Families tackle violence issues

A recent weekend retreat in the Ruapehu area for five repeat family violence families is helping them turn the corner and deal with the issues they’ve been facing.

Held at Blue Mountain Adventure Centre in Raurimu, the concept was the brainchild of Gabrielle Quirke, a nonsworn operations support clerk at Taumarunui.

Gabrielle’s role includes preparing victim impact statements. Over a period of time she realised that despite the recurring issues of drugs, alcohol, employment and budgeting, there was a real desire among those involved to bring about change in their lives.

After discussions with Ruapehu Area Commander, Inspector Steve Mastrovich, Gabrielle approached partner agencies in Taumarunui and the Whakakotahi project was born.

The project saw five couples and their children agree to participate, with cooperation from several local agencies.

Alongside police were the Hinengakau Development Trust, CYFS, WINZ, the Taumarunui Baptist and St Paul’s Anglican churches, Probation Service, Taumarunui REAP, Women’s Refuge, Blue Mountain Lodge and Kokiri Trust. A local pharmacy and several individuals also helped.

The weekend was supported by Celia Lashlie, former Prison Service manager – now author and inspirational speaker – together with former All Black Norm Hewitt. They worked with participants, holding group sessions and interacting with individuals.

Former All Black Norm Hewitt with one of the participants at the weekend retreat.

Relationship, budgeting and drug and alcohol counsellors also took part.
All families participated fully in the weekend which included group, couple and individual counselling sessions, family activities and physical challenges such as negotiating a high ropes course.

Those involved noticed a palpable change in the families between when they arrived and when they left.

“During follow-up, there are signs that, for at least some of these people, real change in their lives may be imminent,” says Steve.

“From October 2006, the time the couples were first approached about participating, none of them featured in family violence incidents.

“Since the weekend there have been two incidents involving some of the people, but the nature and severity of the incidents was greatly reduced and in both incidents the parties involved were trying to implement the new skills they had learnt.”

Following the weekend retreat, the women participants have attended a morning tea at the Taumarunui Police station and the agencies and counsellors have continued working with the families.

Steve says it was heartening to see the participants’ willingness to cooperate, praised other agencies for their help, and particularly Gabrielle’s “brilliant idea and hard work to bring it to fruition”.

“One of the aims of the weekend was to achieve a shift in the way we and other groups working in family violence are perceived by those involved, to help us all work together,” says Steve.

“There’s still a lot of work to be done, but early indications are that we may be starting to turn that corner.”