The Chamber Chat column is a place for the president of the chamber to communicate about business and economic-related issues in our fair city. For those who have read these in the past you will know I love nothing more than to create positive spin on the goings on in Maitland. I have been a positive advocate for the Levee even during the slow construction phase. I love nothing more than to inform the readers of positive people in the Maitland business community.
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But last week, I was appalled to discover that Maitland has become the domestic violence capital of the Hunter, with disturbing new figures showing a 32.8 per cent increase in domestic violence-related crimes. The chamber is an entity with no political party affiliations and we have supported candidates and members form all sides of the political fence on various subjects. Maitland MP Jenny Aitchison is now Shadow Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, and Shadow Minister for Small Business. So it is timely we rally behind her to bring this number down in Maitland.
When high youth unemployment stats are released we rally behind organisations such as Mai Wel and Youth Express as a chamber to support initiatives to reduce the figures. The same needs to be done after reading our city’s domestic violence stats. Domestic violence effects business, it effects your staff and it effects how effective you can service your clients. However, it is something that as a society we need to strive towards eliminating.
You as a business owner can become a White Ribbon Day Ambassador, you can actively support gender equality in your workplace, and financially support a local charity such as Carrie’s Place in Maitland. You can look at how you manage staff that may be victims of domestic violence.
Surely we as a city cannot be proud to read about such high statistics and it is time our we stand up and say change is needed. Maitland businesses can be a guiding voice and if we wrap a White Ribbon around Maitland and say culture change is now.
Visit White Ribbon Ambassador at http://www.whiteribbon.org.au/ambassadors or visit http://carriesplace.org.au/ to learn more about Carrie’s Place.
