New Resources on Domestic and Family Violence

JUST RELEASED: Australian National Council Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children

On 29 April 2009, the Australian Government released Time for Action, the major report of the National Council to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children. The Report gives all governments and the community clear directions about helping Australian women live free of violence.

Full report, background document, summary and current actions are now available for download from here

Bi-Monthly Bulletin on Violence Against Women with Disabilities

The Victorian Women With Disabilities Network (VWDN) are planning to distribute a regular bi-monthly Bulletin for both family violence and disability service agencies regarding activities in responding to violence against women with disabilities. If you are interested in receiving this Bulletin please contact Kate Hood, VWDN Policy Officer.  Her email address is kate.hood@vwdn.org.au

Family Violence Database Report

The Victorian Family Violence Database: Seven-Year report provides information about the number and characteristics of people accessing specific services for family violence in Victoria over the seven-year period 1999-2006. The Report was prepared by the Victims Support Agency. Analysis includes family violence incidents reported by male, female and child victims. The full report is available on the Department of Justice website at www.justice.vic.gov.au

Innovative Website: ‘HURT'

HURT is new website launched in November 2008 by the Women's Council for Domestic and Family Violence Services (WA) as part of WA's White Ribbon Day's activities. HURT is an online and interactive virtual house which has over 100 video clips of women, children and men describing real experiences of domestic and family violence. To visit HURT go to: www.hurt.net.au

Special Collection of Research and Resources

To commemorate World Health Day on 7 April 2009, the Australian Domestic & Family Violence Clearinghouse released the first of a series of Special Collections of research and resources on a particular subject area concerning domestic and family violence. To view the collection click here.The inaugural Special Collection is about ‘Domestic and family violence and health issues'.

Family Court of Australia 's Best Practice Principles

On 6 March 2009, the Family Court of Australia launched the Best Practice Principles as the last part of the Family Violence Strategy which was introduced to combat family violence. The principles were developed to provide decision makers with practical guidance when dealing with matters where family and domestic violence, or the risk of it, had been alleged. For a copy of the Principles click here

Amendments to Act: Reporting of Domestic Violence Now Mandatory in Northern Territory

Amendments to the Northern Territory's Domestic and Family Violence Act have recently been passed in the Legislative Assembly, making it an offence to fail to report fears that someone could be harmed by domestic violence. The legislation comes with more money for crisis accommodation, counselling services and an advertising campaign. Click here to view the Act.

FORTHCOMING FORUM

Working with Secondary Schools to Prevent Violence Against Women

27 May 2009

The Partners in Prevention (PiP) project is running a forum for schools and community agencies on cross-sector approaches to the primary prevention of violence against women on Wednesday 27 May 2009. Presentations include:

•  Advancing the field: best practice in schools-based violence prevention – Dr Michael Flood (VicHealth/ LaTrobe University);

•  Sexual Assault Prevention Program for Secondary Schools (SAPPSS) – a program run by CASA House for schools in the north and west regions of Melbourne;

•  Solving the Jigsaw – a program run by Bendigo EASE for late primary and early secondary students that engages the whole school community; and

•  Evaluation for gender-based violence prevention projects – a seminar with Dr Jacques Boulet (Borderlands Cooperative).

Go to www.dvrcv.org.au/pip/network.htm for details.

Leadership and Women with Disabilities: Capacity Building in Violence Prevention

DVRC's Chris Jennings has been co ordinating a WESNET funded project Leadership & Women with Disabilities: Capacity Building in Violence Prevention. One part of the project has been to invite women with disabilities to attend a two-day workshop to strengthen the voice of women with disabilities in violence prevention. Chris, and DVRC trainers Louise and Marianna, facilitated the days and provided a space where women could meet, chat and discuss issues around training, and gain support and resources based on DVRC's knowledge and expertise in the area. We as facilitators gained a lot more insight, knowledge and inspiration in relation to the issue of violence against women with disabilities and how we can be more inclusive. The group hopes to meet again in the future and will be keeping the issue of violence against women with disabilities on the agenda… so watch this space.

DVRC Quarterly

The latest issue of DVRC's newsletter contains feature articles on Tenancy Laws and the new Family Violence Protection Act; Trafficking of Women into the Sex Industry; and Reflections on the Domestic Related Homicide of Julie Ramage.  Other topics covered include: Violence against Women after Natural Disasters; Abusive Partners as Good Fathers; and The Victorian Family Violence Database Seven-Year Report. To subscribe to the Quarterly, go to: www.dvrcv.org.au/PublicationsHub/PublicationsIndex.htm

CRAF ‘Safer Families' Training Update

The Safer Families training program (or CRAF as its better known!) continues to roll out across Victoria. The training is an important part of the Victorian family violence system reform agenda, and aims to develop consistency in family violence risk assessment and risk management practices throughout the family violence and broader community sectors. With a target of 3,500 workers across the state to undergo training, the training consortium of DVRC, Swinburne University and No to Violence has delivered about half the scheduled sessions, and will have completed all by the end of August.

Three levels of risk assessment training - Preliminary, Comprehensive, and Train the Trainer in Identifying Family Violence – have been scheduled and delivered regionally, with Regional Integration Coordinators (RIC's) responsible for advertising and recruiting participants. Train the Trainer participants are in turn planning their own Identifying Family Violence sessions in their regions for a range of other community groups.

Training has also been tailored for Magistrates' Court Registrars and Maternal and Child Health Nurses (MCHN). All court training was completed prior to the introduction of the Family Violence Protection Act in December 2008, and Registrars are now undertaking risk assessment when they interview clients applying for intervention orders. All MCHN's are participating in CRAF training as part of their ‘Key Ages and Stages' framework.

All training materials, including the risk assessment training DVD, will be posted on a CRAF project website which is expected to go live over the next month. Evaluations show that the training has been consistently well regarded and participants report an increase in confidence, knowledge and skills in family violence risk assessment. For further information about CRAF, contact DVRC, or your local RIC.

Family Violence Protection Act Training

DVRC and Women's Legal Service Victoria have developed a new training program for community workers wanting to know about the new Family Violence Protection Act 2008, and how to support women applying for intervention orders through the Magistrates Court. This two-day training aims to provide participants with an understanding of the new Act, including where and how family violence cases are dealt with within the legal system. The training walks participants through the Act itself, and provides opportunities to apply knowledge and skills through a number of case scenarios. In particular, we focus on some of the significant changes in this Act compared to the old Crimes (Family Violence) Act, such as the expanded definition of what constitutes family violence; increased access to protection for women with disabilities; the new Family Violence Police Safety Notices; and changes regarding residential tenancies.

This training has been offered twice for family violence workers to date, and further sessions will be advertised for a broader range of services on DVRC's training calendar over the next 2 semesters. For information or to register your interest in attending, please contact DVRC on (03) 9486 9866.

DVRC Training June 2009

Responding to the Abuse of Older People

This training session is for workers coming into contact with older clients - in aged care or in the community. This course will cover the following: what is ‘elder abuse' and indicators of abuse, assessment guidelines, responding to abuse and referral pathways.

Date: Thursday 4 June.

Location: CBD.

Cost: $75 per participant.

Registrations: Close 27 May.

Contact DVRC, 9486 9866. To register, click on the registration form.

Domestic Violence and the Family Law Act

The recent reforms to the Federal family law system have major implications for survivors of domestic violence when making post-separation parenting arrangements. This training is designed to give workers an overview of key legal and other reforms, the possible consequences for victims of domestic violence. It will also consider ways to support and advocate for victims who are required to use family dispute resolution, including planning for safe processes and safe parenting arrangements.

Date: Wednesday 17 & Thursday 18 June.

Location: CBD.

Cost: $150 per participant.

Registrations: Close 3 June.

Contact DVRC, 9486 9866. To register, click on the registration form.

To view Domestic Violence Resource Centre's training calendar containing forthcoming sessions click go to www.dvrcv.org.au/TrainingHub/TrainingIndex.htm . For registration contact DVRC by phone on (03) 9486 9866, by email at dvrcv@dvrcv.org.au or visit the website to download a registration form. Keep an eye out on the DVRC website for the June to December 2009 calendar, due to be released soon.

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Copyright (c) DVRC 2009
292 Wellington Street, Collingwood 3066, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
http://www.dvrcv.org.au/ | Tel: 03 9486 9866 | Fax: 03 9486 9744