KAYLA, 16, felt ashamed when she didn’t step in to protect her mum from her violent stepfather. She worried that intervening might cause him to start targeting her or start hitting her three siblings as well. Kalya hid her fears from her mum and became increasingly withdrawn.
She started self-harming to cope with her emotional pain and stopped attending school and so could stay at home and keep an eye on her mum and help with her younger siblings. She hoped this would help stop the fighting.
In the last two years, Centacare has supported more than 4,000 teenagers experiencing emotional and physical abuse at the hands of their parents or guardians.
Tonight, May 3, the organisation will once again call on the community to take a stand against domestic and family violence in its annual march and candlelight vigil at Maroochydore.
Now in its tenth year, the event is held with Sunshine Coast Council to mark the start of Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month.
Centacare Area Manager Adam Beck said that domestic and family violence was a serious community issue that affected everyone in a family.
“Young people don’t need to have violence inflicted on them directly in order to be affected,” said Mr Beck.
“They can experience lifelong impacts of domestic and family violence even if they haven’t been physically harmed. Simply living in the same home and witnessing the abuse can leave scars that do not easily heal.
“Living in a tense or frightening environment and walking on eggshells causes young people to feel the same fear, intimidation and threat to their safety as those that are the primary victims of violence.”
When Kayla’s mother noticed self-inflicted bruises and cuts on her daughter’s legs and stomach, she asked Kayla to join her in her counselling sessions with Centacare. She thought her children had been shielded from the abuse however needed support with managing the children’s behaviours and wanted to know what was happening to Kayla.
Feeling safe and supported by the Centacare practitioner, Kayla began to tell her story and make sense of her feelings.
She spoke of the shame she felt, how she feared for her mum and how she feared for her siblings.
Kayla’s mother was also able to learn more about the impact of domestic violence on children who she noticed were becoming angry and more challenging to parent. She was provided support to help increase her and her children’s safety and to deal with their outbursts.
Sunshine Coast Council Mayor Mark Jamieson said the Sunshine Coast continued to stand-up and support victims of domestic and family violence.
“You are not alone,” Mayor Jamieson said. “An estimated eight million Australians have experienced physical and/or sexual violence since the age of 15.
“I urge our community to attend the candlelight vigil, to show their support and take a stand against violence.”
Mr Beck said the annual march and vigil acted as a reminder that we can all play a part in addressing gender inequality and putting an end to domestic and family violence.
“Help us to stand together as a community and empower the voice of Sunshine Coast women by wearing your purple ribbon, remembering and honouring the lives lost to domestic violence in the last 12 months,” he said.
“We also hope to educate and gain a commitment from the community to help change the story for current and future generations.
“Every person has the right to live a life free of violence and abuse – right now, home is not always a safe place for our local women and children.”
Community Portfolio Councillor David Law said there was no place for violence on the Sunshine Coast.
“Council is committed to addressing domestic violence as a key focus area and engaging in partnership, collaboration, advocacy and direct action within our community, as a part of the Sunshine Coast Community Strategy 2019-2041,” Cr Law said.
“This includes our partnership with Centacare to bring this vigil to the community as an opportunity to reflect and show support, as well as the DV Safe Phone Program, where residents can donate their old phones.”
Sunshine Coast Lightning DFV prevention Ambassador Tara Hinchliffe said she and her team were proud to be taking a stand against domestic and family violence.
“Sunshine Coast Lightning stands with the victims and against all forms of abuse,” Ms Hinchliffe said.
“Domestic and family violence is never okay and never tolerated. Join us and show your support this May.”
The candlelight vigil will be held on Wednesday 3 May at Cotton Tree Park, The Esplanade, Maroochydore at 5.30pm. Prior to this, the community is invited to join the march to the vigil site. It starts at the corner of Cornmeal Parade and Horton Parade Maroochydore. Please gather from 4.30pm for a 5.10pm start.
Event speakers will address the issue of coercive control, the experiences of migrant women and how we can each play a part in ending domestic and family violence.
There will also be the opportunity to donate and receive an ‘Empower Her Voice’ t-shirt and purple ribbon at the event.
DV Safe Phone will be in attendance at the vigil and residents are encouraged to bring and donate any spare or unused phones they have lying around at home. DV Safe Phone collects, repurposes and gifts mobile phones to victims of domestic violence. These ‘Safe Phones’ provide a lifeline to call for help when it is needed most.
Centacare offers a safe and supportive space for those impacted by domestic and family violence, including children and young people. If you’d like to support Centacare’s domestic and family violence services, you can make a donation.
