ACC supporting kaimahi with new family violence workplace action plan
Workplaces play an important role in helping people impacted by family violence. So we’re aiming to create a safe, supportive workplace for kaimahi (staff) by providing training on family violence.
The statistics around family violence and sexual violence in New Zealand make for sobering reading.
One in three women – and one in two wāhine Māori – have experienced physical and/or sexual abuse from an intimate partner in their lifetime.
And when psychological or emotional abuse is included, over half of all New Zealand women have experienced intimate partner violence in their lifetime.
ACC is committed to playing our part in turning these statistics around.
That’s why we’re part of Te Puna Aonui – which brings together government agencies to help eliminate family and sexual violence.
We’re the lead agency for a number of actions under Te Aorerekura, Aotearoa’s first National Strategy and Action Plan to Eliminate Family Violence and Sexual Violence.
Te Aorerekura outlines what’s needed to achieve safe, inclusive communities across the motu (country).
One thing is to make sure workforces are resourced and equipped to safely respond to family violence, and ideally help prevent it from happening in the first place.
Being there for our people
Any large employer such as ACC is likely to have kaimahi (staff) who experience or use family violence. We want to provide safe and effective support for our people who are impacted by family violence.
One of the things we’ve done is launch a family violence awareness e-learning module to support kaimahi to understand what family violence is and how they can help.
The online training will help our kaimahi to recognise the signs and know what to do if they think someone may be impacted by family violence. We also want our people who are impacted by family violence to feel supported and know how ACC will support them.
It’s all part of our Family Violence Workplace Action Plan and our commitment to Te Aorerekura.
“It’s important organisations recognise the role workplaces can play – it’s a place people can safely access information and be connected with specialist services,” ACC Chief Executive Megan Main says.
“I’m proud of the mahi that’s being done to put these supports and training in place here at ACC. So much of this is about our people not being alone – when supporting a team member, a client, or for themselves.”
Supporting those impacted by family violence
The e-learning module will give our kaimahi a better understanding of the important role workplaces can play in supporting people impacted by family violence, as well as outlining what support is available, both within ACC and externally.
Launched this month, the module was developed in consultation with family violence specialists Shine, who provide training for companies as part of their aim to make all homes in New Zealand violence free.
Other aspects of our Family Violence Workplace Action Plan include training and support for people managers and leaders, creating a network of trained family violence contact people, further training and support for frontline staff, and creating an information hub on the staff intranet.
Some of our clients are also impacted by family violence. ACC is one of the places where clients may disclose they are experiencing and/or using violence, and where they can access support.
Family violence and sexual violence – Where to get help
If you or anyone you know are experiencing family violence or sexual violence, here are some ways to get support:
In case of emergency, call the Police: 111
National family violence help lines can provide support, information and referrals to local specialist services:
Shine help line (0508 744 633) – 24/7, for anyone experiencing family violence, supporting someone else or concerned about their own behaviour
Shine - Making Homes Violence Free
Women’s Refuge crisis line (0800 733 843) – 24/7, for women experiencing family violence or anyone supporting a woman experiencing family violence
Women's Refuge - Keeping Women and Children Safe
Are You OK Info line (0800 456 450) – 9am to 11pm, seven days a week, for anyone experiencing family violence, supporting someone else or concerned about their own behaviour
In Your Hands support line (0800 456 450) - for anyone looking to change their behaviour, and the people supporting them to do so.
0800 Hey Bro (0800 439 276) for men worried they might harm a loved one or family member
0800 Hey Bro - Keeping Whānau Safe
Safe to Talk Sexual Harm help line (0800 044 334) – 24/7, for people affected by sexual harm
