New research by the Office of the eSafety Commissioner shows women from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities face multiple barriers in seeking support for online harassment, stalking, or threats they experience as part of domestic violence.
Women and domestic violence frontline workers interviewed cited culturally-specific humiliation, fear of deportation, public shaming, lack of financial resources and low trust in state institutions, such as police, based on experiences from their home country, as reasons they may not seek help in times of need.
"While we know technology-facilitated abuse has similar impacts on women of all backgrounds, it can be particularly challenging for culturally and linguistically diverse women to seek help," says eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant.
"Limited English and digital literacy skills were found to amplify social isolation, cultural vulnerabilities and compound cycles of abuse, which is why we are working to raise awareness and improve access to information and services for women in CALD communities," says Inman Grant.
To meet this need, the eSafety Office has built on its award winning eSafetyWomen initiative to now include translated materials for CALD communities with the highest incidence of reported family and domestic violence.
The translated eSafetyWomen guides are available in 12 languages including Arabic, Chinese, Tamil and Spanish. They are accessible on the website and distributed through eSafetyWomen training workshops.
The eSafetyWomen program has trained over 7,200 domestic violence frontline workers around the country, in how to support women experiencing technology-facilitated abuse.
Frontline professionals including domestic violence and social workers, allied health workers, police and government employees can also register for the free online training at https://frontlineworkers.esafety.gov.au/.
"Our training materials are developed in close consultation with experts in the domestic violence field, backed by research and flexibly delivered according to circumstances
"We are very pleased to be extending the reach of this vital program to help women in CALD communities and their support networks so that we can get women the help that they both need and deserve," says Inman Grant.
