Project | Region | Expected outcome/s | Process | Progress |
| Increase community knowledge and understanding of the effects of and solutions to violence against women. Targeting issues relevant to Aboriginal women, amongst other groups. | Central Coast Region | Increased community awareness and understanding of issues relating to violence against women;
Participants informed about choosing alternatives to violence;
Use by service providers of resources on the violence against women resources register;
Community agencies involved in the NSW Strategy to Reduce Violence Against Women. | Working with local agencies, including Aboriginal agencies to:
- Organise interactive theatre productions and ongoing education programs;
- Develop a register of existing community education resources;
- Establish a newsletter for the Central Coast on effects and solutions to violence against women;
- Hold a conference focusing on reducing violence against women.
| Performances to be held in May 1999;
Links established between the Department of Education’s anti violence curriculum and the theatre performances. |
| Identify the needs and experiences of women to inform the provision of court services in supporting victims of violence, specifically targeting Aboriginal women, amongst other groups. | Central Coast Region | Court services accessible to women in minority groups | Work with local agencies, including local Aboriginal women to hold court open days and a phone-in targeting victims of violence aiming to:
- Identify the needs and experiences of women to inform the provision of court services in supporting victims of violence, specifically targeting Aboriginal women amongst others. Younger women and lesbians;
- Improve information to all women about court services;
- Improve all women’s access to court services; and
- Improve the witness process within court proceedings.
| Consultation with Aboriginal community groups, among others, to ensure input into the development of the phone-in;
Planning for the phone-in and court open days prior to June 1999. |
Professional development for service providers on:
- Appropriate responses in cases of sexual assault and family violence; and
- Aboriginal cultural awareness.
| Far West Region | Better informed and more responsive staff dealing with sexual assault and domestic violence;
Increase in client satisfaction and fewer complaints about services and service providers;
Higher referral pick up rate and more self-referrals. | With local agencies, including Aboriginal Health Co-ordinators:
- Form a working party;
- Consult local agencies regarding training;
- Design and conduct education courses on cross agency basis.
| Project proceeding within agreed timelines. Planning underway. |
| Community education campaigns to target community attitudes that tend to condone men’s use of violence against women. | Far West Region | Men more aware of their role in reducing violence against women; community less tolerant of violence against women. | With local agencies, including Aboriginal Health Co-ordinator, and Department of Corrective Services Aboriginal Health Service develop a media campaign primarily directed at men. | Project proceeding within agreed timelines. Planning underway. |
| Providing legal information and court support for Aboriginal women victims and potential victims. | Far West Region | Increase in the number of women making complaints in relation to sexual assault and domestic violence;
Increase in the number of women being represented and supported at court;
Decrease in the number of women who withdraw from court action in relation to apprehended violence orders. | Working with local services, including the Aboriginal Legal Centre, Aboriginal Women’s Legal Centre, and ATSIC to:
- Conduct information sessions for Aboriginal women to increase their knowledge about the law in relation to domestic violence and sexual assault;
- Develop paid or voluntary court assistance scheme at each Local Court House.
| Project proceeding within agreed timelines. Planning underway. |
| Implement programs under Probation and Parole Service Funding Program and the NSW Health Aboriginal Health Strategy. | Far West Region | Reduction in violence behaviour by men. | With local agencies including Aboriginal Elders and the Aboriginal Health Service:
- Research and develop and assist Probation and Parole to implement programs for men addressing violent behaviour against women.
| Project proceeding within agreed timelines. Planning underway. |
| Develop a model of best practice to increase access by Aboriginal women to existing services. | Greater Murray Region | Increased knowledge of factors which contribute to Aboriginal women’s access to mainstream services;
Increased service provider awareness of strategies to promote Aboriginal women’s access to services;
Increased number of Aboriginal women accessing services, changes to service provider’s policy and practice. | Work with local services and the Lands Council to:
- Investigate service provision;
- Develop and implement a professional development package;
- Develop and publish the model of best practice in the Deniliquin area
| Investigation of current provision of services completed;
Development of model proceeding within agreed timelines. Planning underway. |
| Ensuring appropriate and effective services are available for all women including Aboriginal women. | Hunter Region | Reduction in barriers to provision of services to Aboriginal women;
Increased percentage of Aboriginal women using government and non-government services. | Work with local agencies, including Aboriginal services to:
- Consult with Aboriginal communities;
- Modify policy of government and non-government agencies; and
- Develop training for services users.
| Consultation with Aboriginal communities completed;
Initial negotiations with service providers underway;
Development of resources for service providers underway. |
| Enhance Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women’s knowledge of and access to support services. | Illawarra Region | Increased knowledge with Aboriginal communities of support services, and increased ability of Aboriginal women to makes choices about intervention;
Increased understanding of issues faced by Aboriginal victims of violence;
Increased communication between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal service providers;
Improved level of support for women who have experienced violence;
Increased awareness and knowledge of violence issues in the Aboriginal community and increased confidence in accessing support services;
Increased knowledge of Aboriginal women on issues of violence and improved confidence in accessing support services. | Work with local Aboriginal Groups and the Lands Councils to:
- Develop culturally appropriate pamphlet;
- Hold inter-agency forum for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal service providers;
- Develop training for female members of the local Aboriginal community to enable them to become key resource people on issues of violence against women;
- Establish an Aboriginal Women’s Support Group.
| Design of leaflet completed, in consultation with Aboriginal communities;
Inter-agency forum completed;
Training to be held in February 1999. |
| Develop and implement prevention strategies aimed to reduce the level of violence against Aboriginal Women and increase the level of reporting. | Macquarie Region | Increased number of Aboriginal women reporting violence and taking up level avenues;
Culturally sensitive and appropriate community education developed. | Work with local services and groups including Aboriginal groups to:
- Audit existing community education strategies;
- Develop, pilot and evaluate a program of community education targeting Aboriginal men
| Project proceeding within agreed timelines. Planning underway. |
| Develop prevention strategies for violence against women living in remote and isolated areas, including Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities. | Macquarie Region | Increased knowledge regarding prevention strategies for violence against women. | Work with local agencies, including local Aboriginal groups to:
- Hold a conference on violence against women with a prevention focus;
- Establish an ongoing e-mail dialogue with academics working in the area of prevention of violence against women.
| Conference held, and proceedings of conference are currently being finalised. |
| Improve Aboriginal women’s access to services and increase Aboriginal women’s knowledge and awareness and capacity to respond to violence. | Mid North Coast Region | Increased use of support services by Aboriginal women, enhanced linkages between service providers;
Enhanced understanding of issues of violence against women. | Work with a range of agencies and groups, including local Aboriginal groups to:
- Provide information to Aboriginal women about support services in the local area;
- Hold community forums on violence, family issues and workshops with Aboriginal women;
- Provide information to services on violence against Aboriginal women.
| Project proceeding within agreed timelines. Planning underway. |
| Enhance partnerships between the NSW Police Service and key service providers who work with Aboriginal women, women with intellectual disabilities and farm women. | New England Region | Increased number of incidents where police respond to Aboriginal women (and other target groups) who experience violence. | Work with local groups and agencies including Aboriginal Health Service to:
- Conduct a series of forums to provide information to the police about the special needs of Aboriginal women (and other target groups);
- Highlight the availability of support services for women.
| Five focus groups held with local Aboriginal communities;
Three of the four planned forums have occurred with the NSW Police Service;
Referral list of local agencies currently being developed. |
| Create opportunities for consultation with the Aboriginal community regarding the incidence of violence against Aboriginal women and explore culturally appropriate solutions and strategies. | New England Region | Implementing solutions to violence against women in Aboriginal communities, as developed by the Violence Against Aboriginal Women Forum. | Work with local agencies, including Aboriginal Health Service to:
- Conduct a forum with Aboriginal service providers to identify solution to violence against Aboriginal women.
| Consultation with Aboriginal communities completed;
Women’s Business Day held in Tamworth,
Possibility of holding similar Women’s Business Days in other town being investigated. |
| Increase opportunities for Aboriginal community members to participate in development of appropriate structural, inter-agency and service delivery responses. | Northern Rivers Region | Increased provision of culturally appropriate services;
Increased participation of Aboriginal people in the negotiation of appropriate response;
Increased understanding of structural issues contributing to violence. | Work with Aboriginal agencies and groups to encourage their input into the development of appropriate responses which address violence particularly:
- Development of programs for men;
- Development of safe spaces for women;
- Improved interaction with police and local courts;
- Development of community education aimed at preventing and responding to violence.
| Project proceeding within agreed timelines. Planning underway. |
| Improve Aboriginal women’s access to services. | South Western Sydney Region | Increase level of participation, input and satisfaction of Aboriginal workers in the field;
Increase use of services by Aboriginal women. | Work with local Aboriginal communities to:
- Improve the exchange of information with Aboriginal communities and service providers to identify barriers to access to generalist services by Aboriginal women;
- Encourage the creation of a regional “Women’s Business” group to discuss appropriate service delivery.
| Provision of information and on violence against Aboriginal women and consultations are partially completed, with the Regional Specialist visiting existing Aboriginal women’s groups and the Aboriginal Women’s Camp;
As result of this work there is increased representation of Aboriginal Women on the Regional Reference Group. |
| Improved inter-agency response to women who have experienced violence, targeting a number of groups, including Aboriginal women. | South Western Sydney Region | Improved service for women from specified target groups, including Aboriginal women. | Work with a range of relevant agencies and groups to:
- Develop model of best practice for services;
- Develop and distribute newsletters;
- Promote and organise relevant training for service providers.
| Model of Best Practice is in initial draft form, after consultation with range of organisations and individuals. |
| Anti-violence against Koori women and children. | Southern Region | Aboriginal women working together in response to violence against women in their local communities to:
- Increase awareness amongst Aboriginal women about services;
- Increase awareness amongst Aboriginal men about violence against women in the communities;
- Increase options for Aboriginal women and children escaping violence in Eden area.
| Work with Aboriginal women in the south east coast of NSW to:
- Address violence against women, establish communication tools;
- Provide information to Aboriginal men about the violence against women;
- Explore possibilities to establish a safe house in Eden.
| Consultations with Aboriginal women on the south east coast completed;
Three issues of the Aboriginal Women’s Newsletter developed and distributed;
Development of a submission with local Aboriginal communities and agencies to the Aboriginal Family Health Strategy for the establishment of a safe house in the Eden area. |
| Develop culturally appropriate information strategies for Aboriginal women on issues of violence. | Wentworth and Western Sydney Region | Aboriginal women and the broader Aboriginal community have access to culturally appropriate information. | Work with local Aboriginal community workers to:
- Develop and distribute information on violence against women, targeting Aboriginal women.
| Four arts workshops held pamphlets printed and successful launch held September 1998;
Information stalls held at NAIDOC week 1998. |
| Develop a discussion paper on a Safe House for Aboriginal women experiencing family violence. | Wentworth and Western Sydney Region | Establish the need for and model of a safe house for Aboriginal women experiencing family violence. | Consult Aboriginal workers, Elders and women’s groups to:
- Develop a discussion paper and seek support for the discussion paper from Aboriginal organisations.
| Initial consultation completed; workshops with local Aboriginal communities will be held in early 1999;
Discussion paper developed by June 1999. |
