Laing+Simmons: Domestic violence training equips property managers

Laing+Simmons property managers recently participated in a training session facilitated by the KYUP! Project to fully-equip them with strategies and techniques to deal with domestic violence situations and the dangers their tenants, and they themselves, could potentially be exposed to.

Founded by Mel Thomas, black-belt and two-time Hapkido Woman of the Year, KYUP! Project is an evidence-based initiative that confronts the alarming rates of violence against women and children. It empowers Australians to raise their standards and advocate for their safety and well-being through the principles of self-worth and the basics of self-defence.

Ms Thomas addressed members of the in-house Laing+Simmons Corporate property management team as well as property managers throughout the network.

Laing+Simmons Head of Property Management Michael Anania explains the importance of the training.

“Domestic violence is one of the major issues affecting Australian communities and the nature of property management means our people have a higher-than-average chance of encountering instances of domestic violence involving their customers in the course of their work,” Mr Anania says.

“We need to make sure they are prepared with proven best practice skills and strategies to best support known, suspected or potential victims. KYUP! Project is an industry leader in this space and to have the opportunity to hear from Mel was invaluable and inspiring.”

Incorporating a self-defence element, the KYUP! Project training was an opportunity to share insights, including strategies for quickly escaping unsafe situations. There was an emphasis on the importance of trusting one’s intuition in potential domestic violence situations involving tenants, and supporting them within defined parameters.

Mel Thomas of KYUP! says: “All Australians deserve to live free from violence and it’s heartening to work closely with Laing+Simmons, an organisation that is moving beyond awareness and good intentions into strong-hearted action to break the silence on domestic and family violence and to empower its team to know what to do when a situation doesn’t feel right.”

Key take-outs for Laing+Simmons property managers included: finding the balance of providing information but not advice; understanding the limitations of their safe involvement in domestic violence situations; communication skills to securely engage with tenants who may be vulnerable; respecting privacy and handling situations with care; and, of course, prioritising their own safety and that of their tenants.

“We’re committed to ensuring our people have the best possible training available to them, so they continually build on their skills and knowledge base. The session with Mel and KYUP! Is the latest example, but the key is to maintain forward momentum,” Mr Anania says.

“For instance, we’ve also established a framework for our offices to have a reliable emergency plan and we’ve encouraged our people to download the Daniel Morcombe Foundation ‘Help Me’ App to discreetly alert the office of potential hostility or danger during open houses or property inspections.

“Taking the scope of training support further, we’re also preparing bespoke formal sessions on the proper protocols for our property managers to observe when handling tenant accidents, injuries and fatalities, covering legal and ethical considerations, to ensure they are equally equipped to deal with the many different challenges that come with the territory,” he says.