This year Australian's are focusing on the impact of domestic violence, with our Australian of the Year Rosie Batty leading the charge to speak out and reduce the terrible suffering that can occur in domestic settings. Animals are often victims.
An upcoming inaugural conference will look at
the links between animal abuse and domestic violence and consider what can be done.
The Conference run by Lucy's
Project is running over a weekend in Byron Bay,
NSW: 7-8th November 2015 (Lord Byron Resort)
Topics to be discussed include Human-Animal
Crisis Services, Vets and Domestic Violence, Challenges faced by Rural and
Remote Australians, Children and Animal Abuse, the role of Veterinary Forensics, Empathy and Anti-Violence Education Programs.
There will also be presentation of
results from current research projects examining some of these issues in
Australia. As well as talks from invited speakers, there will be discussion and
focus groups on a range of topical subjects.
Speakers include Dr Catherine
Tiplady, author of Animal Abuse: Helping Animals and People, Moo
Baulch, CEO Domestic Violence NSW, Gillian Cohen, General Manager, DomesticViolence Service Management NSW, Dr Di Evans, RSPCA South Australia Animal Welfare Advocate,
Sandra Ma & Matt French, Safe Beds for Pets Program, RSPCA NSW, Associate
Professor Eleanora Gullone, Psychologist, Monash University, VIC, Lisa Peel and
Richard Wainwright, Saving Grace Project, WA and Dr Lydia Tong, Forensic
Veterinary Pathologist.
