Family violent interagency response co-ordinator Toni Velenski said community support was needed to show that family harm was not acceptable.
The interagency group — with members representing police, Ministry of Social Development, Te Whatu Ora, corrections, Central Lakes family services, Family Works, Uruuruwhenua and Anglican Family Care — met every week to discuss and find help for each case of family harm recorded by police that week in Central Otago, Queenstown and Lakes District.
The police were a conduit to bring information to the table then the group worked to find the best support for each situation.
Numbers vary but last week there were 16 reports and most weeks would average about 12. Last weekend police attended six family harm callouts, Ms Velenski said.
Given it was estimated only about 16% of family harm incidents were reported then up to 75 households were affected every week. Children were present at about half the events police attended, as witnesses, if not victims.
It was estimated family harm cost the country about $7billion a year including police time, lost productivity with victims missing work, mental and other health services.
The high rate meant it had been normalised in many people’s lives and the key was to break the cycle, she said.
In 2018 family violence was changed to family harm as it encompassed controlling, psychological harm including stalking as well as violence.
Earlier this month a White Ribbon breakfast was held in Alexandra where health professionals and business leaders were invited to learn about what they could do to help anyone in their workforce affected by family harm.
While it was often men harming women, that was not always the case, Ms Velenski said.
It could also involve siblings or parents.
Being the right person, in the right place, at the right time, could often help break the cycle or enable someone to leave a harmful situation.
"Social workers are gold, absolutely gold."
They could help people work through what was the best solution to their situation, and their knowledge of what help was available was extensive, she said.
It was really encouraging to see representatives from Benchmark Construction, a large employer in the district, at the breakfast, she said.
Often having information on staff notice boards, break rooms, or in handbooks could help someone in an unsafe situation know what to do and where to go for help.
There were many online sources of help and advice as well as agencies based at Community House, in Alexandra.
Some people were worried about asking if help was needed, as they did not think they had the answers.
"You don’t need to have the answers, don’t have to know. You can contact the agencies [for advice]."
Common factors in family harm incidents were alcohol, shared childcare arrangements, family conflict and financial strain.
More incidents tended to be reported in the new year when the bills for Christmas spending began arriving, she said.
Like all parts of society in Central Otago the agencies struggled to find suitable housing and enough money. In some cases an estranged couple ended up living in the same house as neither could find, or afford, an alternative place to live.
Normalising speaking out about family harm was key to turning around the numbers affected. Saying it is not OK and breaking the sometimes inter-generational, cycle would come about when victims spoke and people listened.
The interagency group was always looking for the best way to work and what worked best for their own community.
