This is a sponsored post as I was invited by Chai Junction and the City of Melbourne to attend.
It was at the Melbourne East police station on a weekday before the students were due to return. The aim of the session was to introduce support services for students and to talk about family violence. Family violence is increasing in Australia and Many International visitors do not know their rights according to the law.
The International student care service is seeing about 10% of students who experience violence in the home.
Violence in the home can have many long lasting effects such as mental and physical scaring. A lot of women are afraid to report it to the police in fear that they will lose their student visa. Some also feared that the family would know and it would bring shame to them. But support services such as Multicultural Women's health and support service and InTouch are confidential and free for all women to access.
Trust is another issue that women find it hard especially International students who don't have any friends and family in Melbourne. They are lonely and depressed. They often leave problems until it is too late.
The police can't do much in a family violence situation unless it is criminal (physical harm). Then they will apply for a court order (intervention order) for you. Otherwise you have to do it yourself. Students find the law difficult to comprehend at times. They have a fear of becoming homeless. Many students do not have the finances to afford another place
Many thanks to Chai Junction and the city of Melbourne for inviting me. I learnt lots on that day. There'll be lots more posts on student safety to come this year.
It was at the Melbourne East police station on a weekday before the students were due to return. The aim of the session was to introduce support services for students and to talk about family violence. Family violence is increasing in Australia and Many International visitors do not know their rights according to the law.
The International student care service is seeing about 10% of students who experience violence in the home.
Violence in the home can have many long lasting effects such as mental and physical scaring. A lot of women are afraid to report it to the police in fear that they will lose their student visa. Some also feared that the family would know and it would bring shame to them. But support services such as Multicultural Women's health and support service and InTouch are confidential and free for all women to access.
Trust is another issue that women find it hard especially International students who don't have any friends and family in Melbourne. They are lonely and depressed. They often leave problems until it is too late.
The police can't do much in a family violence situation unless it is criminal (physical harm). Then they will apply for a court order (intervention order) for you. Otherwise you have to do it yourself. Students find the law difficult to comprehend at times. They have a fear of becoming homeless. Many students do not have the finances to afford another place
Many thanks to Chai Junction and the city of Melbourne for inviting me. I learnt lots on that day. There'll be lots more posts on student safety to come this year.
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