Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai Survivors Group Incorporated Registered Charity ABN 54 883 981 332
We advocate and educate for better understanding and improved response to psychological, emotional and verbal abuse within the Hornsby and Ku-ring-gai community in addition to providing informal support to survivors struggling to find meaning in adversity.
Sadly
these appalling forms of violence remain largely lawful and
non-actionable. The HKSG seeks to address this oversight though public
education and awareness.
Our activity is funded through the provision of support services to clients with a disability.
HKSG Media Liaison officer, Joy McDonald with Hornsby Mayer and ex Attorney General, Mr Philip Ruddoc.
Road blocks
Domestic, family and elder abuse intervention is currently hampered by lack of public knowledge and open dialogue about ...
1)Mental illness can interfere with the ability to control emotions leading to fits of rage and verbal abuse. Untreated, children with these behaviours carry them into adulthood where symptoms can become severe and the abuse criminal. Families too often respond with silence due to 'shame' and 'fear' of reprisal by the adult abuser.
2) Verbal violence (abuse) is taken as normal behaviour in many families. Yet is leads to the same brain damage in children as abuse by a pedophile.
3)Survival tactics among adult survivors of child abuse leads local authorities and healthcare professionals to frequently mis-interpret a survivor's behaviour as either manipulative or self serving. This common mis-understanding is due to the survival tactics survivors developed in childhood, and have carried on into adulthood. Patience is needed to earn a child abuse survivor's trust.
These complicating factors have been communicated to local doctors by the Royal Australian Society of General Practitioners in the 'White book', making your GP an ideal first point of contact.
In addition, we support survivors in a non-professional capacity on their road to recovery. The fact is, 'blowing the whistle' on family violence is traumatic so having fellow survivors ready to listen, without judgment, can be a relief.
2015
2015
2016
It is helpful to understand what power is.
Oxfam's 'Quick Guide to Power Analysis' offers explains:
Power over: the power of the strong over the weak, including the power to exclude others.
Power to: the capability to decide actions and carry them out.
Power with: collective power, through organisation, solidarity and joint action.
Power within: personal self-confidence, often linked to culture, religion or other aspects of identity, which influences the thoughts and actions that appear legitimate or acceptable.
The
complexity of power means that there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution
to transforming power relations. Often we will need to act at more than
one level, and address more than one dimension of power simultaneously
to bring about lasting change for the better. For example, action may require addressing the ideas and
beliefs that sustain inappropriate practices, the intercession of
authorities and possibly separation from the abuser and building a new and healthy support
network.
To undertake such action simultaneously, you will likely need support. This could include your GP, a competent and experienced psychologist, the police and a local survivor support group.
We advocate and educate for better understanding and improved response to psychological, emotional and verbal abuse within the Hornsby and Ku-ring-gai community in addition to providing informal support to survivors struggling to find meaning in adversity. 
'Navigating the road ahead' program
Domestic, family and elder abuse intervention is currently hampered by lack of public knowledge and open dialogue about ...
It is helpful to understand what power is. 
