The Same Sex Domestic Abuse Group (SSDAG) is a non-government agency that aims to raise awareness of relationship or family and domestic abuse amongst people of Diverse Sexuality and/or Gender (DSG). A recent study that looked at the health of DSG Australians found that 32.7% of respondents reported their partner was abusive. This is higher than the 25%. rate reported amongst heterosexuals. There is still much work to be done in encouraging the gay, lesbian and trans* community to acknowledge that domestic violence/abuse also affects our relationships.
Acknowledging the limited funding currently available for DSG specific services, SSDAG works with existing agencies, currently providing domestic violence related assistance, to encourage inclusion of DSG people on both a policy and personal level. SSDAG endeavours to build the capacity in mainstream domestic violence services to effectively and respectfully work with the DSG population. We achieve this through our ‘Speaking Out’ training, usually a full day workshop, which assists service providers to create more inclusive, accessible services for DSG clients.
In 2004 funding was initially granted from the Department of Community Development and the Department of Corrective Services to develop resources, including the Speaking Out training package, brochures, booklets and posters. Current funding (until December 2008) comes from the Department of the Attorney General to carry out the training and promote the awareness of DSG domestic violence amongst both the mainstream and DSG community.
The training is free and available to service providers in any health or social service field (police, refuge workers, social workers, counsellors, GP’s etc.) or to anyone wanting to learn more about how domestic abuse affects people of diverse sexuality and gender.
SSDAG is constantly evolving and improving and is open to new ideas for how we might address the gap in domestic abuse services for the DSG community. The group exists because of the dedication and consistency of a small group of volunteers along with 2 part-time paid staff.
If you are interested in booking a training workshop for the staff at your workplace in the new year, or would like more information on SSDAG, contact:
- Bree van de Zuidwind or Sandra Norman
- PO Box 67, Francis St, Northbridge, WA 6865
- www.ssdag.org.au
- ssdag@hepatitiswa.com.au
- Tel: 9227 9802
Bree van de Zuidwind
