DVRC PROJECT NEWS

DVRC received a WESNET grant

DVRC has started a new project, Leadership and Women with Disabilities: Capacity Building in Violence Prevention. The influence of women with disabilities who speak out can be very powerful. This innovative project aims to mentor women with disabilities in violence prevention by enhancing their existing skills and abilities. We will recruit women with an interest in violence prevention and provide them with training, support, encouragement, advice and resources based on DVRC's knowledge and expertise in violence against women with disabilities.

DVRC has worked with and been inspired by women willing to speak out in various ways on behalf of other women. In our training, publications, forums, and on our websites DVRC has relied on the special impact and truth of the voices of survivors. Women with disabilities are amongst those who have participated in working groups, told their stories, co-facilitated workshops, given talks, and presented research. Recent experience delivering training around disability and family violence however, and difficulty finding women with disabilities with experience and confidence to be co-facilitators, led the organisation to consider mentoring more women along the path to becoming influential in this field. Women with disabilities interested in participating in the project please contact Chris Jennings on (03) 9486 9699 or by email vwdp@dvrcv.org.au

DVRC PUBLICATIONS NEWS

DVRC Quarterly

If you are not already a subscriber to DVRC's newsletter, now is a great time to become one. The Quarterly contains feature articles pertaining to violence against women, sector updates and project overviews, facts and figures on violence against women and children, as well as a Noticeboard section of upcoming forums, initiatives, and general items of interest. The topics covered in the Quarterly are very diverse, and include Family Violence Legislation; New Technologies and Violence; Animal Assisted Therapy; Violence against Women with Disabilities; Feminist Theory; Sexual Ethics; Mediation and Dispute Resolution; Culture; Media Coverage of Violence against Women; Prevention Practices; and much more.  Subscriptions to the Quarterly are very reasonably priced, and if you subscribe now, you will receive two issues free! The subscription form is available at: http://www.dvrcv.org.au/PublicationsHub/NewsletterContents.htm

Updated booklets now available

DVRC now has current Somali and Tagalog versions of the booklet Is Somebody You Know Being Abused in a Relationship ? The extensive listing of services for referral in the back of these guides have been updated. People interested can order up to 10 of each free. Please contact dvrcv@dvrcv.org.au for copies of the booklet or call (03) 9486 9866.

DVRC TRAINING NEWS

Training for 2009

Please keep an eye on the training section of the DVRC website for the forthcoming training calendar for 2009: http://www.dvrcv.org.au/TrainingHub/TrainingIndex.htm

Family Violence Risk Assessment and Risk Management Framework - Safer Families Training Program

This Framework, developed to provide consistent family violence risk assessment processes across the service system in Victoria, is being rolled out across the state and includes training for family violence services, courts, police, and community and health settings. DVRC, Swinburne University and No To Violence have been contracted to develop and deliver the training, to build capacity and consistency across the workforce in risk assessment and risk management practice, and to enhance the safety of women and children experiencing violence.

Different levels of risk assessment and risk management are required depending where a service ‘fits' in the service system. These include:

• identifying family violence – for mainstream professionals who may encounter people they believe to be the victims of family violence;
• Preliminary Risk Assessment – for professionals who work with women experiencing family violence but for whom it is not their core business; and
• Comprehensive Risk Assessment – for specialist family violence professionals working with women and children who are experiencing family violence.

Training is being rolled out in regions, and schedules negotiated through the Family Violence Regional Integration Coordinators. Look out for training in your region over the coming six months.

LEGISLATION AND POLICY

New Family Violence Protection Act 2008 comes into force

The Family Violence Protection Act 2008 came into effect on 8 December 2008, and replaces the system of family violence intervention orders provided for in the Crimes (Family Violence) Act 1987. It includes a range of new initiatives to better protect those subject to family violence, usually women and children, and make perpetrators accountable for their actions.

The Act:

• broadens the definition of family violence so that it includes economic and emotional abuse, as well as other types of threatening and controlling behaviour;
• gives police more powers so that they can respond more quickly and effectively to family violence;
• makes it easier for victims of family violence to adjust tenancy arrangements to enable them to remain in their homes if they wish; and
• improves the court system to encourage greater reporting by victims, including restricting perpetrators from cross-examining their victims.

Copies of the Act are available from Information Victoria. See http://www.information.vic.gov.au. For information about the Act, including a table that compares the Crimes (Family Violence) Act 1987 with the new Family Violence Protection Act 2008, go to http://www.justice.vic.gov.au

To coincide with the introduction of the new Act, the Victorian Government also launched a community education campaign, ‘Family violence. Victoria has had enough'. For information about the campaign go to: http://www.familyviolence.vic.gov.au

Victorian domestic violence death review

Also announced recently was the Victorian Government's decision to act on the Victorian Law Reform Commission's recommendation to set up a family violence deaths review process in Victoria. This independent review will be undertaken by the new Coroners Prevention Unit in the State Coroner's Office, and will aim to identify prevention strategies and contribute to a reduction of preventable deaths. Non-government agencies who have lobbied for such a review for many years are eager to see what form the review will take.

NEW LIBRARY RESOURCES

Through Young Black Eyes Workshop Kit, SNAICC, 2008

The SNAICC Through Young Black Eyes Workshop Kit, is designed to help you run workshops to prevent family violence, child abuse and neglect, and develop child safe communities. The kit contains many practical ideas to help you facilitate workshops, share stories and take local actions to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children be safe and happy. These workshop kit resources also have a focus on: family violence and its effects on children; child abuse and neglect; child sexual abuse; and developing a child-safe community/organisation.

Tackling Domestic Violence: Theories, policies and practice, Lynne Harne and Jill Radford, Open University Press, 2008

This accessible text takes a multi-disciplinary approach to exploring issues surrounding domestic violence. It draws on contemporary research findings, policy developments, innovative practice and case studies to explore new directions in professional and voluntary sector responses to domestic violence. Centred on the United Kingdom, but located in a context of global change, the book discusses and critically evaluates new criminal justice and multi-agency initiatives such as domestic violence courts and risk assessment conferences, as well as assessing how far these initiatives improve the safety of women and children.

PRACTICE NEWS

Pilot intervention for mothers and infants in women's shelters

A new pilot intervention called BuBs on Board was designed and recently trialled with babies and their mothers who are in crisis/emergency accommodation in order to escape family violence. The name BuBs on Board highlights the presence of infants living in women's shelters. The intervention's aim was to take active steps in women's shelters to strengthen the bond between the mother and her infant/s while attending to the impact of their exposure to familial harm at this critical stage in the infant's development. The findings support the need to intervene early with infants who have experienced trauma resulting from family violence.

The full report is available from: http://www.rch.org.au/mhs/services/index.cfm?doc_id=9924

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Copyright (c) DVRC 2008
292 Wellington Street, Collingwood 3066, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
http://www.dvrcv.org.au/ | Tel: 03 9486 9866 | Fax: 03 9486 9744