{"id":7720,"date":"2020-02-04T11:27:33","date_gmt":"2020-02-04T00:27:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.rch.org.au\/news\/?p=7720"},"modified":"2020-02-04T11:32:50","modified_gmt":"2020-02-04T00:32:50","slug":"family-violence-expected-to-increase-following-bushfire-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.rch.org.au\/news\/family-violence-expected-to-increase-following-bushfire-crisis\/","title":{"rendered":"Family violence expected to increase following bushfire crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"

Australia has just endured a horrific start to the bushfire season, and many\u00a0communities and\u00a0families are now grappling with the devastating aftermath. Unfortunately, for some\u00a0people, increased family violence is an added trauma to deal with at this already difficult time.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Academic research\u00a0and the\u00a0first-hand\u00a0experiences of domestic violence support services\u00a0have found\u00a0that family violence\u00a0spikes after disasters. This was the case after Victoria’s\u00a0Black Saturday bushfires in 2009, Hurricane Katrina in the US in 2005\u00a0and the\u00a0Canterbury earthquake in New Zealand in 2010.<\/p>\n

The reasons for higher levels of violence following disasters vary, but in general relate to the trauma, stress, tension, fear, and loss of\u00a0financial\u00a0and housing security following these\u00a0events.<\/p>\n

Regardless of the reasons, the RCH says that disaster is no excuse for family violence. <\/strong>Family violence can have long-term effects on the health and wellbeing of children, babies and young people.<\/p>\n

There are many support services available if\u00a0you are experiencing violence.\u00a0If you or your child\u00a0are in immediate danger, call the police on 000. Otherwise, you can contact:<\/p>\n