What is the Strategy doing to prevent violence against women in New South Wales?

The Strategy is the NSW State Goverment’s key intitiative to address violence against women. Learn more about how the Strategy operates at the state level and at the regional level.

Statewide Projects

• Current Projects across the state
• "Violence Against Women - It's Against All the Rules"

Click on the name of each region below to find out.

Sydney Metropolitan
Central Coast | Central Sydney | Hunter | Illawarra | Northern Sydney | South Eastern Sydney | South Western Sydney | Nepean | Western Sydney |

Regional and Rural NSW
Lower Far West (Broken Hill) | Upper Far West (Bourke) | Riverina | (Macquarie) Dubbo | Mid North Coast | Central Western NSW | New England | Northern Rivers | Southern NSW |


Regional Projects

Central Coast

• Focus Areas
• Current Key Initiatives
• Contact Details

• Young people and preventing sexual and domestic violence
• To increase community understanding of all forms of violence against women and promote a culture that does not tolerate violence
• Improve access to culturally appropriate service delivery for women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and Aboriginal women who are victims of domestic violence.

The Little Black Book for Strong Black Women

• This is an information and inspirational diary for Aboriginal women around sexual and domestic violence that has been developed collaboratively with Aboriginal women from the Central Coast and others from across NSW.
• 30,000 diaries have being printed for distribution across the state following the launch of the diary by the NSW Minister for Aboriginal Affairs on the 19th July 2007.

Live, Love, Laugh and Be Happy - Program for young people affected by domestic violence

• The project intends to respond to young people affected by domestic violence to provide opportunities to acknowledge grief, loss and pain as well as enhance their skills, strengths and resilience.
• Four group programs will be piloted with young people be they victims and/or using violence.
• The strategy also includes capacity building of the community to further support young people affected by domestic violence. This includes a 2 day training for those working with young people affected by domestic violence and support resources for service providers and carers. This is both a tertiary and primary prevention strategy.
• An independent evaluation is being undertaken to determine the program’s effectiveness.

Program for Aboriginal young people affected by domestic violence

• Similar to the project above, a specific group program will be developed for for Koori young people aged 12 - 16 affected by family and domestic violence.
• Prior to running the program, Koori workers will have an opportunity to enhance their understanding of the dynamics and responses to family and domestic violence in Aboriginal communities and build their capacity to support young people. Issues of vicarious trauma and support for workers will be an integral component of these workshops.
• An independent evaluation is being undertaken to determine the programs effectiveness Connexions Conference 2007 - Three dimensions in Violence, Abuse and Neglect: Family Law, Cultural and Practice Issues.
• This Central Coast Connexions Conference, has become a much anticipated annual event. It will be held during 16 days of Activism to Stop Violence Against Women on November 28th at Linton Gardens, Somersby.
• The program this year, will include the latest changes to Family Law and its practical implementation, sexual assault in Aboriginal communities, issues for refugee women and the direct connection between animal and human violence. As usual the intent is to stimulate and engage participants in topics which enhance and challenge our practice in aiming to prevent violence, abuse and neglect.
• A new stream this year is the presentation of some current research papers. Double Jeopardy - safety from domestic violence and sexual assault for vulnerable people
• This project involves the development of a resource tool kit for disability and mainstream services on how to respond to, and prevent domestic violence and sexual assault for people with an intellectual, acquired brain injury, and functional (not physical) disability.
• The kit is expected to be completed by the latter half of 2007 after which a 2 day training will be provided around issues of sexual assault end domestic violence as well as practical use of the tool kit. This training will continue to be provided annually by the Central Coast Disability Network.

Safe Beds for Pets

• The Central Coast Domestic Violence Committee is working with the RSPCA to establish a 'Safe Beds for Pets' scheme.
• This scheme will be launched during 16 days of Activism to Stop Violence Against Women this year.
Kinks and Bends - an educational program to prevent sexual violence in young people's lives

• This is an educational prevention program and video /DVD developed in collaboration with young people on issues of sexual violence in young peoples social lives
• The program is designed for youth and community workers, teachers and other facilitators who may select relevant components to use with groups of young people in years 9 an 10 or equivalent age. Prior work on relationships is essential.
• Training is provided to ensure that facilitators of the program are in tune with the issues and the ways of engaging young people.
• A play and follow up discussion questions are also available for older students years 10 – 12
• An independent evaluation has shown substantial positive outcomes in particular changes in young men's attitudes about pressuring for sex.
• The program continues to be implemented in the Central Coast and other regions across Australia.
• Order forms and PDF files for download are available on the resources page.

Steps to Respect Campaign

• The 'Steps to Respect' Campaign is a long-term multifaceted violence abuse and neglect reduction and crime prevention campaign, being introduced progressively to business, sport, education, and media sectors of our community.
• The campaign entails community education and training for businesses, including conferences, seminars and workshops, and the development of resources.
• Visit the Steps to Respect website www.stepstorespect.org.au All resources are able to be downloaded. Check out the Bee Respectful program for years K - 6 about respect.

• Focus areas
• Key intiatives
• Contact details

• Working with Aboriginal communities to prevent family violence
• Training for youth workers and young people on healthy relationships
• Abuse of older women
• Impact of family law issues on victims of domestic violence

• Family Law Forum information sessions conducted by Sydney Women’s Counselling Service, giving information to women on what to expect when attending Family Court, and at mediation sessions.
  
  Contact person Jenny Ashwood 9718 1955

• In partnership with the Older Women’s Network preparing forum on “Age Gives no Immunity to Violence” a one day forum on the abuse of older women, which was postponed from June 07. Speakers will identify issues relevant to the many forms of abuse being experienced by older women, which include physical, sexual, psychological financial abuse and social isolation. This is a joint initiative of the Metro Central Region.

For information: Matina Mottee 0402 894 280

• Leichhardt/Marrickville, Inner West, Canterbury and Inner City domestic Violence Action Groups are preparing to hold a variety activities during the 16 Days of Activism to Prevent Violence Against Women.

• The annual Inner City Domestic Violence Action Group activity: “What’s with Domestic Violence” day was held in Redfern Town Hall in June with activities such as Tai Chi, hand massages and beading. Information on domestic and other forms of violence was given to those who attended, and workers used the opportunity to speak to women about issues of concern to them.

• In collaboration with Ashfield Police and Chinese Australian Services Society (CASS) an information day on community safety was held at Ashfield Town Hall with about 300 people attending. This included information on the various forms of violence experienced by women and the effects this may have on children witnessing that violence.

• Focus areas
• Key intiatives
• Contact details

• The promotion of integrated responses to domestic violence
• The prevention of sexual assault including a focus on criminal justice issues and service provision
• The development and delivery of training on issues of violence against women
• Increasing awareness and capacity of workers to address issues of violence

Hunter DV Taskforce Project

• Working with Police and other government departments to develop a whole of government integrated framework for responding to DV in the Hunter.
• This will involve developing a 3 year Action Plan, mapping of services, identifying current issues, gaps and barriers to victims accessing services.
• This project has endorsement of the Regional Co-ordination Management Group.

Women with an Intellectual Disability and Violence Project

• This project is currently in development, and will be a cross regional partnership with Central Coast, to respond to the emerging issue that there are a lack of services, support and training to respond to people with intellectual disability and their experiences of violence.
• The project will examine the training needs of workers in the disability sector/job providers in relation to domestic violence and sexual assault.
• A training kit and resources will be developed for workers to use with clients.
• Training will be provided on issues of DV and sexual assault and how to use the kit with clients.

Abuse of Older People Research Project
• This research aims to explore the needs of older people in relations to their experiences of domestic violence, and explore ways to address the emerging issue of abuse of older people, particularly women in the Hunter.

Training for detectives on drug and alcohol facilitated sexual assault

• Continue to provide regular training to detectives on issues of spiked drinks and sexual assault to increase understanding of police about victims’ experiences of sexual assault, and the impact of drug and alcohol factors in sexual assault.
• A Training package is being finalised to assist others in the development and delivery of such training.

Training for government agencies, community workers and students

• Continue delivering training to various groups to raise awareness of violence against prevention approaches, issues and barriers in accessing services, and ways individuals and services can enhance access.

Drink Spiking

• Working with licensees to develop protocols for licensees to better respond to reports of drink spiking

Respectful Relationships Train the Educator – Youth Worker Training

• Respectful Relationship training for Youth Workers and other Service Providers who work with young people. The training provides basic training in domestic violence, sexual assault, date rape and bullying. This is followed by overview of the content of current respectful relationship packages available and the practical application of some of the sample modules.
• Training has been conducted in Kurri Kurri and Gloucester with 25 participants in each group. One is currently being planned for Port Stephens following a proposal for training in the Lake Macquarie and Newcastle area.

Advocacy Training for Service Providers

• Work is commencing on scoping the needs and issues around advocacy to develop a training program which provides tools to service providers to develop and enhance existing advocacy skills.

White Ribbon Day Breakfast 2007

• Work Building on the success of previous White Ribbon Day Breakfasts over the past two years, the WRD Breakfast Committee will be encouraging men to take the organisational lead for 2007 with support from the current committee.

• Focus areas
• Key Initiatives
• Contact details

• The promotion and development of joint agency protocols and integrated responses to domestic violence.
• Working with Aboriginal communities to prevent family violence.
• Working with local government and licensed premises to enhance the safety of women in and around licensed premises.
• Working in partnership with local area Police command and NGOs to improve strategies that address violence against women.

• This conference was a major achievement for the Illawarra in 2006. It was organised in partnership with Wollongong City Council and was held on 24 November 2006 to launch 16 days in the region.
• Speakers included Tanya Plibersek- Shadow Federal Minister for Women, the NSW Domestic Violence Committees Coalition and the ACT Domestic Violence Crisis Service.
• 140 workers from the Illawarra and Shoalhaven attended the conference with the main aim being to develop networks that will lead to the development of an improved service model for women escaping family violence. The objectives for the conference were achieved with a team of people now formed who are now working with Police and other services to develop and integrated service model for the Illawarra.

Transport to Safety Project

• Working in conjunction with the Illawarra Women's Health Centre and the YWCA Nowra Family Abuse Prevention Centre to implement and promote the Transport to Safety Project which will provide free taxi travel for women and women and their children to a safe place (eg refuge, Police station) when wishing to escape domestic violence. This project is also in partnership with the Ministry of Transport who are providing the funding.

I-CARE Model (The Integrated Case Response Engagement) Domestic Violence Model for the Illawarra

• This initiative will be ground breaking for the Illawarra and the major project for 2007 - 2009: Working in partnership with the Lake Illawarra Area Police Command, the Illawarra Women’s Health Centre and Wollongong City Council to develop and implement an integrated domestic violence case management and response model. The model will involve whole of community strategies to address domestic violence, particularly amongst those families with repeat incidents.

Nowra Aboriginal Youth Leadership Project

• Working with Shoalhaven Safe Communities Aboriginal Partnership to develop and implement projects that will facilitate leadership amongst Aboriginal youth in promoting healthy and non violent relationships. The project will aim to assist young people to develop leadership skills, develop their capacity to address family violence and raise self esteem, pride and the confidence to negotiate healthy relationships.

Safe Pets Project

• Developing systems to provide temporary care for animal companions of women and children who are escaping domestic violence to temporary supported accommodation. A partnership with Illawarra Animal Welfare League and Illawarra Branch of RSPCA.

Spiked Drinks Campaign

• Working in partnership with Wollongong Council and Wollongong Licensing Accord to raise awareness of the issue of drink spiking and developing community education packages to facilitate awareness of this issue.

Community Events

• Facilitating and promoting community involvement in events which raise awareness of violence against women and resourcing community organisations to enhance their activities eg: International Womens’ Day, White Ribbon Day and Stop DV Day.

• Focus areas
• Key intiatives
• Contact details

• The prevention of sexual assault including a focus on the experiences of women with a disability
• Abuse of older women
• The development of awareness campaigns targeting young people and men

Abuse of Older Women

• This project is a cross regional project with Central Sydney, which aims to raise awareness of the abuse of older women, and linking it into the continuum of abuse experienced by women throughout their life.
• The project involves co-ordinating seminars and workshops with practitioners to raise their awareness of the issues, and how to identify and respond to abuse of older women. A recent Forum was held in partnership with the Australian Association of Gerontology and the Benevolent Society, on World Elder Abuse Day.
• The project also entails working with agencies to review and develop protocols for the identification, response and reporting of abuse of older people.

SADA (Sexual Assault Disability and Aged Care Project)

• Involvement and support of SADA Project, which aims to develop good practice guidelines and improve responses to vulnerable people in care who have been sexually assaulted.
• The SADA project also aims to develop mechanisms and interagency strategies to prevent the sexual assault of people in care facilities.
• Northern Sydney Area Sexual Assault Service Royal North Shore Hospital has received funding to run this project.

Depression, Post Natal Depression and Domestic Violence Forum

• Exploring the links between depression, post natal depression and domestic violence to facilitate early detection of and service response to domestic violence.
• A forum is being organised to bring together service providers and practitioners to discuss the links, and ways for services in those sectors to strengthen approaches to best support victims.

Spiked Drinks – It’s Beyond a Joke Campaign

• There is growing concern about the use of alcohol and/or other drugs as a weapon to facilitate sexual assault. This form of attak is often referred to as ‘spiked drinks’. Find out how this issue is being addressed in North Sydney in the document Spiked Drinks "It’s Beyond a Joke"

• Spiked Drinks "It’s Beyond a Joke"

• Focus areas
• Key intiatives
• Contact details

• Working with Aboriginal communities to prevent family violence
• The development of awareness campaigns targeting young people and men
• Development and promotion of options for women to remain in the home after domestic violence has occurred
• The promotion of integrated responses to domestic violence

16 Actions Men Can Take to Prevent Violence Against Women

• The key aim of the project is to engage non-violent men from South East Sydney in a community development process to identify 16 Actions Men Can Take To Prevent Violence Against Women, and to promote these actions on White Ribbon Day, and throughout the 16 Days of Activism, for 2006 & 2007. A male facilitator has been engaged to run 4 - 6 workshops with different groups of men in South East Sydney, with the aim to identify realistic, appropriate, creative and innovative actions which men can take to prevent violence against women.

Staying Home Leaving Violence

• Supporting the development and implementation of Staying Home Leaving Violence (SHLV) pilots in South East Sydney, Bega and Western Sydney SHLV involves working with police, courts and victims to facilitate options for women to remain in the home and the removal of the perpetrator, where it is safe and appropriate.

Paper on Policy Implications of Exclusion Orders and SHLV

• An issues paper has been developed to discuss the policy implications of a shift towards the removal of the perpetrator of violence from the home, including exploring safety issues. It is currently in circulation for comments from key stakeholders.

SMART (Sutherland Miranda Anti-Domestic Violence Response Team)

• Working in collaboration with the Sutherland local domestic violence committee to implement SMART.

• Focus areas
• Key intiatives
• Contact details

• Improve service delivery and coordination to victims of domestic violence in the Macquarie Fields Housing Estates
• Improve service delivery and coordination to victims of domestic violence accessing Criminal Justice System Improve the overall responsiveness of police to the needs of women who are victims of domestic and family violence

Black and Blue Campaign

• The Black and Blue Campaign was developed on the premise that domestic violence bruises every aspect of a woman’s life.
• The Campaign creates the opportunity to include in discussion the impact of verbal abuse, emotional abuse, social isolation and psychological abuse.
• The production of black and blue ribbons for distribution to encourage people to wear in recognition of verbal abuse as a form of domestic violence.
• Resources about verbal abuse will be produced and available to facilitate discussion about the impact of verbal and emotional violence on women and children’s lives.
• The campaign will be launched in September 2006.

DVICM (Domestic Violence Intervention Court Model)

• Supporting the implementation of the pilot DV Intervention Court Model in Campbelltown which aims to enhance the legal processing of AVO hearings and domestic violence matters.
• The DVICM involves proactive responses from police and courts, improved evidence collection, and better support for victims where an advocate is appointed to provide information and support to victims, and perpetrators are referred to perpetrator programs.

Family Harmony Kit

• Resource bringing together all information that newly arrived women need to know – about their rights, domestic violence, refuges, courts etc, and also for the workers working with women to know.
• Currently in development.

Bankstown Men Against Violence Group

• Supporting this group to develop resources and information for distribution to young men in gyms and health facilities to raise awareness of violence against women.

Capacity Building with Macquarie Fields

• Developing a range of initiatives with services and community members in the Macquarie Fields area to build capacity of young women and other community members to address social issues in their community, including sexual health and relationship issues, domestic violence, and sexual assault.
• A community festival and a young women’s festival have been staged.
• Work is currently underway to follow up outcomes and emerging issues raised by the community, including the need to develop strategies to prevent increasing teenage pregnancies and prevalence of violence by and against young people.

• Focus areas
• Key intiatives
• Contact details

• The prevention of sexual assault including a focus on criminal justice issues and service provision
• The development of awareness campaigns targeting young people
• Engagement with businesses to address domestic violence
• Implement strategies for emerging culturally and linguistically diverse communities (CALD) on violence against women

Prevention of Adolescent Violence Against Women

• The purpose of this project is to reduce the likelihood of adolescents becoming perpetrators of violence and to enhance the skill of workers to effectively respond to these issues. The primary target group is adolescent males and the beneficiaries from this project are women who will be less at risk from their adolescent sons.
• A pilot group RAGE (Re-navigating Anger and Guilty Emotions) for adolescent males which ran in the Hawkesbury area will be used to develop the resource. The resource will also have a tool to be used by workers to deal effectively with individual case work around this issue.

Violence Against Women for Emerging CALD Communities

A sub-committee has been formed as a need to implement strategies in relation to violence against women issues for the emerging CALD communities in the region. Strategies will be implemented on two levels (1) Resources and programs for the community (2) Professional development/training for workers.

Family Violence and Pets - “Safe Spot”

• This project aims to facilitate women’s and children’s access to safe accommodation in the event of domestic violence by providing accommodation for the family pet/s.
• An MOU between agencies and the RSPCA was developed whereby the RSPCA agreed to provide accommodation for pets at a reduced cost if women and children were fleeing domestic violence.
• A poster and brochure were developed to promote the project to services and the community.
• This issue is being put into service directories in the region.
• Currently networking with police to ensure issue is covered when discussing Family Violence.
• Seeking support of Veterinary Association to include these issues in training for vets.
• Evaluating the program.
• The program is also being adapted in other regions.

Addressing Sexual Assault Issues

• A range of activities are being conducted to address sexual assault in the region.
• Currently developing a community awareness resource in the Hawkesbury.
• Implementing strategies around women’s safety in public places.

Arm in Arm Peer Education Program On Healthy Relationships

• Continue with the Arm in Arm, Young Women’s Peer Education Project.
• The project aims to empower young women with the knowledge and skills to address violence issues and to lead a safer future.
• Develop and implement training on issues of violence against women for a group of young women.
• Support and resource these women for a period of one year to enable them to educate their peers/other young women’s groups on issues of violence against women.

Mapping Organisation Training Needs/Skill Development

• Survey conducted to prioritise training needs
• Provision of training in the sector as needed

• Focus areas
• Key intiatives
• Contact details

• Building capacity of migrant and refugee communities to address violence against women
• Promoting integrated responses to domestic violence and sexual assault
• Supporting vulnerable communities access support and justice for issues of violence

Religion and Family harmony

• Engaging religious and community leaders in the prevention of domestic violence, and the promotion of family harmony.
• Various conferences, forums and resources have been produced and distributed.
• A project report is available which documents the background and achievements of the project, including the strong partnership with Police and Cumberland Women’s Health Centre.
• The project received a NSW VAW Prevention Award in 2005, and recently received National Crime Prevention funding for another 2 years. The working party has been established, and an evaluation plan is being developed.

Tamil Family Harmony Project

• The purpose of the project is to bridge relationship and understanding between parents and young people, and address communication and family harmony issues.
• A DV DVD for the Tamil community was recently produced and launched in partnership with Blacktown Migrant Resource Centre.
• Training materials are being developed to train Tamil and community workers on the use of the DV DVD with community groups.

Sudanese Safe Family Project

• Support Sudanese community to build capacity to deal with settlement issues including issues of violence.
• Providing information to increase awareness and understanding of social and legal systems, and rights in Australia.
• A series of workshops is being run on issues including child protection, domestic violence, parenting, sexual assault, juvenile justice issues, and family law.

Integrated Response to DV (started in August 2005)

• Supporting the development and implementation of integrated project in partnership with Cumberland Women’s Health Centre and Police.
• The project involves a support worker being based at CWHC as central point of referral for DV cases.

Australian Palistinian Support Association Project (funded for 4 years from 2004))

• A partnership with APSA on capacity building with Arabic communities
• The project focuses on working with parents and young people on issues including juvenile justice issues, drug and alcohol abuse, domestic and sexual violence, and healthy relationships.
• Arm in Arm training has been provided to young people in this program, and various workshops and activities have taken place.

• Promoting Aboriginal youth leadership
• Developing capacity of communities, women, young people to address violence
• Engaging with Aboriginal men to address violence against women and children

Yaamma Festival

• Working with young people to co-ordinate the Yaamma Festival which is an annual event comprising of events and activities to showcase the spirit of Bourke, respect, self esteem and determination.
• Yaamma is also an avenue to strengthen cultural identity and pride, and the leadership skills of young people.
• Through the organising of the event, the lead up work, and during the festival, anti violence and healthy relationship messages are promoted.

Making a Public Pledge in a Journey To Healing
• To encourage Aboriginal men and women to address the needs of their children and have a better understanding of what domestic violence and the impacts it has on Aboriginal families and communities.
• Aboriginal men’s and women’s groups will be established where men and women can discuss and address their issues of violence and healing in a safe environment.
• Men will be invited to make a Public Pledge on White Ribbon Day as a commitment to not be violent.
• The process of healing will involve both men and women and their wider communities to acknowledge the existence and impact of violence in their communities, and be involved in developing activities that foster healing such as Family Fun Days.

• Addressing Aboriginal family violence
• Promoting youth leadership
• Building self esteem and capacity of young women to have healthy relationships
• Promoting criminal justice responses to domestic, family and sexual violence
• Raising awareness of impact of violence on children young people and communities

Indigenous DV Puppets

• An exciting new educational resource has been developed in Wagga Wagga to highlight the issues and impact of domestic and family violence, particularly on children and young people. This project will:
  • Provide community members and workers with effective resources in raising awareness about family violence and other identified issues.
  • Educate and train community members to be puppeteers and community educators
  • Build the self esteem and confidence of Aboriginal people
  • Build the capacity of Aboriginal communities to address family violence
  • Reduce the extent of denial and acceptance of family violence within Aboriginal communities
  • Promote a culture within the Wagga Wagga community that does not tolerate violence
• Read about this project in the document The Yalmambirra Mob Indigenous Puppet Project

DVICM (Domestic Violence Intervention Court Model)
• Supporting the implementation of the pilot DV Intervention Court Model in Wagga which aims to enhance the legal processing of AVO hearings and domestic violence matters.
• The DVICM involves proactive responses from police and courts, improved evidence collection, and better support for victims where an advocate is appointed to provide information and support to victims, and perpetrators are referred to perpetrator programs.

Sexual Assault Kit – for Great Hume Shire
• Developing a sexual assault information kit for the Greater Hume region.
• The Kit will comprise plain information about sexual assault and contact details of support agencies to give to individuals.

Yinda Marra Mannan Incorporated Young Women’s Group (Wagga)
• Supporting young women to develop self esteem, confidence and capacity to deal with issues of violence, particularly domestic violence and sexual assault.
• Providing young women with skills to negotiate and promote healthy relationships.
• A series of 3 camps will be run over the next two years with young women in Wagga.

Black Sons Incorporated Young Men’s Group

• Working with young men to develop capacity to address issues of violence, as well as to promote healthy relationships.
• The Love Bites resources (produced in North Coast) will be used to turn into posters for placement on the back of buses and other public places, for use in 16 Days.
• Targeting both indigenous and non-indigenous communities.

• The Yalmambirra Mob Indigenous Puppet Project

• Promoting healthy relationships for young people
• Targeting licensed premises
• Targeting men to address violence against women
• Developing and promoting integrated approaches to domestic violence

Moving Forward and Negotiating Consent

• To implement best practice early intervention programs that support young people to develop positive relationships.
• This project will engage young people in either a school or universal setting in activities and discussion designed to raise awareness of the issues of violence in relationships, and develop capacity to reduce number of young people entering abusive relationships.
• The Project entails the training of facilitators to deliver the Negotiating Consent and Moving Forward educational packages to young people.
• The Train the Trainer component of the project was implemented in four regional locations within Orana Far West – Dubbo x 2, Broken Hill, Coonabarabran, and Walgett.
• The project is currently in the second phase where the trainers have begun to implement the programs in participating schools and other universal settings across the Orana Far West. Current planned locations for the delivery of the programs include, Coonabarabran, Walgett, Broken Hill, Menindee, Dubbo, Gilgandra, Nyngan, Wellington, Gulargambone, Warren, Coonamble & Trangie with the possibility of the programs being delivered in another 3 locations.
• The project is set for a completion date of September 30, 2007. After evaluation, other train the trainer locations will be considered as part of the ongoing commitment to promoting healthy relationships for young people across the region.

Cobar Domestic/Family Violence Community Education Initiative

• Currently service providers are developing a Joint Agency Protocol to assist in improving responses to domestic violence and to ensure a more integrated approach to addressing domestic and family violence.
• A DV Committee has been established which links into the recently established Cobar Interagency which has two current focus areas – domestic Violence and young people.
• Legal services have been organised to come to Cobar to deliver legal information to women and their families.
• A partnership with ECAV, saw the delivery of a 5 day Domestic Violence Core training Workshop in Cobar.
• The Cobar Violence Against Women & Children Collective have identified November 25th -(International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) as a significant day of each year to undertake domestic Violence awareness raising activities. In addition to this, the Collective is currently undertaking another awareness raising campaign, targeting licensed premises,through the development of convenience advertising products e.g drink coasters.

• Dubbo Women’s Housing Program as the auspice for the Wellington Domestic Violence Collective, received funding from the Victims of Violent Crimes Grant Program administered by the Department of Corrective Services to carry out the Safer Times in Wellington Project over the 2006 – 2007 financial year period.
• The project saw a partnership form between the Wellington Domestic Violence Collective, the Wellington Liquor Accord and the Senior Regional Strategies Officer – violence prevention, NSW Strategy to Reduce Violence Against Women to carry the project out.
• This project was based on the highly acclaimed STRAWS project which is an innovative strategy to reduce violence against women in and around licensed premises, raise community awareness of public safety issues for women and make communities safer.
• In Wellington the project has an additional focus on raising awareness of domestic/family violence and drink spiking.
• Safety audits have been completed on all participating licensed premises with safety issues to be addressed, to be taken up as a longer term initiative going beyond the funding completion date.

• Enhancing Interagency responses to domestic violence
• Working with Aboriginal communities to prevent family violence
• Promoting respectful relationships with young people

• The prevention of sexual assault
• The development of awareness campaigns targeting young people and men
• Working with Aboriginal communities to prevent family violence

Women’s Art Project
• Project purpose is to use creative arts to provide ways of raising issues of violence and community wellbeing in a non confrontational way.
• It encourages women who have experienced or live with violence to express some of the pain and hope associated with it, as well as to gain strength to take roles in the community that encourage attitudes that condemn violence, and to build networks that support victims.
• Women’s Arts Project will link in with various programs including Weaving the Net, Art from the Heart, and Yalmambiladhaany to help develop innovative ways of sharing this information that are culturally appropriate and in the context of a small community with high levels of familiarity between people and strong family links.
• Quilting and weaving projects are currently underway. Weaving will involve identifying sites where the sedges used grow, negotiating access, harvesting techniques and finally weaving techniques. Education will also occur around water quality and protection of the native vegetation.
• Detailed planning is yet to be undertaken around follow up work with the visual artist, sculptor and screen printer.
• Projects are occurring in various locations including Condobolin, Murrin Bridge and Lake Cargelligo.
• Learn more about this project in the document Central West Women’s Art Project

BAASA: Bathurst Action Against Sexual Assault
• BAASA aims to support the right of women to safe public spaces and reduce the incidence of sexual assault and harassment in the Bathurst LGA.
• Recently developed and distributed Fact sheet for Taxi drivers and licensees on responding to sexual assault.
• Factsheet will be reproduced for distribution for 16 days 2006.
• Planning is underway to stage the Vagina Monologues in Bathurst.

Expect Respect
• Region wide project focussing on young people to raise awareness and prevention of sexual assault.
• Promoted and conducted Negotiating Consent and other training packages.
• Working with sexual assault workers in Orange to develop Consent Is Sexy project promoting positive messages around consent.

• Supporting small and remote communities to address issues of violence
• Building capacity of Aboriginal women, young people and communities to respond to violence
• Promoting criminal justice and integrated responses to domestic and sexual violence

Sista Girl Camps
• Continuing from work with young women who participated in the educational Beauty Pageant.
• Organising camps which comprise of workshops and peer education and support to young Aboriginal women
• These camps provide a safe space for discussion about relationship issues, domestic and sexual violence issues, and healthy relationships.
• These camps also build self esteem, confidence, knowledge and skills to exercise their rights, make decisions about their lives, and respond to issues of violence.
• Two more camps will be organised for October 2007.

GWABEGAR
• Small community experiencing challenges due to closure of timber mill.
• Developing and providing community activities as a way to facilitate discussions about domestic violence, relationship issues and support services.
• Activities being organised include family fun days, arts and craft and information workshops.

Community Support Initiative
• Project aims to raise awareness of mental illness, domestic violence and sexual assault and support services.
• Messages about domestic violence, sexual assault, and mental health have been developed in partnership with local services, and inscribed onto steel plates.
• Steel plates awaiting to be permanently placed in public places.
• Project is completed.

• The prevention of sexual assault including a focus on criminal justice issues and service provision
• Working with Aboriginal communities to prevent family violence
• The development of awareness campaigns targeting young people and men
• The promotion of integrated responses to domestic violence

Sexual Assault Education Campaign

• Working with local agencies and councils to develop and implement violence prevention strategies /community awareness campaign to address sexual assault.

Expect Respect campaign by Kids Really Count Interagency

• Continue to support the Kids Really Count Interagency Expect Respect campaign to raise awareness of domestic violence with young people.

• Working with Aboriginal communities to prevent family violence
• The prevention of sexual assault including a focus on criminal justice issues and service provision

Addressing Aboriginal Family Violence on the south coast – A Better Way
• The purpose of this project is to work with government and non-government agencies and the indigenous community on a range of small and large projects that can work on the contributing situational factors and the direct implications of all aspects of family violence on the South Coast.
• During the second half 2005 a small number of women from Wallaga Lake approached the Queanbeyan ICC for support in tackling what they perceived as an endemic sexual abuse problem in their community. Funds were subsequently provided to the South Eastern Aboriginal Legal Service for a project titled Goonja Janbunnoor (Enough Silence).
• A project Steering Committee was established to develop and guide the project.
• Stage 1 of the project involved working with the women, gaining trust, giving a voice and identifying a way forward.
• Stage 2 involved a camp in May 2006 bringing together 30 women to share their stories and begin the healing process, as well as to discuss a way to set the future directions for the community in a safe environment.
• Stage 3 aims to provide ongoing support and resourcing of the women's group at Wallaga Lake and to provide education opportunities to these women the wider aboriginal community, and workers within the service delivery network.
• Plans are currently underway to engage trainers to provide essential family violence training and sexual assault training to community workers to ensure they respond appropriately to Aboriginal women experiencing violence.

Staying Home Leaving Violence Pilot (Bega)
• Supporting the development, implementation and evaluation of Staying Home Leaving Violence (SHLV) pilot in Bega.
• SHLV involves working with police, courts and victims to facilitate options for women to remain in the home and the removal of the perpetrator, where it is safe and appropriate.
• The Bega Women’s Refuge continues to run the SHLV program, and an evaluation of the pilot is currently being completed.
• For more information visit www.stayinghomeleavingviolence.org.au

Other Projects
• Working with Indigenous boys and men to address family violence: a community development project that will involve boys and men in addressing issues such as family relationships, violence, education and employment and health and well being outcomes
• Supporting the Goulburn Domestic Violence committee to map local pathways for women and children experiencing violence and to establish a volunteer service for women attending court for domestic violence matters
• Working with a local family service, a high school and other partners to address (through creative arts activities) the sexual and technological exploitation of young people (and cyber bullying) that is occurring on social networking sites and through mobile phones etc .

• Establishing the Regional Reference Group
• Roll out of the Moving Forward and Negotiating Consent programs within the secondary schools across the area

• The Menindee Women's Health & Wellbeing Weekend
• Stronger Women's Program for Wilcannia
• Legal Workshops for Aboriginal Women