Family violence
David HODGETT (Croydon) (17:22): (545) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Prevention of Family Violence, and the action I seek is for the minister to meet with my constituent Karen Hodgskiss. Her lived experience would offer a valuable perspective, shedding light on implications she has come across within the new family violence system. I was made aware that Ms Hodgskiss’s journey within the family violence system commenced during the COVID-19 pandemic. She has been navigating the system ever since. Over this time she informed me she has experienced unjust incidents where she felt the policy settings within the various systems were working against one another to the detriment of vulnerable community members such as her. She wishes to discuss the shortcomings she has faced between the intersections across the family violence system, family law courts, child protection, police and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, noting these shortcomings have led Ms Hodgskiss to experience further trauma. Ms Hodgskiss is a passionate advocate wanting to drive reform for an improved family violence system. She believes her situation is not unique to her and that others are likely facing similar injustices. Her lived experience would offer a valuable perspective, shedding light on implications she has come across within the new family violence system, so again I ask the Minister for Prevention of Family Violence to meet with my constituent Karen Hodgskiss.