The Domestic Violence Gala Ball is bringing together a community in crisis

Posted on 5 July, 2022

As a child, lying awake at night, I would experience fear, a fear of whether I would need to protect my Mum if my tiny hands could act to disarm.

I didn’t know that what I was experiencing was domestic violence or that a powerful organisation existed whose hands could replace my own.

The Domestic Violence Crisis Service is that very organisation. Their pulse beats in harmony with victims of domestic violence across the ACT.

But despite their efforts, these unprecedented times continue to remain, well, just that, and this superhuman team finds themselves tackling a crisis, gulping for air under a sea of people who desperately need help.

Where my story ends, another begins.

The Domestic Violence Crisis Service Midwinter Gala Ball on Saturday 30 July, is attempting to change this chilling narrative, coming at a time where shared unity and binding threads are desperately needed.

As Chief Executive Officer of Domestic Violence Crisis Service Sue Webeck explains, “This is a way for us to bring community partners together and supporters and DVCS in a way that gives us an opportunity to actually celebrate community and celebrate what our participation in community can achieve. And to connect with people, we’ve been so starved of connection over the last few years and the ability to come together, dance the night away, have some fun, catch up with old friends, make new friends, and raise money for an incredibly worthy cause. It really is a win-win for everyone.”

But as Sue catches her breath and takes a moment to reflect, it’s clear that the DVCS team is navigating within tricky territory, challenged to be the bearer of many hats.

“We’ve seen an increase in the volume of clients, but more concerning than anything, is actually the complexity of the circumstances of which clients are in and, and the navigation pathways to safety. And I say to safety because it’s not about always exiting a relationship.”

“Sometimes it’s about maintaining that relationship for somebody because that’s what their outcome is most desirable but increasing safety. Yes, our phone is ringing more, and more people need our support, but the complexity of the circumstances that they’re in is getting greater and greater.”

A common thread that weaves itself through the significant growth of domestic violence in the ACT is the flow-on effect from consistent housing price increases, making the strides towards tackling this issue lost in a continuous and heart-breaking push-and-pull.

“Not only are we seeing an exponential increase in the cost of living, which is having an impact on many in our community, what we see is that some of the safety mechanisms that we utilise to increase safety for somebody who’s experiencing violence are becoming unattainable because of that rising cost of living for more for our clients. So, emergency accommodation is always at the top of our list of things that we don’t have enough funding to meet the requirements of the ACT community.”

But underneath its fancy dresses, good food and live music, The Domestic Violence Gala ball is laying bare a call to action within the Canberra community.

“We want people to remember that domestic family, intimate partner violence is a horrific issue across Australia. But actually, as part of a community, we can make a really big change. And sometimes the community can come together and have a great relaxed, fun and connected evening with such a great outcome of raising money,” says Sue.

When I asked Sue about what areas needs the money from the ball most, there is a moment of pause. The list is long, and this crisis is met with a tortuous complexity, but that isn’t something she dwells on for long. Sue is determined to make sure those in a fight for their lives–and for their safety–have the recourses and help that they need. From emergency accommodation, groceries, petrol and mobile phones, to transport money for an Uber to make a police statement.

For those little fists that clench a bit tighter at night, DVCS is sunlight cast through an open door, it’s hope, it’s pushing the conversation forward in ways that are awe-inspiring and audacious, and for Sue, that’s what makes the job worthwhile.

“One of the greatest things that we can do as a community is to make sure that people know that a service like DVCS exists. So, if something is happening in their life, or in their family, or in their community or their workplace, they can find us easily. Because while on one hand I talked about this increasing demand for our service in the ACT, it is an absolute privilege to answer that phone when somebody is in need of our support. And our goal is everybody who needs our support can easily find us.”