DVIRC E-Newsletter September 2004

What is Child Sexual Abuse? Rethinking What We Know, Jenni Southwell, DVIRC Discussion Paper No. 4, 2003. This is another paper that challenges practitioners about the way they see and respond to sexual assault, specifically child sexualabuse (CSA). It argues that we each approach CSA from a particular standpoint that may offer unique insights into the problem but invariably limits our understanding at the same time. The paper encourages practitioners to develop an awareness of the limitations of their own theoretical and belief frameworks and how these impact on those they are trying to assist. Copies cost $12, bulk discounts available. Click here to order.

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Family Violence and the Federal Election Campaign

Violence against women and children is hotting up as a key election issue. The ALP has recently released its women's policy platform identifying the elimination of violence against women and children as one of four policy priorities. One specific pledge - to amend the Family Law Act to ensure that the safety of parties is given first priority by Family Court - is particularly significant in view of the proposed family law reforms outlined above. Other ALP pledges include:

funding a national peak advocacy group to advocate against all forms of violence against women;

granting permission for public use of unreleased materials produced for the "no respect, no relationship" campaign;

establishing a national Commissioner for Children and Young People to advocate on a range of issues for children and young people including their safety from violence;

ensuring that the specific needs of indigenous women facing violence are addressed;

considering ways to reform and improve SAAP services for women and children escaping domestic violence through consultation with victim advocates.

For more info on the ALP's platform, click here. The Coalition has yet to release its policies for women. Show your support for these proposals or advocate for a broader agenda by contacting Nicola Roxon (ALP) or Kay Patterson (Coalition).

The Domestic Violence Resource Centre is funded by the Victorian Department of Human Services and works to end all forms of family and relationship violence through education, training, research and systemic advocacy.

The Vine is circulated free of charge. If you didn't receive this publication directly and would like to become a subscriber, or if you would like us to send The Vine to a more suitable address, please email us. To unsubscribe, click here and type "unsubscribe" in the subject line.


	September 2004			DVIRC Home Page \| Feedback \| Training Calendar \| Publications
	New Publications for Practitioners Responding to Sexual Violence Just "Keeping the Peace": A Reluctance to Respond to Male Partner Sexual Violence, Melanie Heenan, Australian Centre for the Study of Sexual Assault, Issues Paper No.1, 2004.While rape in marriage has been a criminal offence for over 20 years, this paper identifies that sexual assault in relationships remains relatively invisible and poorly responded to by legal and social service systems. The paper highlights that even sexual assault and domestic violence services often fail to address the needs of victims of partner rape and to this extent compound victims' difficulty with naming and understanding their experiences as rape. To download the paper, click here. What is Child Sexual Abuse? Rethinking What We Know, Jenni Southwell, DVIRC Discussion Paper No. 4, 2003. This is another paper that challenges practitioners about the way they see and respond to sexual assault, specifically child sexualabuse (CSA). It argues that we each approach CSA from a particular standpoint that may offer unique insights into the problem but invariably limits our understanding at the same time. The paper encourages practitioners to develop an awareness of the limitations of their own theoretical and belief frameworks and how these impact on those they are trying to assist. Copies cost $12, bulk discounts available. Click here to order. *Send us your feedback on The Vine! Let us know if we are meeting your information needs and how we can best resource you.*			Family Law Reforms Set to Undermine Safety of Family Violence Victims The federal government has released a proposal to reform the family law system that has left advocates gravely concerned about the access of victims of family violence to legal protection. The proposal, which is clearly aimed at appeasing vocal men's rights critics, involves amendments to the Family Law Act that will further enshrine in the Family Court a pro-contact culture - a culture that has already gone some way towards displacing the Court's primary concern for protecting children and resident parents from violence. The proposed reforms also involve the establishment of a national network of Family Relationship Centres which will provide mediation for separating couples and encourage equal shared parenting arrangements. Parents will be required to undertake mediation at such a centre prior to filing a parenting matter in the Family Court. This is a concern to victim advocates because a substantial body of research has linked mediation to poor outcomes for victims of family violence. While mediation will not be required in cases where there is relationship violence or child abuse, the proposed system presumes that cases involving family violence will be exceptional and relatively easy to identify. This is contrary to available evidence indicating that family violence is one of the most common causes of marital breakdown and may be quite difficult to screen for. For more info on the proposed reforms, see the PM's media release and framework statement. For more on the concerns of advocates, see media releases from DVIRC, NTV, NCSMC, WESNET, ALP, and the submission of NAFCC.

				Concern about the National Campaign Against Domestic Violence While supportive of the need for a national public education campaign in relation to domestic violence and sexual assault, service providers and victim advocates around Australia have been strongly critical of the federal government's national relationship violence campaign launched in June. A particular focus of concern has been the referral of victims and perpetrators to a national Helpline. While the mass advertising campaign is over, the Helpline continues to receive 200 calls a day and will continue to operate for 12 months. Service providers are critical that the Helpline was set up without consultation with state-based service providers; that it duplicates existing services; relies on inadequate knowledge of local services to provide callers with the most appropriate referrals; and is staffed by generalist counsellors with little specialist training in domestic violence. This is particularly concerning in view of research indicating that the quality of response victims receive on seeking assistance significantly shapes their future options and choices and ability to emerge successfully from the experience of violence. For more info, read WESNET's media release.

				Family Violence and the Federal Election Campaign Violence against women and children is hotting up as a key election issue. The ALP has recently released its women's policy platform identifying the elimination of violence against women and children as one of four policy priorities. One specific pledge - to amend the Family Law Act to ensure that the safety of parties is given first priority by Family Court - is particularly significant in view of the proposed family law reforms outlined above. Other ALP pledges include: funding a national peak advocacy group to advocate against all forms of violence against women; granting permission for public use of unreleased materials produced for the "no respect, no relationship" campaign; establishing a national Commissioner for Children and Young People to advocate on a range of issues for children and young people including their safety from violence; ensuring that the specific needs of indigenous women facing violence are addressed; considering ways to reform and improve SAAP services for women and children escaping domestic violence through consultation with victim advocates. For more info on the ALP's platform, click here. The Coalition has yet to release its policies for women. Show your support for these proposals or advocate for a broader agenda by contacting Nicola Roxon (ALP) or Kay Patterson (Coalition).


	If you want more news, views and information about issues around family and relationship violence, why not subscribe to: DVIRC NEWSLETTER Quarterly journal providing analysis of key policy and practice issues. It includes feature articles, book and website reviews, a bulletin of upcoming conferences, seminars and training, and an up-to-date listing of support groups for survivors of family violence and child abuse. Click here to subscribe. If you'd like to submit an article or advertise an event, email Helen MacDonald or call on 03 9486 9866. DV VIC NEWS A new monthly publication, free to email subscribers, and providing up-to-the-minute reports on the policy advocacy activities of the women's domestic violence services peak body. It also provides updates on other projects and campaigns relevant to the field, government policy implementation and law reform initiatives. For more info or to subscribe, contact DV Vic on 03 9486 9646 or email.


	For all your professional development needs check out our latest Training Calendar			The Domestic Violence Resource Centre is funded by the Victorian Department of Human Services and works to end all forms of family and relationship violence through education, training, research and systemic advocacy. The Vine is circulated free of charge. If you didn't receive this publication directly and would like to become a subscriber, or if you would like us to send The Vine to a more suitable address, please email us. To unsubscribe, click here and type "unsubscribe" in the subject line. Copyright (c) DVIRC 2004 292 Wellington Street, Collingwood 3066, Victoria, AUSTRALIA www.dvrcv.org.au \| Tel: 03 9486 9866 \| Fax: 03 9486 9744