Violence Against Women Bulletin - October 2004
Information Bulletin - October 2004: Volume 8, Issue 3
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Aboriginal Child Sexual Assault Statewide Talks (Rural Action Conference)
Over 220 women, children and service providers attended the statewide conference on Child Sexual Assault issues for Aboriginal Communities that took place at Lake Burrendong, Wellington from the 17th –21st of May.
The conference was a follow up of the successful first Partnerships, Prevention and Rural Action Conference on Violence Against Women in October 1998.
The conference provided an invaluable forum for Aboriginal women to safely receive information in particular regarding legal and support services, hear stories from other women, connect with services and be engaged in dialogue with services and community leaders regarding prevention strategies and ways in which to support victims, survivors and communities to address the issue. This transpired through speakers, workshops and healing sessions. It was also an opportunity for services to enhance their understanding of issues confronted by Aboriginal women and children in child sexual assault matters.
The conference for Aboriginal community members and their support services was organised and co-ordinated by a Conference Working Party consisting of the Indigenous Women’s Consultative Group, Women’s Legal Resources Centre (also the auspicing body), Dubbo Women’s Housing Programme, Dubbo/Wellington Women’s Domestic Violence Court Assistance Scheme, Dubbo/Wellington Women’s Domestic Violence Counselling Service, Macquarie Area Aboriginal Health, Dubbo Aboriginal Family Health Worker, and Regional Violence Prevention Specialist. VAWSU also contributed towards the funding for the co-ordination of the Child Sexual Assault Conference.
A full report containing the recommendations from the conference is currently being produced by the Women’s Legal Resources Centre.
Update on VAW move to DoCS
The new Communities Division of the NSW Department of Community Services (DoCS) has been formed to deliver a range of community and early intervention programs.
In moving to the Communities Division, the NSW Violence Against Women Specialist Unit (VAWSU) will join Families First, Strengthening Communities, Community Solutions, Office of Children and Young People and Area Assistance Programs.
Combining these programs into one agency brings a number of similar programs together to ensure better planning and integration of services for children, young people, women and communities in NSW.
White ribbons, Awards and Date Rape Resource to launch 16 Days of Activism
The 16 Days events calendar:
Nov 25 - ‘White Ribbon Day’ or International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
Nov 25 - Negotiating Consent launch
- lesson plan
-cube
- website launch 28 Oct Dubbo
Dec 1 - World AIDS Day
Dec 3 - International Day of People with a disability
Dec 3 -Stop Domestic Violence Day NSW
Dec 6 - Montreal Massacre Anniversary
Dec 10 - World Human Rights Day
Dec 10 - Final day of Activism
The 16 Days of Activism Against Violence Against Women (November 25 - December 10) is an internationally recognised period aimed at raising awareness of and preventing all forms of violence against women.
In previous years the 16 Days of Activism has been promoted nationally by the Office of the Status of Women and in other states of Australia such as Victoria. This will be the first year it will be actively promoted across New South Wales.
The 16 Days represents an opportunity for the NSW Strategy to Reduce Violence Against Women (the Strategy), including the Violence Against Women Specialist Unit (VAWSU) and Strategy partners, to co-ordinate and promote the work of the NSW Government to raise awareness of and prevent violence against women.
Additionally, regional events are being planned Statewide by the VAWSU's 18 Regional Violence Prevention Specialists in conjunction with regional partners.
The Violence Against Women Specialist Unit (VAWSU), in conjunction with Strategy partners including the Department of Community Services. NSW Health, NSW Police (...others/????..) have coordinated a statewide program to include:
‘White Ribbon Day’ launch of 16 Days
The 16 Days of Activisim will be launched on the United Nation’s International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women, also known as ‘White Ribbon Day, on November 25 at NSW Parliament House. White ribbons will be distributed and promoted across NSW in conjunction with Unifem, Amnesty International and the Office of the Status of Women.
Violence Against Women Prevention Awards
The presentation of the NSW Violence Against Women Prevention Awards will form part of events held on the International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women (November 25) at NSW Parliament House and aims to raise awareness and recognise the efforts of individuals, projects and organisations in working to prevent and reduce violence against women in New South Wales.
'Negotiating Consent' program launch
Negotiating Consent is a three-step program that has been developed by the Violence Against Women Specialist Unit over the past two years, it involves a:
The web site has been developed to provide information and resources about date rape to young peole, particularly girls, and to their family and friends. The key features of the About Date Rape site are: targets young people between the ages of 15 and 24; explains what date rape is and give safety tips to avoid it; provides information about where to get help for anyone who has been a victim of date rape; illustrates a range of date rape situations via peoples’ stories; provides a quiz to provoke a user to consider their knowledge; and supplies case studies aout community action on the issue and links to other relevant website.
The classroom-based Lesson Plan aims to teach high school students and youth groups about date rape.
It has been developed to complement a resource known as the ‘date rape awareness cube’.
The interactive mini-cube uses a Rubix cube type design and contains messages about consent and non-consent to sexual activity plus phone helpline numbers.
Stop Domestic Violence Day
The NSW Stop Domestic Violence Day will be held on December 3, in conjunction with the International Day of People with a Disability.
The Truth about Sexual Assault: Unpacking the Myths
The 'The Truth about Sexual Assault: Unpacking the Myths' forum was held in response to a series of sexual assault allegations involving elite sportsmen and the decision by the Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP) not to prosecute in relation to the alleged rape of a young woman in Coffs Harbour.
It was an initiative of Bankstown Women's Health Centre, Bankstown Sexual Assault Service and the NSW Strategy to Reduce Violence Against Women.
In the build-up to the forum, an initial meeting of the Women's Forum working party was held followed by a series of meetings and discussions with sexual assault, women's health and associated support sector workers who raised concerns about media coverage of alleged sexual assaults by high profile sportsmen; community attitudes which blame the victim; questions around systemic abuse; low reporting and conviction rates plus a failure by the criminal justice system to uphold victims' rights.
The forum also noted that throughout the media coverage and social commentary women's voices had been absent from any meaningful discussion about sexual violence against women resulting in feelings of confusion, anger and disillusionment with legal processes.
Over 150 people attended the event at the Bankstown Town Hall, on 28 June, representing a wide cross section of Government, non-Government services, women's advocates and women who had experienced sexual assault from locations across South West Sydney, Western Sydney, Inner city as well as Illawarra and Newcastle.
Police Interagency Responses to Domestic Violence
Over 100 people attended the Sutherland local domestic violence committee’s August forum to examine the Central Coast DVIRT (Domestic Violence Intervention Response Team) and DART (Domestic Assault Response Team) interagency policing responses to domestic violence.
The aim of the forum was to examine the Central Coast DVIRT and DART programs and determine how they could be adapted and implemented in Sutherland Shire:
- DVIRT: model is based on locating a community worker at the Brisbane Waters Local Area Command to provide a support, follow-up and advocacy service to victims of domestic violence.
- DART: is based on a police and Department of Community Services (DoCS) partnership, where agencies jointly provide an early intervention and case management approach to families.. affected by domestic violence in the Tuggerah Lakes Local Area Command.
The Sutherland local domestic violence committee hopes to implement some of the pro-active features of the Central Coast programs and to build on the initiatives of Sutherland court, the Court Assistance Scheme and Domestic Violence Liaison Officers (DVLO) in responding to domestic violence in the Shire.
Migrant Domestic Violence Kit for GPs
An information kit for General Practitioners (GPs), called the 'Competent Persons Package' has been developed in response to an apparent reluctance within the community health sector to provide appropriate support to migrant women who want to apply for permanent residency via the Domestic Violence Provision under the Migration Act.
In some instances, a migrant woman's application for residency will be sponsored by her Australian spouse or partner but if he is violent towards her, he may threaten her with deportation or withdrawal of sponsorship if she reports the violence.
Additionally, a migrant woman may be unaware that domestic violence is a crime in Australia.
Barriers faced by these women in accessing the legal system include lack of knowledge about the law and their rights in Australia and the reluctance of 'Competent Persons' to provide a declaration.
The package has been developed by the NESB Network.
http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/vaw/ll_vaw.nsf/pages/vaw_resources_vawfactsheets
In Brief
Grants Program
Grants Program for the Local Domestic Violence Committee 2004/2005 is currently being advertised with applications due 30 November 2004.
The Grants Program was established to assist Local Domestic Violence Committees, who undertake specialised initiatives to address specific forms of violence against women.
Each Local Domestic Violence Committee may apply for up to $600 for the period 1 July 2004 - 30 June 2005.
See Local Domestic Violence Committee Grants Page>>
Student Awareness Sessions
Healthy relationships for school students was the topic of six awareness raising sessions with about 200 year nine and 200 year ten students from Mount View High School in Cessnock.
Sexual Assault Psychologist and Trainer, Lisa Mason and Hunter Specialist, Jillian Meyers-Brittain covered subjects including the definitions and indicators of domestic/family and sexual violence. Much of the focus was on the not so obvious indicators of domestic violence such as obsessiveness, jealousy and controlling behaviour including isolation as well as and the meaning of sexual abuse and consent.
Further discussions where held with the organising staff on the development of a series of progressive sessions next year to include years seven and eight.
Enhancing Access to Services
Enhancing Services project for Aboriginal women experiencing domestic or family violence in Bega and Wellington is progressing well.
In both areas, consultations with Aboriginal women and services have occurred and strategies have been developed to enhance the dialogue between services and Aboriginal women. In Wellington, two series of cross cultural exchanges have been conducted.
A Services Manual has also been compiled specifically for Wellington. Christine Foreman, the Project Officer, is in talks with women and services regarding the establishment of an Aboriginal women’s advisory body. In Bega, although Maria Scott has resigned due to personal health issues, the Steering Committee is working with Bronwyn Richards, the Southern Regional Violence Prevention Specialist (RVPS), to progress work including the development of cross cultural training; development of a Court Orientation Package for Aboriginal women in the legal system; re-establishing, resourcing and sustaining the Domestic Violence Network; and working with women to organise a sexual assault forum for local Aboriginal women as a result of some local women attending the child sexual assault conference at Lake Burrendong.
Although this project was due to be completed in March 2005, after an 18 month run, recognition of the time and resources required to initiate some of the processes for change has resulted in the allocation of additional funding for both areas of the project to continue until September 2005.
Domestic Violence Court Intervention Model Funding
Domestic Violence Court Intervention Model (DVCIM) had its final 30 per cent funding approved at the August Cabinet Committee on Justice, Community Solutions and Crime Prevention, via Community Solutions program funding over two years.
Among the DVCIM’s aims are to improve the policing and prosecution of domestic violence, increase collaboration between legal and welfare agencies, and develop specialist knowledge and expertise among magistrates and other stakeholders. Funding and resource commitments are being finalised, in order to progress the DVCIM's trial.
NSW Pilot Perpetrator Program
The evaluation report for this program is now available. As a result of the evaluation, standards will now be developed for perpetrator programs in NSW.
The pilot involved an education program for violent men run by Probation and Parole; a support program for women victims of domestic violence and a referral component for children.
Sleep Well Production a big success
‘Big hART’ Healthy Mothers Healthy Families Project has successfully completed its ‘Sleep Well’ multi-media stage production touring Moree, Walgett, Brewarrina and Bourke.
The theatre production was aimed at young women to provide them with skills and interests in the areas of career development
and self-management. The project engaged young women, young mothers, young fathers and elders who toured with the theatre production, starting with the show’s official launch in Bourke.
It received rave reviews while also providing opportunities to encourage and strengthen relationships between child and mother and their respective families to talk about issues such as sexual assault, domestic violence and accessing local services. NSW Health, which funded the project, is compiling a tour DVD of music and videos designed to be a local educational resource in Bourke and other communities. With the local success of the ‘Sleep Well’ production, it is hoped that in future the theatre production’s tour may expand to include Sydney and Dubbo.
Conferences and Events
14-28 October Reclaim the Night activities across NSW.
27-29 October A Conference on Women, Feminism and the Law: Challenge, Change and Cha Cha Cha, Brisbane ph:07 3392 0644; email jclarkin@gil.com.au
28 October Negotiating Consent website launch & Reclaim the Night: Dubbo ph: 6841 2346
25 November 16 Days of Activism Against Violence Against Women
25 November White Ribbon Day, or International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
25 November NSW Violence Against Women Prevention Awards
1 December World Aids Day
2 December Australian Domestic Violence and Family Violence Clearinghouse report launch: ‘Staying Home Leaving Violence’ 10am, Scientia UNSW, p:93852991
3 December NSW Stop Domestic Violence Day; International Day of People with a Disability www.dadhc.nsw.gov.au/dadhc/Events or ph:8270 2000
6-8 December Education and Social Action Conference, Sydney ph: 9514 3843 www.cpe.uts.edu.au
10 December World Human Rights Day
New Resources, New Staff
Staff news:
Maria Scott, Enhancing Services Bega Project Officer, has resigned due to health reasons.
Katherine McKernan has accepted a position at the Department of Community Services, and will leave VAWSU from 22 October.
Resources:
- Public Health, Mental Health and Violence Against Women: VicHealth Scoping Report 2003, details: www.vichealth.vic.gov.au
- Competency Package for GPs has been launched (refer to page 2 article ‘Migrant domestic violence kit for GPs’). It is free by phone 02-9635 8022 or on this website: open 'Competency Package' factsheet (PDF 99Kb)
- Responding to sexual assault in rural communities: Briefing No. 3 June 2004, Australian Centre for the Study of Sexual Assault at: www.aifs.gov.au/acssa
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 elements 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 October 2004 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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