The NSW Council on Violence Against Women
The NSW Council on Violence Against Women is one of the key elements of the NSW Strategy to Reduce Violence Against Women. The Council, which meets quarterly, provides advice to the NSW Government on issues relating to violence against women. The council operates under the following terms of reference:
- To provide advice to the NSW Government through the Attorney-General and the Minister for Women on issues relating to all forms of violence against women
- To promote an understanding within government and the community of the diverse forms of violence against women from all population groups and to propose strategies to reduce the level of violence
- To promote research which assists in developing strategies to prevent violence against women and to meet the needs of all women who experience violence
- To advise on strategies which strengthen interagency cooperation both within government and between government and non-government agencies in the area of violence against women
- To promote the improvement of service delivery and professional competency of staff involved in services relating to violence against women
- To report annually to the NSW Government through the Attorney-General and the Minister for Women.
The Council draws on the expertise of representatives from the NSW Strategy to Reduce Violence Against Women partner agencies and community representatives who have been selected for their experience and knowledge of the field.
Violence Against Women Specialist Unit
Located within the Crime Prevention Division of the Attorney General's Department, the key role of the Unit is to facilitate the implementation of the NSW Strategy to Reduce Violence Against Women.
The NSW Strategy to Reduce Violence Against Women includes:
- The NSW Council on Violence Against women
- The Violence Against Women Specialist Unit
- 18 Regional Violence Prevention Specialists (located throughout NSW in regional offices of the DoCS, NSW Health or the NSW Police
- A State Management Group ( Senior government representatives meet quarterly to formulate inter-departmental policies and explore management issues associated with the strategy).
The strategy aims to prevent all forms of violence against women, recognising the needs of diverse groups in the community. Activities of the Strategy include prevention and early intervention, at both a statewide and regional level. The Strategy works in partnership with other government agencies, non-government agencies and communities.
The Violence Against Women Specialist Unit implements the Strategy by:
- Developing strategic policy responses to issues of violence against women
- Supporting strategies and programs to prevent violence against women
- Managing the Regional Violence Prevention Specialists in collaboration with host managers
- Providing executive support to the NSW Council on Violence Against Women and the State Management Group.
| The Strategy has developed, coordinated and collaborated in programs and projects in the following areas:
- Domestic violence
- Sexual assault
- Public safety
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women
- Women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
- Women with disabilities
- Older women
- Rural women
- Children and Young people
- Homeless women
- Lesbians
- Research into perpetrator programs
Located within the Crime Prevention Division of the Attorney General's Department, the key role of the Unit is to facilitate the implementation of the partnership Strategy.
The Unit also:
- Develops strategic policy responses to issues of violence against women
- Supports strategies and programs to prevent violence against women
- Manages the Regional Violence Prevention Specialists in collaboration with host managers
- Provides executive support to the NSW Council on Violence Against Women and the State Management Group.
Regional Violence Prevention Specialists (RVPS)
Eighteen Regional Violence Prevention Specialists have been appointed to facilitate initiatives at a local level.
Each regional specialist is based in one of the following host organisations:
Regional specialists are a valuable resource to community workers about current training, community education, policy development and service provision initiatives, RVPSs convene local reference groups which provide feedback on regional priorities.
The role of the Specialists is to:
- Enhance linkages within and between government and non Government agencies
- Conduct community education and training
- Develop prevention programs to reduce violence against women.
Each specialist develops a regional activity plan reflecting regional priorities. They work with a Regional Reference Group to provide a means of addressing regional service delivery issues.
RVPSs are located in the following NSW Health Service regions:
Mid North Region - Port Macquarie
Far West Region - Bourke
Far west Region - Broken Hill
South Eastern - Beaconsfield, Sydney
Macquarie - Dubbo
South Western - Liverpool, Sydney
New England - Tamworth
Illawarra - Wollongong
Northern Sydney - Manly
Wentworth - Penrith
Southern - Queanbeyan
Greater Murray - Albury
Mid Western - Orange
Hunter - Newcastle
Central Sydney - Burwood
Central Coast - Gosford
Western Sydney - Parramatta
Northern Rivers - Lismore |