New partnership offers improved response in addressing family violence in Jewish Community
Jewish Care Victoria has partnered with Inner South Community Health Service to enable Jewish community members who have experienced family violence to access a culturally appropriate service response.
This new offering will be accessible to both victims and offenders.
Hugh Cattermole, Jewish Care Chief Operating Officer and Alan Murnane, General Manager of Primary and Mental Health at Inner South
Melbourne’s Jewish Care delivers a range of services to families who have experienced family violence. These services include, but are not limited to: telephone support, advice and consultation, safety planning, housing support, assistance navigating courts and family law, financial aid, financial counselling, interest-free loans as well as family and relationship counselling.
Jewish Care’s Individual & Family Services program prides itself on understanding and responding to the needs of every individual and family who present to Jewish Care. Where family violence is a key issue, it can be challenging to balance the needs of each family member, whilst still ensuring that safety is paramount.
“The needs of women and children in family violence matters are always our top priority and we understand that men can also require assistance and support. We make every effort to support men with a variety of service offerings whilst ensuring the safety of other family members, but until now, the specific focus on men’s behaviour management and change has been absent,” Marilyn Kraner, Manager of Individual & Family Services said.
The partnering of these two organisations will address this gap and create a pathway for Jewish men to access a unique service that, in addition to traditional counselling and case management offers men’s behaviour change programs.
“We are excited about the prospect of partnering with Jewish Care. With continued support and education from Jewish Care, we feel confident that we will be able to provide a culturally appropriate response to Jewish men that fully appreciates the community’s cultural and religious needs,” Alan Murnane, General Manager of Primary and Mental Health at Inner South said.
Jewish Care is committed to addressing the impact of family violence, as illustrated by its Position Statement on Family Violence, commitment to White Ribbon Day, embedding of family violence leave provisions for staff, and continued commitment to service delivery and partnership development.
“This collaboration enables a complete end-to-end service response for Jewish community members affected by family violence. I strongly believe that healthy, loving and respectful families make strong, cohesive and productive communities. This partnership is the final piece of the service delivery offering required to assist Jewish Care in supporting this vision,” Jewish Care COO, Hugh Cattermole said.
Community members who are experiencing family violence or seeking to change abusive behaviour are encouraged to contact a Jewish Care social worker by calling the Front Door on 8517 5999.
