www.theguardian.com.au Friday, November 4, 2016 $1.60

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RISING WORRY

Domestic violence

JOSHUA WELLS

A NEW study has found do-mestic violence is having seri-ous impacts on women’s health amid rising reports of violence in Swan Hill homes.

According to a study released by Australia’s National Re-search Organisation for Wom-en’s Safety (ANROWS), one in four women will experience at least one incident of violence by a partner from the age of 15.

The startling statistic comes after Swan Hill Local Area Commander, Inspector Dan Davison told The Guardian the numbers were ‘unacceptably high’.

“Women are more likely to be assaulted in their own home, it’s more likely to happen in the home than a public envi-ronment, and by someone they know,” he said.

“We are committed to stamp-ing out family violence at all costs.

“Education and awareness plays a huge part. We are com-mitted to not only the enforce-ment side of violence but pro-viding services to victims and perpetrators to break the cy-cle.”

ANROWS found a link be-tween women experiencing violence and health issues such as anxiety, depression, suicide, alcohol use, homicide and ear-ly pregnancy loss.

The factors were used to de-termine the disease burden

Australian women are carrying in abusive households.

Mallee Sexual Unit and Mal-lee Domestic Violence CEO Joanne Sheehan-Patterson said the demand for their domestic violence services were increas-ing across the Mallee.

“The demand for our help is constant and each year we see more and more incidents, and more come for assistance,” she said.

“We see a number of people who come for help and get help, before the situation set-tles and they return and an-other incident may occur.

“This is a significant issue in our country and for us re-sponding in the Mallee, we have grave concerns about the level of violence.”

Ms Sheehan-Patterson also said the act of domestic vio-lence was a crime and should be treated the same way as any other offence.

ANROWS also found the do-mestic violence burden im-paired child health, was costly to women and violated human rights.

The top eight risk factors contributing to a woman aged between 18-44 was led by inti-mate partner violence (5.1 per cent) followed by alcohol (4.1 per cent) and tobacco use (2.3 per cent).

If you need help, please con-tact Mallee Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Unit’s crisis line on 5033 1899.

Jack Spinks with the large Murray Cod he and his brother found dead at Kyalite due to blackwater (oxygen depleted water), caused by the recent fl oods. Story: Page 2.

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