Violence against pets in the context of intimate partner violence: supporting victim-survivors
Date
Wednesday 9 October 2024
Time
3-4pm (1-2pm AEST)
Location
Online
Organised by
Australian Institute of Family Studies
Cost
Free
This webinar will explore how practitioners can better support victim-survivors of intimate partner violence that includes abuse of family pets.
Listing of training and other events does not constitute endorsement by the New Zealand Family Violence Clearinghouse. Information is as provided by the organiser. For further information or queries about training or events, please contact the organiser using the links or contact details provided.
About this Australian Institute of Family Studies webinar:
Nearly 70% of Australian households include pets. For many, these animals are family, as much a part of their lives and equally loved as human family members.
While there is widespread awareness about the impact of intimate partner violence (IPV) on women and children, less is known about the links between violence against family animals and IPV.
There is evidence that violence against family animals can be an indicator of frequent and severe patterns of IPV. Some perpetrators threaten or harm family pets to manipulate, punish or control their partner, leveraging the emotional connection many people have with their pets. In these situations, many victim-survivors will delay leaving, stay with, or return to perpetrators because they are scared for their pets’ safety.
Victim-survivors of IPV who have family animals face unique challenges in seeking and accessing support. Although research suggests that human and animal victim-survivors recover and heal better when they can do so together, this is often not possible – largely due to a lack of animal-inclusive support services and crisis accommodation.
Within the context of these systematic challenges, this webinar will explore practical ways that practitioners working in child and family services can strengthen support for human and animal victim-survivors.
This webinar will help attendees:
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understand the relationship between violence against family animals and intimate partner violence and the effects of this violence on human and animal victim-survivors
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understand the emotional connection between people and family animals and the benefits of recovering and healing together
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develop insight into the unique challenges that victim-survivors of IPV who have family animals may experience when trying to access support and strengthen the way you support these individuals.
This webinar is intended for both general and specialist practitioners working in child and family services including general family support, mental health care and health care, family and relationship services, social workers, counsellors and psychologists. It will also be relevant to practitioners working in animal welfare or veterinary services.
Presenters
Monique Dam is the CEO of Lucy’s Project, a national charity that aims to improve the safety of people and animals experiencing domestic and family violence (DFV).
Kylie Butler is a Senior Research Officer in the Child and Family Evidence and Evaluation (CFEE) team at AIFS.
Jennifer Howard is the Founder and CEO of Safe Pets Safe Families (SPSF), a charity founded in 2013.
Dr Jasmine B. MacDonald (BA/BSW(Hons), Ph.D.) is a Research Fellow at the Australian Institute of Family Studies. Jasmine has published research focused on mental health, trauma exposure and trauma reactions.
Please contact the organiser for questions.