Kiri Dicker is the Project Manager responsible for the Community Leadership in Primary Prevention of Violence Against Women Toolkit. She posted this blog on her reflections from a recent project consultation in Emerald, in QLD’s Bowen Basin region.

“I chose to become a community development worker because spending time with people is what fuels my creative energy. Whether it’s a meeting at the local village hall, the opening of an inner city garden or a cup of tea with my neighbours, I like nothing better than having a yarn and finding out about people’s lives. So I was excited at the recent opportunity to visit the city of Emerald, in QLD’s Bowen Basin, to speak with local women about the development of a toolkit to help rural communities prevent violence against women.

My first impression of the Bowen Basin was red dirt and road trains! You see, I have spent most of my life living in small coastal towns, it’s like the saltwater is in my blood. Whenever I go ‘out bush’ I feel like I’m in another country! The people sound different, eat different foods (no soy milk!) and have different customs. It’s a welcome reminder of the amazing diversity of our great country.

I was really impressed to see a diverse bunch of about 20 women turn up to the consultation. Some of them even arrived before us, having travelled over two hours just to attend. It was humbling to know that these women had taken time out of their busy lives to hear about and contribute to the work we were doing.

They told us about the challenges they faced addressing violence against women in their communities. They said that there was a pervasive attitude that violence against women ‘didn’t happen’ in rural areas. This meant that sometimes both men and women were reluctant, or even-offended, to discuss the topic. Sadly, we were told that there is sometimes little empathy for women who experience violence, especially in communities where everyone was ‘doing it tough’.

They wanted information and advice on how to broach the topic of violence against women in ways that engaged, and didn’t isolate, rural communities. In the typical, pragmatic way of rural women, they wanted to know ‘what worked’ when it came to primary prevention of violence against women and wanted the toolkit to contain lots of practical ideas and simple steps to getting projects started at a community level.

Most importantly, the women we spoke to wanted things that could be integrated into their existing work. With money, resources and caseloads severely strained, they simply didn’t have time to be taking on a bunch of new projects.

As we concluded the consultation it struck me that if the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children has any hope of achieving its goal, then it is women like this, in communities like Emerald, all over Australia, that we need to be engaging in violence prevention work.

After another long trip, I arrived back home full of creative ideas and inspiration for the toolkit. Next month I am off to Broken Hill in outback NSW to continue talking to women about this important piece of work”.

This project is a partnership between the National Rural Women’s Coalition, the Australian Women Against Violence Alliance and the QLD Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research. Funding for the project has been provided by the Australian Government Office for Women.

Keep an eye out on the NRWC website www.nrwc.com.au and FaceBook page and AWAVA’s website www.awava.org.au, for more updates as the project develops.

From 18 – 21 October 2012, South Australia will host the eighth Regional Arts Australia National Conference, the largest arts gathering in Australia.

Do you have a great idea that you’d like to share in a panel, presentation or workshop?  If so, please consider submitting a nomination.
If you know anyone else who might be interested in nominating, please send them the link to this page.

Following the success of Junction 2010 in Launceston, the conference will be a survey of the nation’s latest regional arts practice and thinking, informing us of where we are now and indicating signposts to the future. You will swap stories, exchange ideas, be refreshed and re-energised alongside the opportunity to experience some of the nation’s best work from regional artists, organisations and communities.

Goolwa 2012 is a conference for professional artists, arts workers, volunteers, local shire and council employees interested in fostering and maintaining their local arts and culture.
We encourage you to present your ideas, workshop or presentation in a creative, inclusive and innovative way.

To help spread the word about this opportunity to participate.

Applications close on Tuesday 28 February.

Visit www.artsalexandrina.org.au to discover how you can be involved.

The Children & Families Research Centre (CFRC) at Macquarie University are currently advertising five PhD scholarships of $10 000 each, funded by the Salvation Army to be taken up within CFRC.  These can be used as top-ups for APAs or can stand alone.

The topics are in the following areas:

• The impact of financial counselling on families
• Income management and vulnerable families
•   Early intervention and homeless families
•   Teenage parents and welfare reform
•   Community-based programs, parenting and social inclusion

Exact details of projects will be negotiated with the candidates, supervisors and the Salvation Army.
More information is available on the CFRC website: http://www.iec.mq.edu.au/research/cfrc/cfrc_home.jsp

Please contact Dr Peter Whiteman <peter.whiteman@mq.edu.au> or Professor Jennifer Bowes <jennifer.bowes@mq.edu.au> or go to the Macquarie  University website at:  http://www.hdr.mq.edu.au/information_about/scholarships/hdr_scholarships_omestic_and_international<http://www.hdr.mq.edu.au/information_about/scholarships/hdr_scholarships_domestic_candidates_only>whichncludes

for information about how to apply.