Family violence groups call for Victoria’s first culturally specific refuge

Saleha Singh from IndianCare and Veena Barsiwal from Shakti say there’s a need for culturally appropriate support for family violence victims. Photograph: Ellen Smith/The Guardian

Zara* believes she and her children wouldn’t be alive today were it not for the support she received while at a family violence refuge in New Zealand tailored to her cultural needs.

“The mainstream refuge didn’t understand the seriousness of abuse the ethnic women go through,” Zara said. “I have been told by my own family, community and society to reconcile so many times and every time the abuse worsens.