Violence Against Women Bulletin - March 1998
Information Bulletin - March 1998: Volume 2, Issue 1
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New Look Bulletin!
The Bulletin is now one year old and in celebration has undergone a process of rejuvenation. It will continue to be distributed quarterly keeping you up-to-date on the implementation of the Strategy and issues from around NSW on violence against women.
Update on NSW Council on Violence Against Women
Changes at the Council
Council members expressed their sadness at the death of Deputy Commissioner Bev Lawson who was a valued member of the Council. The new NSW Police Service representative is Mr Chris Evans, Regional Commander, Greater Hume Region.
Peter Homel, Director of the Crime Prevention Division, NSW Attorney General’s Department has returned from studying crime prevention in the USA.
The development of a Council position on programs for men who perpetrate domestic violence
The Council will soon release an interim position paper on perpetrator programs in NSW. The aim of the paper is to promote discussion and debate, and the Council will invite comments on the interim paper with a view to developing a more substantial paper. This final Council position will be provided to the NSW Attorney General and the Minister for Women for consideration as a NSW Government position.
At their last meeting, 5 March 1998, a Council sub-committee was convened to develop and implement a process for consultation on the interim position paper. The sub-committee comprises Council members Tanya Plibersek, Gillian Hurditch and Council representatives from NSW Health and the NSW Police Service. Council Chair, Dorothy McRae-McMahon and the Department of Community Services representative will provide additional support to the sub-committee.
Joint meeting of Council and Regional Violence Prevention Specialists
The next meeting of the Council, on 7 May 1998, will include a forum with the Regional Violence Prevention Specialists to discuss regional issues.
Plans for Stop Domestic Violence (DV) Day
The NSW Stop DV Day Organising Committee is developing plans for Stop DV Day, which will be commemorated on Friday 24 April 1998. The Organising Committee comprises:
- Catherine Allen, NSW Health;
- Caron Billings, Department of Community Services Domestic Violence Line;
- Annette Cairnduff, Domestic Violence Advocacy Service;
- Lydia Campillo, South East Sydney Area Health Service;
- Belinda Cocks, Department of Community Services;
- Barbara Kilpatrick, Manly Warringah Women’s Resource Centre; and
- Tahn O’Brien, Violence Against Women Specialist Unit.
The Premier will launch Stop DV Day and present Statements of Recognition for achievement by individuals and agencies in responding to victims of domestic violence or the prevention of domestic violence. Nomination guidelines and forms will soon be distributed.
Local and regional events are also being organised by Local Domestic Violence Committees and other organisations so be on the lookout for events in your area.
New resources
February 1998 saw the release of two new resources.
1. ‘Taking Orders’, a video and education kit produced by the Domestic Violence Advocacy Service, portrays the realities of the legal process involved in getting an Apprehended Violence Order (AVO). It also provides information about the services available to support women through that process.
The video and booklet are designed for women experiencing domestic violence and for the service providers who assist them to apply for an AVO.
Service providers can use ‘Taking Orders’ to:
- train refuge workers, court assistance workers, lawyers and other people working in domestic violence and related services;
- inform and educate women about AVOs; and
- help women find resources in their local community.
For information about ‘Taking Orders’ contact:
Domestic Violence Advocacy Service
PO Box H154
HARRIS PARK
Ph: (02) 9682 3844
2. Plan It Safe: a guide for making public places safer for women.
Produced by the Safe Women Project and funded by the Department for Women, the Plan It Safe kit is for anyone who is interested in improving women’s safety in public places. The kit is made up of information, a video and a safety audit guide booklet. It is a valuable educational and practical tool for community safety advocates. For a copy of the kit or for information about the Safe Women Project, phone (02) 9607 7536.
Partnerships Against Domestic Violence: latest news
Partnerships is a Commonwealth 3 year initiative to address domestic violence and includes:
- funding for state and territory-based projects;
- a National Taskforce; and
- funding for a number projects as National initiatives.
In December 1997, the NSW Council on Violence Against Women held a consultation with non-government service providers to discuss Partnerships, the NSW project and ideas for funding as national initiatives.
The NSW project provides funding for two workers to provide casework services to women experiencing domestic violence in rural areas. Applications will be invited from organisations interested in the project in April 1998.
A steering committee for the NSW project comprising Government and non-Government representatives has been established.
Taskforce Update
The Taskforce is chaired by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and comprises government representatives from each State and Territory and key Commonwealth departments. Claire Vernon, Executive Officer, Violence Against Women Specialist Unit, attended the first meeting of the National Taskforce in her capacity as NSW representative.
The role of the Taskforce is to:
- receive updates on the state and territory projects funded under Partnerships;
- identify opportunities for collaboration between the Commonwealth and States and Territories; and
- recommend projects for funding as national initiatives.
For more information about Partnerships Against Domestic Violence contact the Office for the Status of Women on (02) 6271 5756.
Review of Section 409B of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW)
In December 1997, the NSW Law Reform Commission released Issues Paper Number 14, Review of Section 409B of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) and invited submissions from interested individuals and agencies. Section 409B limits the introduction of evidence about a complainant’s sexual reputation and sexual experience in criminal proceedings. Prior to the enactment of s409B, a complainant (nearly always a woman) in a sexual assault trial would have her credibility as a complainant questioned through the revelation of her sexual experience, reputation and character. Cross-examination about her prior sexual experience with the accused or with other men was often permitted on this basis.
On 13 February 1998, a forum organised by NSW Health with support from the Violence Against Women Specialist Unit, provided an opportunity for discussion of the issues raised in the Issues Paper. Speakers included Richard Button, Director, Criminal Law Review Division of the Attorney General’s Department and Dr Sandra Eggar, criminologist at University of NSW Faculty of Law.
The aim of the forum was to give NSW Health and other individual services the information needed to make informed responses to the Issues Paper. Those making a submission were encouraged to address the specific issues raised in the Issues Paper.
When the submission period ends, the Law Reform Commission will review options and issues raised in submissions and develop its recommendations. A final report will be published by June 1998.
The closing date for submissions is 31 March 1998. All submissions and inquiries should be directed to:
Mr Peter Hennessy
Executive Director
NSW Law Reform Commission
GPO Box 5199
SYDNEY NSW 2001
Phone: (02) 9228 8230
Fax: (02) 9228 8225
One year on: the VAW Specialist Unit
It’s not very often you get the opportunity to work on the development and implementation of a whole new approach both in terms of management structures and also in terms of a strategic response to an issue. Claire Vernon, Executive Officer with the Violence Against Women Specialist Unit, has the job of implementing the NSW Strategy to Reduce Violence Against Women. Here, she explains the Unit’s achievements during its first twelve months…
“The Violence Against Women Specialist Unit is located within the Crime Prevention Division of the NSW Attorney General’s Department. We have 4 staff members in head office, but we also have a decentralised team of 17 Regional Violence Prevention Specialists located throughout the State. One of the high points of this year has been seeing the enthusiastic approach that the staff members are taking to the work of the Unit.
We’ve had a challenging and productive first year in which we set up the Unit, recruited and trained our regional staff, established and strengthened our relationships with other departments involved in the Strategy, established the NSW Council on Violence Against Women, produced some resources to highlight the work of the Strategy and convened 17 Regional Reference Groups across the State.
Over the next twelve months, we’ll be concentrating on building the profile of the Strategy as it moves into its second year of operation. One activity we have planned is building upon our range of publications and information resources.
Our first year was very much focussed on developing structures and processes to support the implementation of the Strategy, so we’re expecting to see the effects of this groundwork over the next year or so. Our planning is now almost complete and all staff members are looking forward to the more action oriented work of projects and programs.
Already, our second year is looking very exciting.”
Regional Violence Prevention Specialists (RVPS) Contact List
Regional Specialist | Area Health Region | Location | Phone |
| Punita Boardman | Northern Sydney | Manly | (02) 9976 8020 |
| Judy Duggan | Far West | Bourke | (02) 6872 1795 |
| Robyn Edwards | South Eastern Sydney | Zetland | (02) 9382 8156 |
| Di Furniss | Northern Rivers | Lismore | (02) 6620 2401 |
| Lilian Gomez | South Western Sydney | Liverpool | (02) 9821 8527 |
| Cathy Hastings | New England | Tamworth | (02) 6768 2814 |
| Denise Henry | Illawarra | Wollongong East | (02) 4226 8143 |
| Anoop Johar | Wentworth | Penrith | (02) 4732 1322 |
| Helen Kay | Mid Western | Orange | (02) 6361 6925 |
| Karen MacLean | Greater Murray | Albury | (02) 6058 1850 |
| Jillian Meyers-Brittain | Hunter | Newcastle | (02) 4929 0921 |
| Matina Mottee | Central Sydney | Burwood | (02) 9715 0448 |
| Liz Mulder | Macquarie | Coonabarabran | (02) 6842 6447 |
| Chris Smith | Central Coast | Gosford | (02) 4320 2575 |
| Rugmini Venkatraman | Western Sydney | Parramatta | (02) 9633 0717 |
| Mary Willis | Mid North Coast | Taree | (02) 6551 1507 |
| Tashe Wise | Southern | Queanbeyan | (02) 6298 9966 |
International Women’s Day
Many Regional Specialists spoke at International Women’s Day functions throughout the State (including Tuncurry, Dubbo, Newcastle and Circular Quay) emphasising the importance of preventing violence against women.
Community Awareness at the Newcastle Show
In a great display of taking a partnership approach to community education Regional Specialist Jillian Meyers-Brittain organised 2 000 showbags to give out at the Newcastle show in February 1998. The showbags, featuring the Strategy logo, were sponsored by the Newcastle Permanent Building Society, the information was packed by local Volunteers in Policing and the display stand was staffed by Jillian and members of Local Domestic Violence Committees. The bags, containing awareness raising information about the issue of violence against women and the range of services available, were distributed to women and older adolescent girls.
Agencies contributing information included the Department of Community Services Domestic Violence Line, Family Planning NSW, Family Support Services, Hunter Area Health Service, Hunter Health Sexual Assault Service, Hunter Women’s Centre, Hunter Community Legal Centre, Kids Help Line, Local Courts, Migrant Resource Centre, NSW Attorney General’s Department.
Jillian found the exercise to be a great success and due to the overwhelming interest, is already planning for next year’s show.
Regional Action Plans (RAPs)
The RVPS are finalising Regional Action Plans for 1998/99. RAPs highlight regional priorities for reducing violence against women and the projects for each region over the next 18 months. For more information about projects in your area contact your local RVPS.
The Violence Against Women Specialist Unit is based in the Crime Prevention Division of the NSW Attorney General’s Department. It is one of the central initiatives in the NSW Strategy To Reduce Violence Against Women.
This bulletin is for anyone interested in the prevention of violence against women and is intended to inform people about the NSW Strategy To Reduce Violence Against Women and its implementation.
The Strategy was announced by the Premier in 1996 and features a number of key elements including:
- the NSW Council on Violence Against Women;
- a network of Regional Violence Prevention Specialists located in each of 17 regions of NSW, as defined by the boundaries of the NSW Health Services
- a Violence Against Women Specialist Unit in the Crime Prevention Division of the NSW Attorney General’s Department; and
- a State Management Group.
The Violence Against Women Specialist Unit is based in the Crime Prevention Division of the NSW Attorney General’s Department. It is one of the central initiatives in the NSW Strategy To Reduce Violence Against Women.
This bulletin is for anyone interested in the prevention of violence against women and is intended to inform people about the NSW Strategy To Reduce Violence Against Women and its implementation. For more information about the Bulletin contact the Violence Against Women Specialist Unit.
ISSN 1328-437
Click here to download the PDF version of the March 1998 Bulletin>>
 | To view a PDF document, you will need a copy of Adobe Acrobat on your computer. If you do not have a copy of Adobe Acrobat, you can download a copy for free from the Adobe site. |
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