During ‘Week Without Violence 2009’ the Brimbank Family Violence Prevention Network aims to promote the message: “Say no to family violence/abuse” and “Break the cycle”.  Victorian Police data in Brimbank indicates that over 800 incidences of family violence were recorded in 2007/8. This is the highest number of reports for family violence in the western region.
 
Council’s General Manager of Community Wellbeing, Kelly Grigsby, said that such high figures show that many families in Brimbank are affected by family violence.
 
“The Brimbank Family Violence Prevention Network has collated an information pack consisting of posters and local family violence service information. This information has been distributed to community centers and agencies for display during the campaign,” Ms Grigsby said.
 
The ‘Week Without Violence’ campaign was first launched in 1995. Every year over 30 countries mobilise to engage their communities in a week of awareness and debate, to challenge the unacceptable levels of violence in our communities.
 
Family Violence is defined as: ‘Violent, threatening, coercive or controlling behaviour that occurs in current or past family, domestic or intimate relationships. This encompasses not only physical injury, but direct or indirect threats, sexual assault, emotional and psychological torment, economic control, property damage, social isolation and behaviour which causes a person to live in fear.’
 
Those who are experiencing family violence or who know of someone experiencing family violence can contact the Family Violence helpline on 1800 200 526.