Nor'West News: August 13, 2020
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NOR’WEST NEWS Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz<br />
Thursday <strong>August</strong> <strong>13</strong> <strong>2020</strong> 5<br />
and children experiencing violence<br />
Why is an organisation like<br />
The Christchurch Aunties<br />
important for the community?<br />
The immediate importance<br />
of The Christchurch Aunties<br />
is that we relieve the mental<br />
load for women and children<br />
experiencing family violence<br />
and vulnerability, and we also<br />
relieve the mental load of the staff<br />
who are caring for them. Our<br />
donations go towards keeping<br />
people warm, safe, and feeling<br />
valued.<br />
Another important role<br />
we have is to cultivate the<br />
nurturing and generous side<br />
of the Canterbury community<br />
that we’ve seen so much of in<br />
the past 10 years. People really<br />
want to help and learn, but don’t<br />
always know how. So we gently<br />
introduce people to the concept<br />
of volunteering and support, and<br />
how to donate effectively so that<br />
recipients feel respected.<br />
What are the major issues<br />
currently impacting those who<br />
you serve, and why?<br />
The issue that we’ve seen<br />
recently impacting families is<br />
Covid-19 and the lockdown.<br />
This situation became like a<br />
pressure cooker of social isolation<br />
and financial stress for many.<br />
Children were home from school<br />
and saw the violence happening.<br />
Solo parents struggled to get<br />
supplies as they couldn’t leave<br />
their children at home, but<br />
also couldn’t take them to the<br />
supermarket.<br />
In the days before level 4,<br />
we frantically gave out all our<br />
supplies of toiletries, activities,<br />
and fuel/supermarket vouchers<br />
to organisations – not knowing<br />
when we’d be able to supply them<br />
again.<br />
Luckily we were granted<br />
essential status, but the increased<br />
demand for basic donations<br />
of toiletries, security gear, and<br />
vouchers have continued.<br />
Canterbury has functioned<br />
with a post-traumatic stress<br />
disorder faultline running under<br />
us since 2010. So although the<br />
lockdown was the catalyst for<br />
recent spikes in family violence,<br />
there has been an increase for<br />
some time.<br />
The social workers and support<br />
staff who we see working with<br />
the clients and families have dealt<br />
with the increase for so long,<br />
that I think it’s become the ‘new<br />
normal’. They do an incredible<br />
job.<br />
IMPACT:<br />
Christchurch<br />
Youth<br />
Council<br />
co-ordinator<br />
Kate<br />
Burgess (left)<br />
helps The<br />
Christchurch<br />
Aunties<br />
founder<br />
Heather<br />
Milne deliver<br />
jackets to<br />
families in<br />
need.<br />
What are some<br />
misconceptions about family<br />
violence and vulnerability that<br />
the average person may not<br />
know about? Why is this the<br />
case?<br />
There is a very common<br />
assumption that family violence<br />
happens to people in other<br />
neighbourhoods and to other<br />
families. A very mistaken belief<br />
is that family violence is only<br />
experienced by people who are<br />
struggling financially. For a long<br />
time, family violence wasn’t<br />
talked about in New Zealand, so<br />
I think a lot of misconceptions<br />
sprung up simply from ignorance<br />
– and humans are reluctant to<br />
change their thought patterns.<br />
There are Christchurch aunties<br />
out there who have experienced<br />
violence and vulnerability in<br />
the past or have supported their<br />
family or friends through the<br />
system. These people are from<br />
diverse backgrounds and cultures.<br />
They are from all walks of life.<br />
Moving forward, how can<br />
organisations and society better<br />
support those experiencing<br />
these hardships and the<br />
reduction of harm within<br />
homes? And why?<br />
As a society, we can’t make<br />
any real impact until we stop<br />
and listen. I urge people to get<br />
educated on family violence and<br />
poverty in New Zealand. Be<br />
open-minded and learn about<br />
your unconscious bias. Listen to<br />
those who speak from experience<br />
– they know more than you<br />
do on this subject. It’s okay to<br />
change the way you think about<br />
things. Your behaviour with<br />
these simple steps will inspire<br />
others, including children. Know<br />
who to contact for advice and<br />
support when someone you know<br />
comes to you angry or hurt.<br />
There are a whole lot of great<br />
people out there who can help.<br />
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