On 8 February 2025, the Punya Foundation hosted a Community Consultation in Salisbury, South Australia, focused on the issues of family, domestic, and sexual violence. This event brought together seven engaged community members who participated in an insightful program designed to foster a deeper understanding of these sensitive topics.
The TECS project team, present at the consultation, consisted of members from FECCA and SSI. Together, they led a series of thought-provoking discussions and activities, aimed at exploring the complexities of family and domestic violence within diverse cultural contexts.
Program Highlights
The program commenced with participants completing consent forms. They filled our pre- and post-consultation surveys. Mr. Hari Adhikari, Director of Community Engagement at Punya Foundation, provided an overview of the Foundation’s mission and ongoing activities. The session was followed by a collaborative brainstorming session where participants reflected on the issues surrounding family violence. Through problem identification and open dialogue, the participants shared their unique experiences and perspectives.
Participant Insights and Feedback
After the session, Dr. Dhakal, the Founder of Punya Foundation, followed up with participants via telephone interviews to gain further insights into their experience and how the session went. Many participants expressed that this consultation was their first exposure to such a sensitive topic. A representative from the Buddhist community emphasised the importance of such programs in raising awareness and promoting a deeper understanding of family violence in the community. Some members of the Hindu community noted the cultural challenges in discussing this issue, acknowledging the complexity and the delicate nature of the subject within their cultural context.
Successful First Step
The session concluded with Mr. Hari Adhikari expressing heartfelt gratitude to all the facilitators and participants for their valuable contributions. The Punya Foundation was fortunate to secure a $2,000 grant to host the consultation, and FECCA will remunerate the participants for their time and involvement.
This community consultation marks the first of many steps toward initiating critical conversations around family, domestic, and sexual violence in the Salisbury community. Punya Foundation is committed to continuing this vital dialogue and looks forward to hosting future sessions that will foster greater awareness, understanding, and action within the community.