NSW Clubs staff to tackle domestic violence
NSW’s biggest clubs are training bartenders and restaurant managers to recognise the signs of domestic violence and act upon it.
Sporting leagues clubs and the RSL, among other clubs have banded together to find ways to better help domestic violence victims.
The CEOs of some of Sydney’s biggest clubs came together recently to discuss ways to train staff to identify and help patrons and colleagues. Training would include recognising different types of violence and strategies to deal with violent people. DV support options would also be trained, including finding local shelters.
Southwest Sydney club Mounties have been doing this for three years, after Mounties executive manager community Arley Carrion escaped an abusive 16-year relationship.
“The whole time I was working in the club industry and people wanted to help but they just didn’t know how,” she said.
“Often in the workplace most people think that it’s happening outside to somebody else, not realising that it’s happening on our doorstep.”
Mounties chief executive Dale Hunt said the venue is now looking to expand its DV services.
“We’ve had about 30 of our staff step forward and say ‘I’ve been through that before and I’m here to help people’,” he said.
“We now have teams in each of our venues of people that have that lived experience and have been given additional training and guidance to further help those in our workplace.”
ClubsNSW is now looking at how the Mounties model can be more broadly rolled out.
ClubsNSW chief executive Rebecca Riant said “Clubs are the central hubs of their communities and are well-placed to equip employees, members and guests with the skills they need to recognise the signs of domestic violence and to provide help quickly and discreetly to those in need.
“The industry is committed to working together to ensure that club employees and members can access support and resources, and can find refuge in clubs, which have in effect become proxy community centres in many communities.”
Other clubs have also made important moves, with Bathurst RSL renovating a property and turning it into crisis accommodation for Veritas House.
Jonathan Jackson, 4th June 2024
