” Ms Clark said.
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“We’re very hopeful change is coming, but I’m asking the state government to get serious about providing extra funding.”
Ms Clark, who suffered at the hands of her husband, says she believes society’s attitudes towards domestic violence are changing. At 16, she married a man who was “very abusive and under the influence of alcohol”. At age 22 – now 40 years ago – she finally plucked up the courage to ask for help.
“I had to beg on my knees at a Melbourne police station to get help. The officers told me I had to be willing to press charges,” Ms Clark said. “But now [domestic violence] is a criminal offence; it’s a huge step forward.
“And I know the Melton police are fantastic.”
Ms Clark called on more people to “sign” the online petition and show their support to the campaign for more refuges.
One of the signatories, Christine Warke, said: “No one should be forced to live with violence because they have nowhere to go”.
Sign the petition at chn.ge/1j8seq7 or contact the Zonta Club by email at dawnclark177@gmail.com
