Domestic violence is one of the major societal vices plaguing the global communities.

Content warning - This episode mentions domestic abuse, domestic violence and marital rape.

Support is available - 1800 RESPECT and Lifeline 13 11 14

Our guest - Kittu Randhawa Kittu Randhawa is the founder of the Indian (Sub-Continent) Crisis and Support Agency the first NGO for this community in Australia.  ICSA is the first fully CALD organisation running professional support services for the target community with a focus on client-centric support services and advocacy.  Kittu is a cultural consultant; an accredited trainer, interpreter, mediator, qualified family dispute resolution practitioner. Kittu’s main are of work is as a senior case worker in domestic and family violence.  She is an expert in complex and culturally driven forms of domestic and family abuse, particularly dowry abuse.  

Kittu has been an advocate against dowry abuse since 2013 and is committed to seeking reform in legislation and systems to protect women who are victims of this form of abuse.  She has developed a library of resources including tailored training to help build organisations capacity in recognising and dealing with dowry issues.
Kittu’s work on social justice and women’s issues involves writing submissions and briefing papers for DFV related inquiries and sits on several boards and committees. This work gained her the Edna Ryan Award in leadership in 2021. 

Kittu regularly is invited to speak on the challenges faced by local CALD support services in dealing with the complexities of DFV in their communities or what is missing from the DFV support services. Kittu’s professional background and career was in procurement and governance working at all levels of government and the private sector. Kittu’s advocacy has had greater impact through her work as the CEO at the Community Resource Network; a sub-regional peak body for Western Sydney Community Organisations working to alleviate poverty and disadvantage. 

If this content is upsetting you can find support at https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support or call Lifeline on 13 11 14 and 1800 RESPECT 

You can find more of Kittu's works at: https://www.facebook.com/icsasydney

Produced by Chris Mallika Bhadra. You can find more of Chris's media projects at:

• Coconut Chats YouTube and Instagram
• Durdeshe Bangla YouTube and Instagram
• Ananda Dance Group YouTube and Instagram

Intro and outro music by Gregor Quendel under a Creative Commons Attribution licence

3ZZZ Stories of Community Resilience is proudly supported by the Community Broadcasting Foundation.