By XAVIER SMERDON
WHEN Betty’s 15-year-old son started acting out against her physically she felt like there was no help for her.
The single mother of two boys was forced to go the police after her son continually damaged her house and even assaulted her on occasions.
“He was quite violent in the form of smashing doors and even hurting me sometimes,” Betty told Star.
“If you came to my house you would see that the doors are hanging by a thread.
“As soon as something didn’t go his way he would really lose his temper.”
After Betty went to the Altona police for help she was forwarded on to Anglicare in Werribee who suggested she take part in an education program entitled Breaking the Cycle.
The eight week course taught Betty not just how to handle her son’s violent outbursts but also what was triggering them.
“I felt alone because none of my friends were going through this but once I started the program I realised there are so many other people in the same situation,” she said.
“They taught me how to prevent the violence and not let it get to that explosion point. Since then there hasn’t been any violent incidents.”
Anglicare Victoria GM Policy, Research and Innovation Dr Sarah Wise said the program is a breakthrough in dealing with the growing problem of adolescent violence.
“The vast majority of victims of parental abuse are mothers, but it’s an issue that also affects family members indirectly, and it’s much more widespread than most people realise,” Dr Wise said.
“Parents or carers who participated in the Werribee program saw a sharp reduction in the incidence of physical and verbal abuse, psychological violence and financial abuse between program intake and program end, with 87.5% feeling optimistic about improving the parent-adolescent relationship.”
Breaking the Cycle is open for new participants and is launching new programs in Box Hill,
Lilydale, Werribee and Broadmeadows.
For more information call 9412 6133.
