If a woman tells you she is experiencing violence, or if you suspect she is being abused:

• Provide information about Women's Refuge, and other family violence agencies. Support women to take control for themselves. Ask her what she would like to do. Give her a leaflet and offer access to a telephone to contact the local Women's Refuge, for example.

• If you suspect a child is being abused, call the Police or CYFS.

• Whatever your job, insist that you see women separately from their partners.

• Talk to women directly. Ask questions about family violence routinely, as part of normal interview procedures. Women may not respond to "Is there anything else you'd like to tell me?". They are more likely to talk if you ask:
"Is someone at home threatening or hurting you?"
"Did someone cause these injuries?"
"Are you afraid of your partner or someone in your family?"
"Do you feel like you are in danger from someone?"
"Do you fear for your children's safety?"
"Is someone at home controlling what you do?"


• Make it clear that the abuse is not her fault: No one deserves to be threatened or beaten, despite what the abuser may have told her. Believe her and validate what she has said with statements like:
"Many women experience violence, you're not alone".
"Its not your fault. It's the abuser who should stop".
"Its normal to feel angry/scared/confused".

• Be non-judgemental. Be sensitive to different needs and experiences of women from different backgrounds.

• Assure confidentiality and clarify if there are any limits to this (for example, if a child is at risk you are obligated to contact CYFS).

• Document evidence of abuse and its effects on women for any legal or court proceedings.

For more information on family violence, see the New Zealand Family VIolence Clearinghouse at www.nzfvc.org.nz . From here you can access the New Zealand Standards for family violence screening, risk assessment and safety planning, and the Ministry of Health's Family Violence Intervention Guidelines for Child and Partner Abuse, as well as other relevant information, research and resources. 

  

Other actions you can take to support women and children experiencing violence:

• Get training to understand family violence so that you can respond better and help overcome any of your own feelings of embarrassment, powerlessness and frustration.

• Help your agency or business to develop policies and guidelines on family violence and reporting child abuse.

• Ensure that you have ways to protect and support staff who may be experiencing violence, and encourage any staff members who have used violence to seek help.

• Give clear messages that family violence is unacceptable through public information displayed in public offices and community outlets.

• Support the development of Women's Refuges, and advocacy services for women and children to keep them safe from violence.