ANMF is encouraging members who may have relevant knowledge and experience, to participate in Engage Victoria’s public consultation on stalking to help shape recommendations on current laws.
The Victorian Law Reform Commission would like to hear from people who have experienced stalking and those that have supported them.
Nurses and midwives may hear patients’ experiences either through their observations during care, or direct screening for family violence in Victorian antenatal hospitals or maternal and child health nurse consultations.
Additionally, if stalking occurs in workplaces, Victorian employers are legally obligated to provide a safe working environment and without risks to health, so far as is reasonably practicable.
The Victorian Government Victims Support Agency website, defines stalking as:
“any repeated behaviour by a person that makes you: worried about your safety, causes you physical harm or causes you emotional harm.”
Stalking is a crime in Victoria and stalking behaviours can occur as part of family violence, and that people are also more likely to be stalked by someone they already know, (such as work colleagues or clients).