Toowoomba businesses have agreed to break the insidious cycle of domestic and family violence, estimated to cost Australian businesses $1.5 billion per year from absences, poor service, errors, forgetfulness, and low output.
Heritage Building Society, Toowoomba Regional Council, and the University of Southern Queensland are the first to sign up to deliver awareness and training sessions for their employees, delivered under the umbrella of Australia’s CEO Challenge.
The objective of CEO Challenge is to enlist corporations and businesses to address domestic and family violence in the workplace.
‘Domestic violence touches the lives of a third of a million working Australians every year said CEO Challenge Executive Director Wendy Reid.
‘It makes sense for businesses to play their part in addressing this widespread yet hidden epidemic – ensuring they protect their staff and their bottom line.
The initiative, a first for Toowoomba. Is funded by Zonta Garden City.
For interviews contact Wendy Reid, Executive Director on 0421 058 250
www.ceochallengeaustralia.com
Domestic violence facts
In Australia, 1 in 3 women experience violence in their relationship
Queensland Police deal with more than 30,000 confirmed domestic violence incidents each year. Most violence goes unreported, much of it unrecognised
The total annual cost of domestic violence to the Australian community in 2002–03 is estimated to be $8.1 billion. The largest contributor is pain, suffering and premature mortality, at $3.5 billion.
The most recent national survey found that nearly 2 in 3 children who were in the care of women that had experienced violence from a previous or current partner had witnessed a violent incident. (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2006 Personal safety survey, Australia 2005).
Intimate partner violence has been identified as the leading contributor to death, disability and illness in Victorian women aged 15–44, being responsible for more of the disease burden than many well-known risk factors such as high blood pressure, smoking, illicit drugs, alcohol, and obesity. There is also evidence to suggest that the influence of abuse can persist long after the abuse has stopped. (VicHealth 2004 The health costs of violence. Measuring the burden of disease caused by intimate partner violence: A summary of findings).
