Domestic and Family Violence

The Hon. J.E. HANSON (15:07): My question is to the Attorney-General. Will the minister inform the council about this year's Are You Safe at Home? Day?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (15:07): I thank the honourable member for his question and his interest in this area. Every year, 10 May marks Are You Safe at Home? Day as an opportunity for people to ask others whether they are safe in their own homes in the context of encouraging people to start some of those uncomfortable but critical conversations about family and domestic violence. These difficult conversations could be with anyone in your life whose safety you are concerned about. While it's often very difficult to ask questions, the Are You Safe at Home? campaign offers some helpful resources to assist people in starting these potentially life-saving conversations.

The first step is to ask questions, which could be as simple as asking, in a safe and private environment, 'Are things okay at home? Are things okay in your relationship?' The next step that is suggested is to listen without interruption or judgement, and if the person doesn't want to talk about it, the advice is to respect that choice but let them know you are there if they ever want to talk about it.

If someone expresses they don't feel safe at home, you can remind people that abuse is never their fault and offer to help connect them with a support service such as 1800 RESPECT or with South Australia Police. These helpful conversation guide resources are available on the Are You Safe at Home? website, as well as suggestions for how to get involved with Are You Safe at Home? Day. Suggestions for getting involved include raising awareness through workplaces with information posters and undertaking online learning modules, which equips people with the tools to recognise and respond to family and domestic violence in the workplace and beyond.

For this year's Are You Safe at Home? Day, the campaign facilitated an online webinar which was presented in partnership with Domestic Violence New South Wales, the Centre for Women's Safety and Wellbeing, the Northern Territory Council of Social Service and the Embolden alliance.

The webinar conversations were led by Safe and Equal's Emma Morgan, the strategic projects and engagement manager; and Rebecca Carro, the lived experience program officer. What they presented explored what family violence is, who it impacts, what the signs are and how to have those safe and respectful conversations. The recording of this year's webinar is available for watching on the Are You Safe at Home? website.

Ending family and domestic violence is everyone's business, but each of us in this place, especially men, have a crucial role to play. I am proud that this government is committed to taking steps to ending family and domestic violence and continues to deliver on legislative reforms, as well as funding services to protect those experiencing family and domestic violence.