Patty Kinnersly, CEO of Our Watch, the national organisation for the prevention of violence against women and their children:
“This is a harrowing case of alleged family violence and extremely distressing for those involved and the community as a whole.
“Tragically, around 20 children are killed by a parent each year, half of them aged two years and under.
“As with the deaths of women in family violence, the killing of children rarely happens without warning. Research released last week shows that in eight in 10 cases in Australia, there is a history of children abuse, and a history of intimate partner violence in nine in 10 cases.
“The death of women and children in family violence is preventable. It requires everyone from governments to workplaces, sporting clubs, faith groups and education institutions to take action to change the attitudes and systems that reinforce those attitudes that drives this violence.
“This family would have been connected to others through these community settings. There is an opportunity for all of us to reach out and start a conversation if we see or hear things that don’t feel right in relationships and families.
“We can and must end this national crisis together.”
Please contact media@ourwatch.org.au or call 0448 844 930.
If you cover this story, or any story regarding violence against women and children, please include the following tagline:
1800RESPECT is the national domestic, family, and sexual violence counselling, information and support service. If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, chat online via www.1800RESPECT.org.au, or text 0458 737 732. Men’s Referral Service: 1300 766 491
Access guides for reporting about violence against women and their children.
Our Watch is a national leader in Australia’s work to stop violence against women and their children before it starts. The organisation was created to drive nation-wide change in the practices, norms, and structures that lead to violence against women and children. Read more about Our Watch here.