Djirra, an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation with specialist expertise in family violence opened a new branch in Bendigo this week and will launch another branch in the Latrobe Valley next week as part of its state-wide expansion.
The new branches will house Djirra’s Aboriginal Family Violence Legal Service program (AFVLS).
Its’ from these locations that teams of lawyers and paralegal support workers will be able to provide wraparound, culturally safe legal and non-legal support for local Aboriginal people experiencing family violence or sexual assault or have in the past.
Djirra supports predominantly women and their children. Expanding to new locations is a bitter-sweet achievement for Antoinette Braybrook, CEO of Djirra.
“Expanding our services to two new areas means we can support more Aboriginal women in more places across Victoria,” Antoinette Braybrook said.
“No Aboriginal women should be disadvantaged or denied access to specialist, holistic and culturally safe support just because of her where she lives.”
Antoinette Braybrook regrets that despite all efforts to curb it family violence is still prevalent.
