Domestic violence – JTAFV acts
Melbourne’s Jewish Taskforce Against Family Violence [JTAFV] is training Jewish community leaders, specifically the rabbinate.
Over the last two months, JTAFV, in association with the Rabbinical Council of Victoria, ran a special training program for rabbis addressing various aspects of family violence and how to respond appropriately to disclosures of abuse.
A select group of rabbis representing the diverse Melbourne Jewish community was invited to participate in the program. The training sessions took place over a period of three weeks and included an in-depth discussion of family violence with an emphasis on cultural sensitivities, as well as sessions on family law and other legal issues, including safety notices and intervention orders. The role of the Jewish Taskforce Support Line as a specialised community support service was reinforced.
The seminars were conducted by Carolyn Stewart (WIRE), Danny Blay (Men’s Referral Service) and Deborah Wiener (barrister and chair of the JTAFV). An official Certificate of Attendance was presented to the twelve participants at the completion of the seminar.
Having completed these sessions, the participating rabbis will be an invaluable resource of support for victims of violence, their families and friends, as well as other members of the rabbinate Australia-wide. The names and telephone numbers of the participants will be widely advertised.
As a result of this forum, the JTAFV will be developing a Rabbinical Code of Practice in conjunction with the Rabbinical Council of Victoria. JTAFV is also currently developing a culturally sensitive prevention program to take into the Jewish high schools in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.
