Plan launched to stop violent dads from murdering kids during visitation (Australia)

We've been trying to educate the public about this problem for years.

http://www.news.com.au/national/queensland/brave-new-plan-to-get-tough-on-violent-fathers/story-fnii5v6w-1227051879187

Brave new plan to get tough on violent fathers

This story was published: 1 hour ago September 09, 2014 12:00AM

Cases of violence against children were often sparked by the father wanting to get revenge on his former partner.

A NATION-first program to stop violent men murdering their own children during contact visits has been launched in southeast Queensland.

The “Abuse on Contact” initiative, provided by Carinity, Women’s Legal Service and Ipswich Women’s Centre Against Domestic Violence, will run free programs and provide information to help frontline workers pinpoint warning signs in a family situation.

Women’s Legal Service community legal education lawyer Angela Lynch said there was a “sense of urgency” in the sector after three known cases where a father had murdered his child this year.

But she said there could be countless more situations in which the child was in danger.

“These are the tragedies that make it into the newspapers, but behind them we know that violent men will also neglect, abuse their children,” she said. “Thousands and thousands of children are experiencing that.”

Ms Lynch said cases of violence against children were often sparked by the father wanting to get revenge on his former partner.

She said markers for potential violence in a separated family was threats to kill, stalking, controlling behaviour and sexual jealousy between the woman and former partner.

Carinity Talera manager Anna Jones said the new programs were already overbooked with more than 100 post-separation professionals and community service workers waitlisted.

“There is a myth that he may be a bad husband but a good father,” she said.

“We need to debunk this myth so community workers and legal professionals are alert to the dangers.”

The free training, to be available in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Toowoomba, is funded by the Ian Potter Foundation.

For support call DV Connect on 1800 811 811