Family Violence Prevention

The Family Violence Network has been supporting children, women, families and community organisations across Waimakariri for over 15 years.

Waimakariri District Council is a partner in Violence Free North Canterbury. We provide coordination and support for this group.

Violence Free North Canterbury is a collaboration of agencies who aim to eradicate family violence in North Canterbury. It will do this by influencing positive social change within the community about family violence issues and empowering the community to send the message that family violence is unacceptable.

Violence Free North Canterbury was previously called North Canterbury Family Violence Network. It has been in existence since the mid-1990s. Meetings are held bi-monthly in February, April, June, August, October and December on the second Tuesday of the month.

There are three components to the family violence prevention project work:

  • Raising community awareness of the issue and need for change
  • Providing community education opportunities
  • Increasing professional capability

  • Coordination and support for the North Canterbury Family Violence Network
  • Facilitiation of White Ribbon Day initiatives at high schools, with local business and in local media
  • Facilitation of Professional Development for people working in and with the community on how to recognise and respond appropriately where there is evidence of abuse
  • Facilitation of Community Awareness raising around positive communication and what constitutes safe relationships

Rainbow Awareness and Family Violence

The Violence Free North Canterbury network hosted a Rainbow Awareness and Family Violence professional development training day in November 2021. The training day presenters were Ari Nicholson (Rainbow Advisor at Canterbury University), Lara Moses (Family Violence Advocate and Youth Liaison) and Don Munro (Diversity Liaison with NZ Police). We had 70 people attend from a variety of governement and local social service agencies. Those that attended commented that they found the material helpful and will inform their practise moving forward. Also of note was the wonderful work the Police are doing in this space.

White Ribbon 2021

Every November the Violence Free North Canterbury Network host a White Ribbon campaign in our local high schools. White Ribbon Day, 25 November, is the international day when people wear a white ribbon to show that they do not condone violence towards women. Last year, the White Ribbon focus was about respectful relationships, consent, healthy masculinity and using call-in culture tactics to connect with friends.

We ran a lunch-time program in two schools (Oxford and Amuri) alongside our partners from 23-25 November.

Resources:

Family Violence referral/support agencies leaflet

For further information contact:

Alyssa Bright
Phone: 0800 965 468
Email: alyssa.bright@wmk.govt.nz

Last reviewed date: 09 Nov 2023