Fifteen women who have experienced family harm have taken the first steps towards reclaiming a violence-free future through the ‘I Am Me’ pilot programme run in Cambridge earlier this year.
At the meeting were, from left, Cambridge Police community liaison officer Deb Hann, Corren Ngerengere, acting area commander for Waikato west Inspector Karl Thornton and Cambridge Community House manager Gabby Byrne. Photo: Viv Posselt
They are the first to have gone through the programme’s initial eight-week structured phase which took place in Cambridge during February and March. With that segment recently evaluated, they now go into the second phase, which is the formation of an informal self-directed support group.
‘I Am Me’ was founded and developed by Violence Free Waipā co-ordinator Anne Morrison last year on the back of escalating levels of family harm in Cambridge. It launched late last year and the first group of participants was selected in December, based on an assessment by social services over the previous 18 months.
Feedback from the 15 participants was included in an evaluation of the pilot, held last week at the Cambridge Salvation Army. Sessions were held there because it is seen as neutral ground. Topics included protection, police and parenting safety orders, legal aid and the court system, counselling, budgeting, mental health and cultural support.
Anne Morrison said last week that all 15 women completed the programme with high weekly attendance rates. They represented a range of social economic background and were aged 29 to 55. Three identified as being from Māori heritage, two Irish, one English, one Asian, one South African and the rest as New Zealand European.
“They showed bravery and courage,” Morrison said as she commended participants for their “invaluable insight and input into the programme”.
Part of last week’s meeting was the acknowledgement of funders, business partners, guest facilitators, social service agencies and community volunteers who played a part in the programme. They were presented with certificates of appreciation.
Minister Karen Chhour, who was also present at the programme’s launch last year, said it was “wonderful to see this evolve from a concept to a fully realised and inspirational body of work that is empowering and uplifting women”.
“We have made progress since I was last here. We have a new Action Plan for Te Aorerekura, with a stronger focus on working in partnership with communities to stop violence, keep people safe and build workforce capability so that everyone can live free from violence.
“The government is committed to Te Aorerekura, the 25-year National Strategy for the Elimination of Family Violence and Sexual Violence. We want to see government agencies working effectively together, and all workforces playing their part,” she said. “The new action plan is focused on quality delivery – making sure that we are getting the important things right.”
Key focus areas include keeping people safe through effective multi-agency responses in the regions, stopping violence by holding people to account and supporting them to change their behaviour, and strengthening workforces.
Chhour said intended outcomes would see people affected by violence being safer and better supported to heal through tailored support, consequences and rehabilitation for those who use violence, and reduced reoffending across both family violence and sexual violence.
Local MP Louise Upston, left, with programme founder Anne Morrison after the launch. Photo: Michael Jeans
