Forums and Meetings
NSW Strategy to Reduce Violence Against Women - State Management Group
Apprehended Violence Legal Issues Coordinating Committee (AVLICC)
Violence Against Women Regional Reference Groups (RRG)
Local Domestic Violence Committees | Local Court User Forums
Victims of Crime Bureau Interagency Committee
NSW Strategy to Reduce Violence Against Women - State Management Group
Established in 1996, the NSW Strategy to Reduce Violence Against Women, State Management Group comprises senior government representatives who meet quarterly to formulate inter-departmental policies and explore management issues associated with the strategy. Currently the following Departments have membership on the State Management Group:
- Attorney General's Department
- Department of Community Services
- Department of Education and Training
- NSW Health
- Department of Housing
- NSW Police
- Department for Women
Terms of reference
To oversee a strategic, integrated and cross-agency approach to the planning, management and delivery of services responding to violence against women.
To provide strategic direction for the implementation, management and evaluation of the Strategy to Reduce Violence Against Women. | To oversee the establishment of the Regional Specialist positions including :
- To negotiate and decide the host agency locations
- To approve the recruitment and training processes
- To resolve management and support issues for the regional positions.
To support agency involvement in the Regional Reference Groups and to approve membership of these Groups.
To ensure compliance with the Memorandum of Understanding.
To report to Department CEOs on the progress of the Strategy.
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Apprehended Violence Legal Issues Coordinating Committee (AVLICC)
Established in 1997, the Apprehended Violence Legal Issues Co-ordinating Committee (AVLICC) is an interagency group comprising non-government and government membership.
Membership includes representatives from:
The purpose of AVLICC is to ensure appropriate coordination of criminal justice system services for people seeking Apprehended Violence Orders (AVOs) and to examine and identify legal, policy and procedural barriers to the provision of adequate criminal justice system services.
AVLICC also makes recommendations for consistent and improved legislation, policies and procedures. The needs of women and children experiencing domestic violence are given particular attention.
AVLICC has recently contributed or is currently contributing to the:
- Review of AVO legislation
- Development of Local Court standards and guidelines
- Development of AVO forms, and
- Development of criminal justice interagency guidelines.
Back to top | AVLICC is chaired by the Criminal Law Review Division, Attorney General's Department.
AVLICC's terms of reference
- Examine and identify legal, policy and procedural barriers to the provision of adequate criminal justice services and to ensure appropriate co-ordination of services to persons seeking protection from personal and domestic violence
- Make recommendations for consistent and improved legislation, policies, procedures and criminal justice system services to persons seeking protection from personal and domestic violence
- Pay particular attention to the needs of persons, particularly women and children, seeking protection from domestic violence. Needs and concerns of the following groups are a key consideration of the Committee:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children
- Women and children from non-English speaking backgrounds
- Older women
- Women and children with disabilities
- Lesbians and their children
- Young women and their children.
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Violence Against Women Regional Reference Groups (RRG)
Roles | Operational protocol | Terms of reference | Membership | Resolution of complaints
Relationship of the Regional Reference Groups to the Violence Against Women Specialist Unit
Financial arrangements | Links with other committees and groups
Commitments to preferred ways of working
Roles
The Regional Reference Group (RRG) provides advice to the Regional Violence Prevention Specialist on regional issues relating to violence against women. In conjunction with the Regional Violence Prevention Specialist the RRG will facilitate the effective regional implementation of the objectives of the NSW Strategy to Reduce Violence Against Women.
The RRG is convened by the Regional Violence Prevention Specialist (who will determine how often the group meets). The Regional Violence Prevention Specialist is the executive officer of the RRG, and will ensure the agenda, papers and minutes are distributed.
The RRG aims to be as representative of the region as possible, for example in terms of locality, type of service or agency, and regional interest groups. Members of the RRG represent various organisations and stakeholders throughout the region. As representatives, members are expected to report back to their respective organisations and/or stakeholders. Membership of RRG will be for two years from date of appointment and will be approved by the State Management Group. The RRG will agree on a process for filling casual vacancies, ensuring that new organisational membership arrangements maintain a balance of representation.
RRG input into regional issues will be invaluable to the successful implementation of the NSW Strategy to Reduce Violence Against Women. RRGs are part of the NSW Government Strategy to Reduce Violence Against Women, and must work within specified Terms of Reference. Therefore, members of the RRG must not lobby under the name of the RRG. The RRGs can influence Government policy and practice through their role in advising the Regional Violence Prevention Specialists.
The Regional Violence Prevention Specialist is the primary link between the RRG and the Violence Against Women Specialist Unit. The Unit will provide the RRG with information, where time and resources allow.
As advisory groups, the RRG do not have management responsibility for the Regional Violence Prevention Specialists.
The work of a number of committees and groups operating in each region may be relevant to the work of the RRG. It is important that the RRG establish and maintain links with groups and committees where this is relevant to the terms of reference.
Operational protocol
The Regional Violence Prevention Specialist will ensure that their Regional Reference Group has an operational protocol which sets out procedures for the group.
A number of key elements of the protocol are listed in the following terms of reference:
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Terms of reference
Provide support, advice and information to the Regional Violence Prevention Specialist.
Facilitate co-ordinated planning and action at a regional level by.
- Service mapping,
- Assessing service needs, issues and priorities.
Develop, facilitate implementation, and evaluate Regional Action Plans which are consistent with the objectives
of the NSW Strategy to Reduce Violence Against Women. Regional Action Plans will focus on initiatives that:
- Facilitate the access of all women to the range of services they require
- Provide accurate information on services available to women who are experiencing violence
- Promote service co-ordination and interagency responses, & develop prevention strategies
Resolve difficulties in relation to the delivery of local services and where necessary refer these issues for resolution.
Membership
1.Determining membership
When determining membership of the Regional Reference Group, the following points need to be considered:
- The membership of the Regional Reference Groups must comprise both government and non-government agencies. Government representatives should include NSW Health, NSW Department of Community Services, NSW Police, and Court staff. Where appropriate membership may also include representatives from other government agencies such as Department of School Education and Department of Housing
- Non-government agency membership should include representation from relevant agencies involved in providing services to women victims of violence and/or preventing violence against women. These may include women's refuges, sexual assault services, family support services, community development agencies.
- The Regional Reference Group should reflect the range of population groups within the region. For example, if the area has a large Arabic-speaking population, agencies providing services to the Arabic-speaking population should be members of the Regional Reference Group.
- Give attention to the aim of reducing all forms of violence against all women when determining membership.
- Restrict membership to 12-15 members, to ensure effective group functioning.
- Consider the membership of individuals representing other relevant regional Councils committees. For example, it is advisable that one Regional Reference Group member be a member of a local Domestic Violence Committee.
- Members of Regional Reference Groups are responsible for representing stakeholder concerns and feeding back information to stakeholders.
Back to top | 2. Approval of membership
Membership needs to be approved by the State Management Group. Proposed membership must be sent to the Violence Against Women Specialist Unit for approval. The Specialist Unit will incorporate recommendations into briefing papers for the State Management Group.
Resolution of complaints
A key role of the Regional Reference Group is to resolve difficulties in relation to the delivery of services. There are a number of forums where difficulties may be resolved.
Where concerns relate to a specific government or non-government agency, the Regional Violence Prevention Specialist will contact that agency, informing them of the concern. Where possible, that agency will resolve the concern.
If the concern is not resolved to the satisfaction of the Regional Reference Group or if the concern involves two or more agencies, the Regional Reference Group is the forum at which the concern should be raised and resolved.
If the concern is not addressed to the satisfaction of the Regional Reference Group, the concern may be referred to the Violence Against Women Specialist Unit. The Unit will seek informal or formal resolution through the State Management Group.
Where an issue raised highlights systemic issues, the Regional Violence Prevention Specialist will refer the issue to the Violence Against Women Specialist Unit. The Unit may refer the issue to the State Management Group or the NSW Council on Violence Against Women.
Some local or regional issues may require a response from the central or branch office of government departments, or peak bodies of non-government organisations. The Regional Reference Group representatives from these agencies will refer such issues to their relevant central or statewide organisation.
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Relationship of the Regional Reference Groups to the Violence Against Women Specialist Unit
The Regional Violence Prevention Specialist is the primary link between the Regional Reference Group and the Violence Against Women Specialist Unit. The Unit will provide the Reference Group with information and resources, where time and resources allow.
Financial arrangements
The Regional Violence Prevention Specialist budget is currently $10,000 per annum, to be used for community development activities. The Regional Reference Group can make recommendations regarding expenditure, through the Regional Action Plan. The Violence Against Women Specialist Unit is responsible for approval of funding.
The Regional Reference Group does not have a budget for the travel costs of members. These are the responsibility of the individual's employing agency.
Links with other committees and groups
There are a number of relevant committees and groups operating in each region. It is important that the Regional Reference Group establishes and maintains links with groups and committees relevant to the terms of reference, for example, local domestic violence committees.
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Commitments to preferred ways of working
Each Regional Reference Group needs to agree on its preferred way of working. Some Regional Reference Groups have adopted the following approach:
- Create opportunities to network between members (take time available outside of formal meeting)
- Be prepared to be change agents in members organisations/sector
- Recognition of limits regarding immediate change happening (eg. in the Government sector)
- Respect for diversity - commitment to participation in discussion by all
- Commitment to maintain diversity within group membership
- Commitment to co-ordination of services
- Have identified goals, measurement and timelines
- Commitment to catch up on missed meetings/information
- Make use of working groups who feed information back to the whole group
- Conduct well organised meetings with a clear agenda and adequate advance knowledge of meeting times
- Honesty about what members can commit themselves to
- Casual vacancies
- resigning person to have input into replacement
- group has input into replacement
- commitment to maintain representation of issue and/or agency
- Decision making process
- commitment to aim for consensus
- commitment to discussion
- if consensus not achieved majority of 75% needed
- one vote per organisation / issue
- quorum for meetings is 10
- Consistency of information communicated back to organisations and networks
- Focus on positive outcomes
- Never resort to violence
- Recognise and incorporate existing working parties
- Confirm attendance and send apologies
- Chair to rotated monthly-backup chair to be next chair
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Local Domestic Violence Committees
There are over 85 Local Domestic Violence Committees across the state which can provide accurate information about the available services in the area. LDVCs also perform an important function in raising community awareness, lobbying for improved services and monitoring the effectiveness of local services in responding to women and children.
Local Committees have been prominent in identifying difficulties faced by victims of domestic violence who approach services and become users of the legal and other support systems.
LDVCs have also been responsible for the development of resources, including court support schemes, publications and information about children who witness domestic violence. Most importantly, these local committees are powerful in promoting a coordinated, effective response and in encouraging interagency collaboration and cooperation. Much has been achieved by the combined efforts of community organisations on LDVCs, compared to that which can be achieved by individual services with limited resources.
Contact the Violence Against Women Specialist Unit in the Attorney General’s Department (02) 9228 8081 to find the local LDVC.
Sample terms of reference
Each Local Committee requires a terms of reference which could include to:
- Develop and maintain liaison between the various groups within the community who are involved in matters of domestic violence.
- Ensure the safety of women and children in our local community.
- Ensure continued co-operation and understanding between the NSW Police, government, nongovernment agencies and the community of the issues and dangers associated with domestic violence.
- Create an awareness of the provisions of the Crimes Act, Family Law Act, Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act, Evidence Act ( relating to domestic violence) and keep the community informed of the various agencies set up to assist those affected by domestic violence.
- Monitor the enforcement and effectiveness of the domestic violence legislation and associated policies ( eg. housing) at a local level.
- Investigate the need for and advocate the establishment of follow-up services for women and children who are victims/survivors of domestic violence.
- Consult with and make recommendations, through the Regional Violence Prevention Specialist and Reference Group, to the NSW Council on Violence Against Women and the Apprehended Violence Legal Issues Coordinating Committee and the Violence Against Women Specialist Unit in the Attorney General’s Department regarding changes to legislation, policy and service provision.
- Ensure all matters associated with domestic violence are resolved promptly and at a local level wherever possible.
- Promote recognition that many forms of domestic violence are criminal offences and, through ongoing education, encourage the whole community to accept responsibility for, and take positive steps to reduce and prevent, incidents of domestic violence.
- Provide a forum for information exchange, regarding issues of domestic violence that affect the local community.
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Local Court User Forums
NSW Local Courts are committed to working in collaboration with the users of Registry/Chamber/Court services. The major users are:
- The Magistracy
- The NSW Police
- Prosecuting agencies (ODPP/Police Prosecutors)
- Compliance/revenue protection officers for Local Government/Government agencies)
- Solicitors (public and private)
- Women’s Domestic Violence Court Support Schemes
- Members of the public appearing at court, including defendants, witnesses and victims of crime (and their families/support persons)
- Members of the public seeking information/assistance with a legal problem
- Parties in civil claims matters
- Family/friends/other interested parties in coronial matters.
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Purpose
Court User Forums provide an opportunity for justice agencies and other service users to meet on a regular basis to identify whether, registry practices, utilisation of staff or listing arrangements can be improved or streamlined so as to better meet the needs of Court users. They also focus on areas such as how resources/facilities can best be utilised.
Many Courts face significant physical constraints to providing a quality client service. They are often in heritage listed buildings that were not designed for current usage levels and facilities do not meet the needs/requirements of clients who may be required to wait for several hours before their matter is concluded. This presents challenges for all agencies in servicing their clients at Court because of limited interview space, restricted privacy, no ability to separate defendants/victims, no safe waiting area for witnesses/victims/no facilities for children etc. In this environment it is important that agencies co-operate to overcome these barriers rather than them becoming a source of potential conflict between Court users. User Forums provide an opportunity for agencies to discuss and agree on priorities for access to facilities/resources.
Court User Forums provide an opportunity for Court users to identify concerns about issues such as court safety and security and for all parties to contribute to the development of agreed protocols or agreements that address specific problems at that location.
As an example, Court User Forums would be used to discuss the Court's Security Plan and ensure that all agencies who have workers attending the Court are aware of the location of duress alarms, evacuation and emergency procedures, and critical incident reporting arrangements. Where an incident involving a risk to worker/public safety had occurred all agencies would review whether procedures had worked effectively and what changes/modifications might be required to improve safety.
Listing arrangements are another area that are commonly discussed - particularly where Magistrates participate in the Forums. Discussions may revolve around allocating dedicated times for listing certain types of matters or for particular client groups (domestic violence applicants, young people, ethno-specific clients, Aboriginal clients) to ensure that effective court support/legal/ advocacy services are available when these clients appear at Court. | Structure
Meetings are generally chaired by the Clerk of the Local Court who also assumes responsibility for distribution of advance agendas and distribution of minutes (this role can be rotated around participants). At some locations the Magistrate/s attend, but this varies from Court to Court
Clerks of the Court are encouraged to invite representatives from all relevant government and non-government agencies including court support/advocacy services and referral agencies.
The regularity of meetings varies across locations but they are normally held bi-monthly or quarterly. Some Courts hold separate Court User Forums to meet the specific needs of different groups/types of matters (ie domestic violence; criminal prosecutions, civil claims matters) and involve only agencies with an interest in those areas of the Court's operations.
Future directions
Local Courts are currently in the process of the developing clearer guidelines to assist courts to engage in more effective local consultation processes. These will include best practice recommendations in relation to timetables, participant lists, and meeting structure. They will also include a greater focus on the development of meeting skills for our Managers. |
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Victims of Crime Bureau Interagency Committee
The Victims of Crime Bureau convenes an Interagency Committee comprising representatives of a range of government and community agencies that provide services to and/or referral and education about services to victims of crime.
The primary objectives of the Interagency Committee are to provide a forum:
- To discuss and monitor implementation of the Charter of Victims Rights
- To facilitate a whole of government approach to the delivery of services to victims of crime
- To exchange information about services relevant to victims of crime
- For consultation about specific operational issues relating to services to victims of crime.
The following agencies are represented on the Interagency Committee:
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