Over 400 people from more than 75 government and non-government organisations have participated in a series of workshops designed to help them more effectively identify and respond to coercive control in Hobart this week.
Safe at Home has partnered with the Small Steps 4 Hannah Foundation, established by the Clarke family following the tragic death of their daughter Hannah and her three children in Queensland in 2020, to deliver the powerful workshops.
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Guy Barnett, said that eliminating family and sexual violence is a priority for the Tasmanian Government.
"Family and sexual violence is a scourge on our society – and as the conversation continues to evolve, it has become clear we must act to address coercive control," the Attorney-General said.
"The interactive sessions on offer use real life examples to explain coercive control and help service providers recognise the early warning signs that are often hidden in plain sight.
"I want to deeply thank the Clarke family for their incredible work in this space, and to acknowledge their conviction in carrying on their daughter's legacy."
Minister for Women and the Prevention of Family Violence, Jo Palmer, said these workshops champion a collaborative approach.
"Coercive control can be hard to recognise – and by increasing awareness and education on the signs, we can begin to refine our overall response," Minister Palmer said.
"Tasmanians from across the State have keenly attended these workshops, showing that our community will not tolerate coercive control or any other form of family and sexual violence.
"This is a complex issue that impacts Tasmanians from all walks of life, and I am pleased to see strong community engagement on how we can overcome coercive control."
Through our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania's Future the Tasmanian Government is committed to doing all we can to ensure that Tasmanians are free from all forms of family violence.
The strong response to the Southern sessions follows the program being delivered in the North West in September with dates for the Northern region to be scheduled in early 2025.
