Anti-bashing campaign getting message across

Three men have gone to Work and Income NZ offices in South Auckland asking for help to stop being violent since the agency launched a campaign against domestic violence four months ago.

The agency is training its 4000 frontline case managers around the country to look for clients who might be suffering from domestic violence and to ask discreetly if they can help.

But its Counties-Manukau family violence response co-ordinator, Penny Hanifan, said yesterday that hearing from men who wanted help to stop being violent was an unexpected bonus.

The men responded to posters that have gone up in Work and Income offices telling them that "saying sorry isn't enough".

Ms Hanifan told the launch of a Family Violence Awareness Week in Manukau yesterday that Work and Income planned to screen all new applicants for domestic purposes benefit for possible family violence.

"Case managers have been trained to be aware of the signs," she said. "They will separate the woman from her children and anyone else who might be with her and say something like this: 'Work and Income is offering a new programme about domestic violence. Are you okay? Do you need support? Are you in a situation of family violence?' "

If a victim confirmed she was suffering from violence, the Work and Income officer would refer her to a women's refuge or another agency that could support her.

Manurewa Citizens Advice Bureau manager Pat Goodchild asked what would happen if there was no place available in a refuge.

"We have a lot of people coming in who have been violated at home and are looking for accommodation. The problem is that there is not the accommodation available," she said.

The Ministry of Social Development's Auckland social development manager, Oliver Te Ua, said Housing New Zealand was about to start a programme to provide more emergency housing.

A Year 11 student at De La Salle College in Mangere East, Joseph Langkilde, was given an award at yesterday's function for designing a poster saying "Pain is No Gain", which will be distributed to South Auckland schools.

Counties-Manukau Police family violence team co-ordinator Eldene Bradley outlined plans to set up a joint team of police and community groups to share information on all domestic violence cases in the district.

* South Auckland Family Violence Prevention Network, 263-6841.