Catholic Social Services Victoria, in partnership with the Catholic Diocese of Sale, and with support from the Victorian Government via the Victorian Multicultural Commission, has continued to roll out its ‘Shining a Light’ Workshops to raise awareness of domestic violence within parish communities. The most recent sessions were held in Sale and Bairnsdale.
More than 120 people attended an online event hosted by CSSV to hear reflections and ‘next steps’ from a number of key speakers who attended the National Summit on Women’s Safety held from 6-7 September.
In a spirit of anticipation and celebration, staff, friends and member representatives of Catholic Social Services Victoria recently gathered for the 2021 Commissioning Mass and annual general meeting. It has been more than 12 months since CSSV has hosted an 'in-person' event, given the onset of COVID-19 restrictions soon after the national Catholic social services conference held in Melbourne last February.
Following the call of Victorian Bishops, Catholic Social Services Victoria has developed a resource kit for parishes in order to help them better respond to domestic and family violence. Resource kits are being distributed to every parish in Victoria, plus leading social services organisations.
The Victorian Bishops released a statement on 29 November 2016 condemning domestic and family violence in the strongest possible terms, and have called on the whole Church community to work together in preventing violence.