What is Happening at Shine

Congrats to the Ministry of Justice for being the second organisation and the first public sector employer to receive Shine's DVFREE Tick for their domestic violence staff programme. Shine's Jill Proudfoot and Holly Carrington presented a DVFREE Tick certificate to Ministry Chief Executive Andrew Bridgman this afternoon.
Meeting the DVFREE Tick criteria ensures an effective help-seeking pathway for employees who are experiencing domestic abuse, and also helps staff know what to do if they know or suspect a colleague is experiencing, or perpetrating, domestic violence.
With strong support from leadership, a team of people at the Ministry put in a lot of hard work and went beyond the DVFREE Tick requirements in training nearly all of their managers throughout the country in just a matter of months (the Tick allows large employers several years to reach a threshold of 90% of managers being trained). They are now embarking on face to face domestic violence training for all of their 3800 staff. Andrew Bridgman is urging other public sector organisations to follow its lead.

To learn more about DVFREE and the DVFREE Tick, go to www.dvfree.org.nz

Chozyn Koroheke suffered brutal violence at the hands of her partner Turiarangi Tai for months before he shot and killed her. Shine's Jill Proudfoot said a "horrifying" number of family violence incidents lead to death.

Read the full article on stuff.co.nz

The Peggy Purl knitting group at Bupa Glenburn Retirement Village in Auckland give back to their community by donating the knitted goods they have made to local charities. This month they donated knitted goods to Shine.

Watch the video here

A man who beat his baby son around his face and head then jammed a solid object in his mouth causing significant injuries has been sentenced to 9 months home detention. Shine spokeswoman Holly Carrington was shocked by the case. "Nine months home detention and community work seem a totally inadequate sentence," she said.

Read the full article on the NZ Herald

A woman badly beaten by her husband says her 5-year-old daughter saved her life by walking in and witnessing the attack. ‘Kristen’ tells her story and how she was helped by Shine. Kristen supported Shine's annual Light It Orange campaign, raising almost $4000 for the charity to enable them to help more children living in abusive homes.

Read the full story on the NZ Herald

This horrific case of child abuse came to light following a doctor's alert. Shine’s Holly Carrington said, "Domestic violence and child abuse are health issues and they need to be seen as health issues. Any doctor should be looking for signs of child abuse and reacting appropriately when they see it."

Read the full article on Stuff.co.nz

This story, told by a woman on her deathbed, highlights failings of the Family Court to protect victims of domestic violence. Justice Minister Andrew Little announces a ministerial review of the Family court. Shine’s Jill Proudfoot comments on "Successive Governments have said 'we're working on it, things are getting better' but actually most women's experience is that they're not."

Read the stuff.co.nz article "She thought the court would protect her".

This article talks about when she challenges the Family Court.

Jan Logie, Undersecretary to the Minister of Justice tasked with domestic and sexual violence, made a speech to the sexual and domestic violence prevention sector on International Women’s Day, hosted by Shine during Light It Orange week. Logie said she recognised the organisations had been pressing for progress on gendered violence for decades. She also said that workforce training which all Ministry of Justice staff have undertaken with Shine was an example of a useful approach involving sharing of information between sectors.

Read the NZ Herald article

Today marks the start of Light it Orange week, a nationwide campaign working to raise $100,000 to help victims of family violence. The campaign is run by Shine, and throughout the week schools, workplaces, and clubs are set to get involved.

The teen spoke out about his abusive upbringing because he wants to raise awareness about family violence and let people know what it's like for kids growing up in volatile and fear-filled homes. The 18-year-old and his mother and siblings turned to Shine about five years ago.. Shine's Light It Orange national appeal runs for a week from March 3. Shine’s Holly Carrington said people who think they don't know anyone who's experienced family violence need to understand that they probably do.

Read the NZ Herald article