Whittlesea CALD Communities Family Violence Research Report 2012 | Page 8

Capacity
building
community &
religious
leaders

o

o

Objective: The model will develop networks with
community/religious leaders to build capacity to respond to
family violence, and develop anti-violence tools, resources and
messages to support their communities.

Key achievements in 2014

Eight local religious leaders engaged, representing
Chaldean, Syriac Orthodox, Sikh, Shi’ite, Pentecostal, and
Sri Lankan community elders
‘Families Free from Violence’ forum with 110 participants at
Chaldean Church with presentations from priest,
community lawyer, police officer and FV support
worker.

8 religious

110 participants
at a ‘Families
free from
Violence’ forum

leaders
engaged

Future: Further sessions with Chaldean Church to be delivered (for women and
young people). Networks and partnerships explored with other leaders, including members of
the Farsi-speaking Iranian community as part of the Our Watch project.
Similar forums/information sessions scheduled with:
o
o
o

Reducing
recidivism

Thomastown Shi’ite community
Sri Lankan Senior Citizens group
Encompass Church Mernda

Objective: The model will increase access to behaviour
change programs by CALD men through developing of
language/culturally specific programs.

Key achievements in 2014



Two Arabic-speaking Men’s Behaviour Change Program facilitators currently undergoing
training in Graduate Certificate of Social Science: Male Family Violence (Swinburne
University)
Combined funding/in-kind contributions to run Arabic Men’s FV Group in 2015 ($25,853),
lead by implementing agencies InTouch and Kildonan UnitingCare.

Future: A pilot Arabic-speaking Men’s FV Group will run in the first half of 2015 and

funding sought to implement a fully accredited Arabic-speaking Men’s Behaviour Change
Program.

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