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Family Violence Involving Inter-Species Families: A Panel Event | RMIT
Family Violence Involving Inter-Species Families: An RMIT Panel Event
Social work and human services practice is increasingly more-than-human, or ‘interspecies’. However, its humanistic legacy poses challenges when companion animals and their humans are in crisis.
For women experiencing domestic and family violence, the challenges of accommodating animals in service delivery has serious implications. Companion animals are often weaponised as a tactic of the coercive control by perpetrators, particularly in cases where there is a strong bond between the companion animal and the victim/survivor. This coercive control can take various forms: threats to harm or actual harm of their companion animals; giving them away or killing the animal. The fear of having to give up a pet to enter refuge means victim/survivors are less likely to leave unsafe homes, rendering them at further risk of harm.
This panel will explore lived expertise, animal welfare and industry perspectives on the intersection of gender and species based violence. It will provide a holistic account of the current state of the interspecies domestic and family violence contemporary practice landscape in Victoria.
Dr. Trishima Mitra-Kahn: current director of the Centre for Excellence at Safe Steps – the 24/7 Victorian Statewide Specialist Support Service. She was previously the Director of Research and Planning at Family Safety Victoria where she co-led Victoria’s input into the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032.
Dr. Lauren Roberts: Community Outreach Manager at the RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). Lauren has previously worked as a General Inspector and as part of the Major Investigations Team and Prevention team. Her work engages and empowers communities while ending cruelty to animals.
Youna Kim: Senior Manager of Gender-Based Violence Prevention at RMIT University and board director of Lucy’s Project – the national peak body that aims to improve the safety of people and animals experiencing domestic and family violence.
Dr. Christine Craik AM: Family Violence Accredited Social Worker and has worked in family violence for over 30 years in practice, teaching and research. She is a wildlife rescuer, the immediate past National President of the Australian Association of Social Workers, and volunteers as a survivor/advocate for Safe Steps.