Domestic violence resource 'A Right to Be Heard' now available to Murraylands survivors

Over 52 pages, "A Right to Be Heard" helps readers identify an abusive relationship, dispels myths, and gives women the tools necessary to escape the cycle of violence.

It includes specific help for women in rural areas, Indigenous and older women, and those from non-English-speaking backgrounds, with disabilities or in same-sex relationships.

The chair of the Murray Bridge District Collaboration on Violence Against Women and Children, Desi Alexandridis, said the resource was a prime example of what collaboration between service providers – over 20 months, in this case – could achieve.

Women's Minister Zoe Bettison officially launched it before a crowd of about 100 people in Murray Bridge.

She described the booklet as "comprehensive, practical, compassionate, realistic yet optimistic".

"'A Right to Be Heard' is sure to change the lives of women living with violence," she said.

Other speakers at the launch event included Professor Sarah Wendt, who shared the findings of her research into domestic violence in the Murraylands and elsewhere.

The biggest problem women perceived was not a lack of services, she said, as rural women did not necessarily expect them.

Instead, social isolation – a lack of family members or friends to open up to – was the biggest issue they faced.

Still, she said frontline services were essential to prevent harm and death, and greater investment was needed in getting workers on the ground.

The services that existed were already at capacity, she said, "consumed" by crisis work.

Survivor Donna Middleton was brave enough to share her personal story, and Bec Golan, Jordan Sumner and Eric Richards presented music between speeches.

"A Right to Be Heard" will be available from service providers, GPs, police and at the Murray Bridge Town Hall.