Violence Against Women Bulletin - November 2001
Information Bulletin - November 2001: Volume 5, Issue 3
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NSW to host international conference on violence against women : Understanding the complexities of violence against women
Next February Sydney will host an international conference on violence against women at Sydney University February 18-20, 2002.Expanding Our Horizons - Understanding the Complexities of Violence Against Women will draw on the experience of researchers, practitioners, educators and activists from around the world, with a focus on the Asia-Pacific. The conference proposal - first raised in the Research Sub-Committee of the NSW Council on Violence Against Women is being supported by the NSW Strategy to Reduce Violence Against Women."We thought that it was important to focus on the Asia/Pacific region” said Associate Professor Jude Irwin, one of the conference organisers. “A conference provides us with an opportunity to build networks and regional co-operations which would be very beneficial to the region. "Expanding our Horizons is being organised by a working party of researchers and prevention and intervention workers. The conference title was chosen “to encourage people to step outside of the ways they’d been thinking about violence against women - to expand their horizons on theory and practice,” said Dr Moira Carmody, member of the organising committee from the University of Western Sydney “We also thought about different horizons, different cultures and different nations in the region,” said Dr Gail Mason committee member from the University of Sydney. Organisers are seeking sponsorship from businesses and government agencies. For more information see the website: www.edfac.usyd.edu.au/projects/VAW2002 STRAWs wins another award with $10,000
The Safer Times’ Round Albury Wodonga (STRAWs) project is the National winner of the 2001 Australian Violence Prevention Award in the Special Drug and Alcohol Category. The award prize money ($10,000) will be used to enhance the STRAWs project or similar projects. The STRAWs project aims to contribute to the reduction of violence against women in and around licensed premises in Albury / Wodonga and to develop and enhance awareness of women’s public safety issues. The project includes safety audits and annual awards for licensees. A manual is being finalised which will provide information to assist other communities to develop similar projects in their towns.The STRAWs project was originally conceived, in 1999, by the Regional Violence Prevention Specialist in the Greater Murray region and was further developed with the Albury / Wodonga Women’s Refuge."We realised that the project required strong partnerships so we formed a working party with the police and the Albury and Wodonga councils and the Albury Wodonga Women’s Centre," said Karen MacLean, Regional Violence Prevention Specialist. "The parternships formed are an integral part of the success of the project. Everyone brings different skills and experience to the planning table. The police particularly help with the environmental design and the councils with the crime prevention planning.”Statistics compiled by Albury police indicate that the number of assaults in and around licensed premises has dropped dramatically from over 100 per year in 1998 to 70 in 1999 and 2001. The Local Area Commander of Albury police service, Peter Dwyer, has stated that he believes the decrease in public violence towards women is a direct result of STRAWS. For more information contact the working party care of: Cathy Anstey on 6023 8174Sexual assault amendment introduces new offence
The Crimes Amendment (Aggravated Sexual Assault In Company) Act 2001 commenced operation on 1 October 2001. The Act created a new offence of aggravated sexual assault in company with a penalty of life imprisonment. The offence is now section 61JA of the Crimes Act 1900.The offence covers the third and most serious gradation of sexual assault in the Crimes Act 1900, amended in 1981.The offence of sexual intercourse without consent carries a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment (s 61I). The offence of aggravated sexual intercourse without consent carries a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment (s 61J).A person may be charged with the new offence if a person has sexual intercourse without consent, in the company of another person or persons and either violence is inflicted or threatened to be inflicted with an offensive weapon or instrument or the person has deprived the victim of his or her liberty before or after the sexual assault was committed. For more information access the Hansard website: www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/web/PHWeb.nsf/Bills. Search for sexual assault in newest bills.Inaugural conference on sexual assault and domestic violence
Four papers were presented by the NSW Strategy to Reduce Violence Against Women at the inaugural conference on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault in Queensland last September. The papers presented were Kinks and Bends - what’s the go with relationships; the NSW statewide campaign to reduce violence against women; Culturally Appropriate Strategies for the Prevention of Violence Against Women presented three projects implemented in the western Sydney and Wentworth regions; and Spiked Drinks Initiatives in New South Wales.The keynote papers have been made available on the Queensland police website: www.police.qld.gov.auKnockout Tournament
The Attorney General’s Department and Legal Aid Commission held joint stalls at the Knockout events in Sydney and Armidale during the long weekend in October. The Knockout is an annual tournament of Aboriginal Rugby League teams. The stalls displayed posters and information on the Violence Against Women It’s Against All the Rules campaign as well as materials and information on services available from the other departments.A postcard was made for the event depicting the "Men and Women Against Violence" banner made by Western Sydney Koori community members. The postcard contains information about violence against women and contact numbers for both women and men. For copies of the postcard contact the Violence Against Women Specialist Unit.What's on, what's new
News from VAW strategy partners
Department for Women reports on the National Round Table On Sexual Assault and $16.5 millionThe Commonwealth government announced, in the May budget statement, that $16.5 million will be allocated to combat sexual assault over four years. No details have been released as to how the funds will be allocated, but the Commonwealth has outlined three broad areas: - community awareness campaigns;- developing shared approaches and promoting best practice; and - funding time-limited projects. The first step in the national initiative to combat sexual assault was a National Round Table on Sexual Assault held in Canberra in June. It was organised by the Commonwealth Office of the Status of Women. NSW agencies represented included the Department for Women, the Attorney General’s Department, NSW Health, the NSW Police Service and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
DoCS’s first Domestic Violence Forum held
The first meeting of the DoCS’ Domestic Violence Forum was held on the August 31, 2001. The Forum was established after recommendations from an independent evaluation of the Domestic Violence Line and the final meeting of the Domestic Violence Advisory Committee on December 1, 2000. The Forum provides an opportunity for agencies working in the domestic violence field to meet and discuss emerging needs, issues and trends to inform DoCS policies and operational guidelines across the range of services that DoCS provides or funds. The Forum will also be an important avenue where issues identified in the community sector can be fed into the State Management Group of the VAW strategy. The forum will be co-sponsored by two other members of the VAW strategy: the Department for Women and NSW Attorney General’s Department.The topic for the next meeting, on November 2, is domestic violence and child protection. For more information contact Deborah Stow on 9716 2616New Projects, New Resources
Diverse voices - “Son of Penrith” supports the Wentworth campaign
Ex-Penrith Panthers player Greg Alexander supports the Violence Against Women: It’s Against All the Rules Campaign. He attended the launch of the Wentworth campaign launched at the Building Bridges and Looking Forward conference on violence against women at the University of Western Sydney, Richmond Campus September 21. The conference aimed to highlight the connections between violence against women and other forms of violence in society. For example violence against people from different cultural backgrounds discrimination against people with disabilities, violence against young people, gay men and lesbians.The conference emphasised the importance of diverse voices on the issue of violence against women in order to develop educational campaigns that are relevant, accessible and inclusive. The conference also challenged misconceptions that violence against women is an individual or women’s problem rather than a community problem For more information phone Regional Violence Prevention Specialist Anoop Johar on 4732 1322 or Trish Quinn at the University of Western Sydney on 4570 1870.
Project targets domestic violence during pregnancy
For many women pregnancy is seen as a time of joy and anticipation but sadly for some women it is a time when they suffer violence and abuse.42% of women who experienced domestic violence reported that violence occurred during pregnancy, according to a survey undertaken in 1996. Eleven percent of those women reported miscarrying as a result of the violence. An educational poster, modelled on a similar one in Canada, was developed by the Northern Sydney Domestic Violence committee and the Northern Sydney Regional Violence Prevention Specialist. “This poster is designed to alert women and health professionals to the fact that domestic violence does happen during pregnancy and to provide information on sources of help for women suffering violence,” said Jenny Huxley the Northern Sydney Regional Violence Prevention Specialist. The poster is being distributed to general practitioners, hospitals, Department of Community Services offices, domestic violence services and early childhood centres across northern Sydney. For more information or copies of the poster contact Jenny Huxley on (02) 9976 8020.
New pamphlet developed for older women
The Hastings DV Committee has developed a new pamphlet for older women in the Hastings area: "No One Should Have to Live With Fear, Abuse or Violence". The pamphlet was launched during Community Safety Week in September. Kirsten Busby, Regional Violence Prevention Specialist in the Mid North Coast said that it is important to emphasise that older women experience domestic violence too. “Older women’s circumstances may be different to younger women, but no one should have to live with fear, abuse or violence” she said at the launch of the pamphlet in September.
New website developed in Taree and Forster
Taree and Forster Domestic Violence Committees, and TAFE students developed a new website on domestic violence: http//www.dvinfo.org The website was developed by three TAFE students in partnership with the Forster and Taree DV Committees. Consultations with a variety of service providers, community members and local women were undertaken over several months to develop the site. The website will be updated regularly with additional information and women's stories.New Staff Positions in the VAW Strategy
New positions have been created for the NSW Strategy to Reduce Violence Against Women to assist in the implementation of the strategy. A project officer position has been created with a focus on work with Aboriginal communities. A senior project officer position has been created to assist in the coordination and support of the regional work of the strategy.
Stir it up - workshops
The Illawarra is implementing a series of forums with and for lesbian women in the Illawarra. The project was inspired by the Stir It Up project based in Sydney last year.Young women and older women sharing experiences, gaining a community sense of belonging and identity. The series is being run in partnership with the regional specialist, ACON and the Lesbian interagency. For more information contact Rebecca Matthew on 4254 0302
Liz MacRaild joins the strategy in the Mid West
Liz McRaild joined the VAW Strategy in August, as the Regional Violence Prevention Specialist for the Mid Western region based in Orange.Liz has recently moved to Orange from the mid north coast where she worked in community development roles in local government working on issues of violence against women from a crime prevention and community safety perspective.Starting her career as a social worker Liz quickly become interested in working with communities in both New Zealand and Australia. " I really enjoy the partnerships and collaboration that comes with working for change in communities. Violence against women is an issue that calls for huge cultural shifts but can also be tackled at a local level with communities developing and carrying out their own projects " said Liz.
Conferences and events
25 November 2001
International day for the elimination of violence against women
28-30 November
Building an Intervention System for Men Who Abuse their Partners: Organisation, development, judicial oversight & program evaluation. Brisbane. Contact: (07) 3206 6799
10-11 December
Across the Lifespan: Violence throughout the lives of women and girls. A Partnership Against Domestic Violence conference, Perth, Western Australia. Contact: (08) 9386 3282.
7 - 8 March 2002
Unravelling the Complexities of Family Violence: A Holistic Approach, Coffs Harbour NSW, Contact: Kirsten Busby, Regional Violence Prevention Specialist. Phone: (02) 6588 2913Regional Violence Prevention Specialists Contact List
| Regional Specialist | Area Health Region | Phone |
| Kirsten Busby | Mid North Coast | (02) 6588 2913 |
| Joan Dickson | Far West | (02) 6872 1795 |
| Robyn Edwards | South Eastern Sydney | (02) 9382 8145 |
| Gargi Ganguly | Macquarie | (02) 6841 2346 |
| Lilian Gomez | South Western Sydney | (02) 9821 8527 |
| Cathy Hastings | New England | (02) 6768 2814 |
| Jenny Huxley | Northern Sydney | (02) 9976 8020 |
| Anoop Johar | Wentworth | (02) 4732 1322 |
| Liz McRaild | Mid Western | (02) 6361 6925 |
| Tashe Long | Southern | (02) 6298 9966 |
| Karen MacLean | Greater Murray | (02) 6058 1850 |
| Rebecca Matthew | Illawarra | (02) 4254 0302 |
| Jillian Meyers-Brittain | Hunter | (02) 4929 0921 |
| Matina Mottee | Central Sydney | (02) 9715 0448 |
| Chris Smith | Central Coast | (02) 4320 2575 |
| Rugmini Venkatraman | Western Sydney | (02) 9633 0717 |
| Mary Willis | Northern Rivers | (02) 6620 2132 |
The Violence Against Woman Specialist Unit and regional violence prevention specialists are central elements in the NSW Strategy To Reduce Violence Against Women which is a whole of government strategy funded by: The NSW Attorney General’s Department, NSW Department of Community Services, NSW Health, NSW Police and in partnership with the Department for 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 PDF version of the November 2001 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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