Funding for male victims of DV helps Mark Rayner
19 Aug 2016, 2 p.m.
Lynn Field
Dubbo anti-domestic violence campaigner Lynn Field has welcomed $13 million in NSW government funding for male victims of domestic violence.
The funding was announced in the this year’s budget and will be used to establish victim services
Ms Field, the chief executive of Nguumambiny Indigenous Corporation, said the money was not enough to tackle the issue, but was recognition from government of the problem.
“It’s a sign the government has finally acknowledged there is male victims and that’s great. It’s about time,” Ms Field said.
“This is not a gender issue. This is a respect issue.
“There is no way $13 million is going to do a lot but it’s a good start and it’s better than nothing.
Ms Field said she hoped the new services would give male victims somewhere to go when they needed help.
She said she would apply for the tender in Dubbo to provide a 24-hour phone service for male victims
“The tender is there to provide NGOs [non-government organisations] with whatever is needed to run programs or help victims,” Ms Field said.
“I certainly am going for the tender. I have been helping male victims of domestic violence for 12 months and as far as I am aware, I am the only one west of the Blue Mountains who is offering those services.
“However even if I don’t get the tender, I hope whoever does can provide the help that is so badly needed.”
Ms Field said she was frustrated that almost all campaigns and funding announcements focused on domestic violence by men against women, and said there was still a stigma around male victims.
“We have had $100 million in funding for women and children, but only $13 million for men,” she said.
“The other problem is that most services still don’t know how to deal with male victims, they don’t believe them, or assume they have committed a crime too.”
In her dealings with clients, Ms Field said there were more men who were victims of their female partners than from men in same-sex relationships or from mothers using violence against children.