INTERVIEW: 'It never leaves you.' The pain of advocacy after your sister is murdered

Warning: This story contains images and descriptions of an Indigenous person who has died.

How do we stop women and children being murdered? It's a question politicians, communities and families have been grappling with for decades.

And, it seems we're still looking for the answer. 

Last month, across 10 hours, three women were allegedly killed by men they knew in separate attacks.

Politicians have called the deaths 'profoundly distressing' but said more funding alone won’t solve this problem.

So what will? 

Alison Scott has been working in this space for nearly three decades. She is a victim-survivor and her sister was murdered by her partner in 2019.

In this week's long listen Alison tells Gabby Katanasho about the moment she learnt her sister had been murdered, the continued pain of losing someone to domestic violence, and how she thinks the system needs to change.

Editor’s note: During this discussion, it is stated that Jessica Bairnsfather-Scott died at 22, however she was 32. 

We asked the WA government what it is doing to improve outcomes for First Nations people impacted by family violence.

In response a spokesperson said the government is committed to reducing incidents of family and domestic violence, and has committed $817.5 million to fund preventative measures since 2017. 

The spokesperson said the government is implementing a system reform plan that was informed by extensive consultation with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, people with lived experience and the domestic violence sector.

They said the reforms are complex and that the government remains committed to ongoing engagement with the community."Our focus remains on achieving a family and domestic violence system that is safer, more culturally responsive and better equipped to meet the needs of Aboriginal victim-survivors, children and families."

Guests:

• Alison Scott, victim-survivor, advocate and Noongar woman

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