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The network has introduced an emergency payment for employees affected by domestic violence, stating “while raising awareness is important, so too is action”.
The Agency will offer all staff members affected by domestic or family violence a one-off emergency payment of $5,000, to match the federal government’s contribution in the newly introduced Leaving Violence Program.
The brand has also updated its corporate social responsibility (CSR) policies to include a family and domestic violence support policy, and is on track to create a national working party to develop ongoing policies and programs to support staff affected by domestic violence.
Paul Niardone, group founder and executive director of The Agency, asserted: “Resolving the domestic violence crisis is not just reserved for government or the legal system, it demands a response from corporate groups and, more broadly, society as a whole.”
Niardone shared he was “shocked” to learn the prevalence of domestic violence in the Australian community.
“In addition to some of the high-profile cases which have been recently documented, some of the less-known statistics are equally appalling with one in six women reporting to have experienced physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner and reports [of] domestic violence from women as young as 15 years old.”
According to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, one in two recorded assaults, and one in three recorded murders, are related to family and domestic violence.
Police-reported crime data also revealed that 56 per cent of women and girls who have experienced sexual assault are under 18 years old.
“These numbers are not acceptable and while raising awareness is important, so too is action,” said Niardone.
Patty Kinnersly, CEO of Victorian-based violence prevention foundation Our Watch, expressed a similar perspective, stating: “Violence against women is preventable and every person in Australia has a role to play in stopping the violence.”
“Employers have a crucial role in showing leadership and creating workplaces that are equal and safe,” the CEO said.
Stacey Dragicevich, allied service manager at The Agency and facilitator of the network’s Western Australia-based female working group, stated she was “proud to see senior management at The Agency Group introduce significantly enhanced support for victims of domestic violence”.
“The impact of domestic violence is not just physical, it is also psychological, emotional and financial. The introduction of these policies, while not an exhaustive solution, provides a meaningful contribution helping to reduce feelings of insecurity at a time when victims feel most vulnerable.”
“Reducing domestic violence and providing better support for victims is an issue which I am very passionate about and I will continue to call for a greater response from the community,” Dragicevich concluded.
