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financial costs<br />

family law<br />

engaging <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong><br />

<strong>sexual</strong> <strong>violence</strong><br />

Winter / 2011<br />

.45<br />

newsletter


inside<br />

1 editorial<br />

2 clearingho<strong>use</strong> update<br />

3 issues in good practice<br />

engaging <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>their</strong> <strong>use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>sexual</strong> <strong>violence</strong><br />

<strong>as</strong> a <strong>power</strong> <strong>and</strong> c<strong>on</strong>trol tactic<br />

5 nati<strong>on</strong>al update<br />

recent develop<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>ts in family law<br />

8 feature<br />

working with the media: a new tool<br />

9 f<strong>as</strong>t facts<br />

the financial cost <strong>of</strong> domestic <strong>and</strong> family<br />

<strong>violence</strong><br />

10 new research<br />

12 new initiatives <strong>and</strong> resources<br />

14 review<br />

AVERT family <strong>violence</strong>: collaborative<br />

resp<strong>on</strong>ses in the family law system<br />

16 recent additi<strong>on</strong>s to the research<br />

<strong>and</strong> resources datab<strong>as</strong>e<br />

17 practice notes<br />

C<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong>s<br />

The Clearingho<strong>use</strong> welcomes submissi<strong>on</strong>s from service workers, researchers<br />

<strong>and</strong> individuals. If you wish to submit an article or review, ple<strong>as</strong>e email a <strong>on</strong>e<br />

paragraph outline to the address below. We will provide you with feedback <strong>and</strong><br />

discuss a deadline for submissi<strong>on</strong>.<br />

Subscripti<strong>on</strong>s<br />

For a free subscripti<strong>on</strong> to the Clearingho<strong>use</strong> Newsletter or our other publicati<strong>on</strong>s,<br />

ple<strong>as</strong>e ph<strong>on</strong>e, fax or email us, or subscribe <strong>on</strong>line at www.adfvc.unsw.edu.au/<br />

subscribe.html<br />

For more informati<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>tact the Clearingho<strong>use</strong> at –<br />

Email: clearingho<strong>use</strong>@unsw.edu<br />

Ph: (02) 9385 2990<br />

Fax: (02) 9385 2993<br />

Publicati<strong>on</strong> Informati<strong>on</strong><br />

ISSN print: 1443 7236<br />

ISSN <strong>on</strong>line: 1838-7101<br />

© 2011<br />

Design/Printing: Print Post Plus (P3)<br />

The views expressed in this Newsletter do not necessarily represent the views<br />

<strong>of</strong> the Australian Domestic <strong>and</strong> Family Violence Clearingho<strong>use</strong> or the Australian<br />

Govern<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t. While all re<strong>as</strong><strong>on</strong>able care h<strong>as</strong> been taken in the preparati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> this<br />

publicati<strong>on</strong>, no liability is <strong>as</strong>sumed for any errors or omissi<strong>on</strong>s. The Australian<br />

Domestic <strong>and</strong> Family Violence Clearingho<strong>use</strong> is funded by the Australian<br />

Govern<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t Depart<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t <strong>of</strong> Families, Housing, Community Services <strong>and</strong><br />

Indigenous Affairs. The Clearingho<strong>use</strong> is linked to the Centre for Gender-Related<br />

Violence Studies, b<strong>as</strong>ed in the University <strong>of</strong> New South Wales, School <strong>of</strong> Social<br />

Sciences <strong>and</strong> Internati<strong>on</strong>al Studies.


editorial<br />

Welcome to the<br />

45th issue <strong>of</strong> the<br />

Clearingho<strong>use</strong><br />

Newsletter.<br />

protecti<strong>on</strong> orders <strong>and</strong> divorce. Judge Kulger discussed<br />

operati<strong>on</strong>al issues for these courts <strong>and</strong> <strong>their</strong> expansi<strong>on</strong><br />

to address emerging issues, such <strong>as</strong> to allow same-sex<br />

partners to obtain civil orders <strong>of</strong> protecti<strong>on</strong>.<br />

It is that time again<br />

when we c<strong>on</strong>sult you,<br />

our <strong>use</strong>rs, to find out<br />

what you think <strong>of</strong> our<br />

services <strong>and</strong> how we<br />

can make them more<br />

relevant <strong>and</strong> <strong>use</strong>ful<br />

to you. Our survey<br />

is open until the end<br />

<strong>of</strong> July, so go <strong>on</strong>line to www.surveym<strong>on</strong>key.com/s/<br />

Clearingho<strong>use</strong>SurveyJuly2011 to have your say. This<br />

informati<strong>on</strong> is invaluable to us in planning <strong>and</strong> business<br />

develop<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t, <strong>and</strong> we appreciate your input.<br />

The Clearingho<strong>use</strong> staff have been very busy over the p<strong>as</strong>t<br />

couple <strong>of</strong> m<strong>on</strong>ths with our project work, running a forum <strong>on</strong><br />

domestic <strong>violence</strong> deaths, writing submissi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>and</strong> papers,<br />

all which you can read about in the Clearingho<strong>use</strong> Update<br />

<strong>on</strong> page 2 <strong>of</strong> this Newsletter.<br />

In May, I made a lightening visit to the United States <strong>and</strong><br />

Canada. The primary re<strong>as</strong><strong>on</strong> for the trip w<strong>as</strong> to attend<br />

Violence Against Wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> – Complex Realities <strong>and</strong> New<br />

Issues in a Changing World, an internati<strong>on</strong>al c<strong>on</strong>ference<br />

held in Quebec, Canada. The c<strong>on</strong>ference heard from a<br />

diverse range <strong>of</strong> speakers <strong>on</strong> many interesting topics <strong>and</strong><br />

I will provide a more detailed report in the next issue <strong>of</strong> the<br />

Newsletter. For now, I will just <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>ti<strong>on</strong> three <strong>of</strong> the keynote<br />

speakers.<br />

Well known researcher Dr Michael Johns<strong>on</strong> h<strong>as</strong> written<br />

extensively <strong>on</strong> typologies <strong>of</strong> intimate partner <strong>violence</strong>. At<br />

this c<strong>on</strong>ference, he spoke about differences between<br />

three major types <strong>of</strong> <strong>violence</strong> (intimate terrorism, violent<br />

resistance <strong>and</strong> situati<strong>on</strong>al couple <strong>violence</strong>) in terms <strong>of</strong> <strong>their</strong><br />

ca<strong>use</strong>s, <strong>their</strong> effects <strong>on</strong> individuals <strong>and</strong> couples, <strong>and</strong> <strong>their</strong><br />

resp<strong>on</strong>siveness to interventi<strong>on</strong>. He argued persu<strong>as</strong>ively for<br />

a differentiated approach in dealing with violent <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>, while<br />

emph<strong>as</strong>ising the need to recognise that comm<strong>on</strong> couple<br />

<strong>violence</strong> is <strong>as</strong> significant <strong>and</strong> dangerous <strong>as</strong> c<strong>on</strong>trolling<br />

<strong>violence</strong>.<br />

Judy Harris Kluger is the Chief <strong>of</strong> Policy <strong>and</strong> Planning in<br />

New York State’s unified court system. She spoke about<br />

the growing number <strong>of</strong> integrated domestic <strong>violence</strong> courts<br />

in the state <strong>and</strong> how <strong>their</strong> operati<strong>on</strong> is incre<strong>as</strong>ing access<br />

to justice for victims. In these integrated courts, a single<br />

judge will deal with a criminal domestic <strong>violence</strong> c<strong>as</strong>e <strong>and</strong><br />

all its related family issues, such <strong>as</strong> custody, visitati<strong>on</strong>, civil<br />

The third speaker w<strong>as</strong> Dr Floya Anthi<strong>as</strong>, a pr<strong>of</strong>essor<br />

<strong>of</strong> sociology at Roehampt<strong>on</strong> University in the United<br />

Kingdom. She argued for a more differentiated<br />

underst<strong>and</strong>ing <strong>of</strong> wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> in terms <strong>of</strong> complex inequalities,<br />

in order to underst<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> better address <strong>their</strong> experience<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>violence</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>their</strong> needs. She called for more<br />

collaborati<strong>on</strong> between different sectors in order to address<br />

wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s complex lives. Her paper then discussed a range<br />

<strong>of</strong> issues around gender <strong>and</strong> <strong>violence</strong>; for example, around<br />

the growth <strong>of</strong> migrati<strong>on</strong>, ‘diversity’, transnati<strong>on</strong>alism <strong>and</strong><br />

global labour markets.<br />

As well <strong>as</strong> attending the c<strong>on</strong>ference, I w<strong>as</strong> also able to<br />

visit two peak organisati<strong>on</strong>s in the United States: the<br />

Nati<strong>on</strong>al Network to End Domestic Violence in W<strong>as</strong>hingt<strong>on</strong><br />

<strong>and</strong> the Nati<strong>on</strong>al Resource Center <strong>on</strong> Domestic Violence<br />

in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. I w<strong>as</strong> impressed with the<br />

significant resourcing <strong>of</strong> these organisati<strong>on</strong>s through<br />

govern<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t funding to support the work <strong>of</strong> the practiceb<strong>as</strong>ed<br />

sector. They provide training, knowledge transfer,<br />

technical support <strong>and</strong> resource develop<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t, <strong>as</strong> well <strong>as</strong><br />

representati<strong>on</strong> to <strong>and</strong> advocacy with govern<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t. The<br />

level <strong>of</strong> support <strong>and</strong> advocacy that these organisati<strong>on</strong>s<br />

can lend to domestic <strong>violence</strong> services <strong>and</strong> workers is<br />

something we would love to see replicated in Australia,<br />

with a peak organisati<strong>on</strong> situated in each state <strong>and</strong> territory<br />

carrying out this work.<br />

Having the opportunity to hear eminent practiti<strong>on</strong>ers<br />

<strong>and</strong> academics from around the world, learn about<br />

new approaches <strong>and</strong> forge internati<strong>on</strong>al links w<strong>as</strong> an<br />

invigorating experience <strong>and</strong> the learnings from this trip will<br />

inform our work at the Clearingho<strong>use</strong> into the future. While<br />

it w<strong>as</strong> great to learn about develop<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>ts going <strong>on</strong> around<br />

the world, it w<strong>as</strong> also heartening to have acknowledged<br />

that our Clearingho<strong>use</strong> is also spearheading innovati<strong>on</strong><br />

<strong>and</strong> investigati<strong>on</strong>, for example, through our domestic<br />

<strong>violence</strong> workplace project <strong>and</strong> financial security research.<br />

In this issue <strong>of</strong> the Newsletter, you will read about<br />

engaging <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>their</strong> <strong>use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>sexual</strong> <strong>violence</strong> <strong>as</strong> a <strong>power</strong><br />

<strong>and</strong> c<strong>on</strong>trol tactic (pp. 3-4), read a summary <strong>of</strong> recent<br />

develop<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>ts in family law (pp. 5-7) <strong>and</strong> a review <strong>of</strong> the<br />

AVERT family <strong>violence</strong> resource (pp. 14-15), <strong>as</strong> well <strong>as</strong> find<br />

out about a new resource for working with the media (p. 8).<br />

I hope you enjoy this issue <strong>of</strong> the Newsletter.<br />

Gaby Marcus<br />

Director<br />

1<br />

www.adfvc.unsw.edu.au


clearingho<strong>use</strong> update<br />

2<br />

newsletter .45<br />

Have your say in our latest <strong>use</strong>r survey<br />

To have your say about the delivery <strong>of</strong> Clearingho<strong>use</strong><br />

services, ple<strong>as</strong>e go <strong>on</strong>line <strong>and</strong> fill in our <strong>use</strong>r survey.<br />

The survey takes ten to fifteen minutes to complete <strong>and</strong><br />

helps us plan better services for you. The survey will be<br />

available until Sunday, 31 July 2011.<br />

www.surveym<strong>on</strong>key.com/s/Clearingho<strong>use</strong>SurveyJuly2011<br />

ALRC submissi<strong>on</strong>s<br />

Over the p<strong>as</strong>t three m<strong>on</strong>ths, the Clearingho<strong>use</strong> h<strong>as</strong><br />

resp<strong>on</strong>ded to the Australian Law Reform Commissi<strong>on</strong>’s<br />

(ALRC) inquiry into the treat<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t <strong>of</strong> family/domestic<br />

<strong>violence</strong> in Comm<strong>on</strong>wealth laws. All Clearingho<strong>use</strong><br />

submissi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> the four Issues Papers rele<strong>as</strong>ed by the<br />

ALRC are available <strong>on</strong> our web site.<br />

www.adfvc.unsw.edu.au/submissi<strong>on</strong>s.htm<br />

Financial security project update<br />

Following the publicati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> our report, Seeking security:<br />

promoting wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s ec<strong>on</strong>omic wellbeing following domestic<br />

<strong>violence</strong> in March this year, we have sought to follow up <strong>on</strong><br />

a number <strong>of</strong> the research recom<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>dati<strong>on</strong>s. During the<br />

l<strong>as</strong>t four m<strong>on</strong>ths, we have:<br />

à àwritten to Minister Tanya Plibersek <strong>and</strong> Minister Chris<br />

Bowen<br />

à àprovided input to the federal Depart<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t <strong>of</strong> Human<br />

Services’ review <strong>on</strong> service delivery to clients affected<br />

by family <strong>violence</strong><br />

à àmet with two major banks<br />

à àliaised with Financial Counselling Australia <strong>and</strong> the<br />

Associati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> Financial Advisers<br />

à àwritten to the Chair <strong>of</strong> the Federati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> Ethnic<br />

Communities Council in Australia<br />

à àc<strong>on</strong>tributed to the ALRC inquiry into the treat<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t <strong>of</strong><br />

family/domestic <strong>violence</strong> in Comm<strong>on</strong>wealth laws.<br />

We have also promoted the findings <strong>of</strong> the research at:<br />

ààa meeting <strong>of</strong> govern<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t <strong>and</strong> n<strong>on</strong>-govern<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t<br />

representatives in Darwin, 4 May<br />

ààMeeting the Needs <strong>of</strong> Victims <strong>of</strong> Crime c<strong>on</strong>ference in<br />

Sydney, 18-19 May.<br />

We will be meeting with <strong>on</strong>e <strong>of</strong> the Prime Minister’s<br />

advisors to discuss some <strong>of</strong> the project recom<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>dati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />

Updates <strong>on</strong> the project <strong>and</strong> copies <strong>of</strong> recent c<strong>on</strong>ference<br />

presentati<strong>on</strong>s are available <strong>on</strong> the Clearingho<strong>use</strong> web site.<br />

www.adfvc.unsw.edu.au/projects.htm<br />

Workplace rights <strong>and</strong> entitle<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>ts<br />

project update<br />

This editi<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> the Newsletter is being mailed out together<br />

with a bulletin <strong>on</strong> our workplace rights <strong>and</strong> entitle<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>ts<br />

project. If you are reading the Newsletter <strong>on</strong>line, you<br />

can access the bulletin <strong>on</strong> our web site. Updates <strong>on</strong> the<br />

project are also regularly posted <strong>on</strong> the web site.<br />

www.adfvc.unsw.edu.au/dv_workplace_rights_<br />

entitle<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>ts_project.htm<br />

Domestic <strong>violence</strong> homicide forum <strong>and</strong><br />

workshop<br />

On 20 May in Sydney, around 100 participants attended<br />

the Clearingho<strong>use</strong> forum, Domestic Violence Deaths: Risk,<br />

Resp<strong>on</strong>sibility <strong>and</strong> Review. The three forum speakers<br />

gave diverse <strong>and</strong> stimulating presentati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> the issue <strong>of</strong><br />

domestic <strong>violence</strong> related deaths.<br />

Lyndal Bugeja, Team Leader <strong>of</strong> the Intenti<strong>on</strong>al Death<br />

Investigati<strong>on</strong> Team at the Cor<strong>on</strong>ers Preventi<strong>on</strong> Unit Victoria,<br />

gave an account <strong>of</strong> Victoria’s domestic <strong>violence</strong> death<br />

investigati<strong>on</strong> process, set up in 2009.<br />

Dr Rochelle Braaf, Clearingho<strong>use</strong> Senior Research Officer,<br />

presented evidence linking <strong>sexual</strong> <strong>violence</strong> by intimate<br />

partners with homicide risk. Rochelle discussed the<br />

difficulties <strong>of</strong> resp<strong>on</strong>ding to this risk when there are str<strong>on</strong>g<br />

tendencies for wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> not to disclose, <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> to deny <strong>their</strong><br />

behaviour <strong>and</strong> workers not to <strong>as</strong>k.<br />

Associate Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Jane Ursel, Director <strong>of</strong> Research <strong>and</strong><br />

Educati<strong>on</strong> for Soluti<strong>on</strong>s to Violence <strong>and</strong> Ab<strong>use</strong> (RESOLVE)<br />

at the University <strong>of</strong> Manitoba, spoke about progress made<br />

in reducing the number <strong>of</strong> domestic <strong>violence</strong>-related<br />

homicides in Manitoba, Canada. Jane suggested that<br />

these reducti<strong>on</strong>s have been achieved through changes in<br />

the criminal justice system including: legislative <strong>and</strong> policy<br />

change; gathering, m<strong>on</strong>itoring <strong>and</strong> resp<strong>on</strong>ding to trends<br />

in data; better policing <strong>of</strong> breaches; the introducti<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />

specialist domestic <strong>violence</strong> courts; <strong>and</strong> police m<strong>on</strong>itoring<br />

<strong>of</strong> high risk <strong>of</strong>fenders.<br />

Following the forum, researchers from the Centre for<br />

Gender Related Violence Studies at the University <strong>of</strong> New<br />

South Wales, in partnership with Relati<strong>on</strong>ships Australia<br />

South Australia (RASA), ran a workshop entitled Thinking<br />

About Homicide Risk – A Framework for Counsellors.<br />

Dr Kerrie James, Dr Jan Breckenridge <strong>and</strong> Claire Ralfs<br />

presented this framework to a group <strong>of</strong> experienced<br />

domestic <strong>violence</strong> workers from different agency c<strong>on</strong>texts<br />

<strong>and</strong> sectors.<br />

Slides <strong>of</strong> the presentati<strong>on</strong>s are available <strong>on</strong> the<br />

Clearingho<strong>use</strong> web site <strong>and</strong> podc<strong>as</strong>ts <strong>of</strong> the event will be<br />

uploaded in the coming weeks.<br />

www.adfvc.unsw.edu.au/c<strong>on</strong>ference_proceedings.htm<br />

Clearingho<strong>use</strong> staff presentati<strong>on</strong>s<br />

Clearingho<strong>use</strong> staff have presented papers at a number<br />

<strong>of</strong> recent forums. See the back page <strong>of</strong> this Newsletter for<br />

details.


issues in good practice<br />

ENGAGING MEN ON THEIR USE OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE AS A POWER AND<br />

CONTROL TACTIC BY RODNEY VLAIS, ACTING EXECUTIVE OFFICER, NO TO VIOLENCE<br />

MALE FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION ASSOCIATION<br />

The nature <strong>of</strong> male family <strong>violence</strong><br />

Intimate partner ab<strong>use</strong> by <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> is an expressi<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> male<br />

<strong>power</strong> <strong>and</strong> c<strong>on</strong>trol in the c<strong>on</strong>text <strong>of</strong> a male dominated society.<br />

No To Violence (NTV) believes that all work to engage <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

must be located within an awareness <strong>of</strong> the social c<strong>on</strong>text <strong>of</strong><br />

male family <strong>violence</strong>. Men <strong>use</strong> family <strong>violence</strong> <strong>as</strong> a deliberate<br />

tactic to exert <strong>power</strong> <strong>and</strong> c<strong>on</strong>trol <strong>and</strong> maintain gender-b<strong>as</strong>ed<br />

privileges to which they feel entitled. In the process, they<br />

ignore the wishes <strong>of</strong> the other pers<strong>on</strong>.<br />

Although <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> need to be held resp<strong>on</strong>sible <strong>and</strong><br />

accountable for <strong>their</strong> own <strong>violence</strong>, we must acknowledge<br />

that male <strong>violence</strong> is embedded in the structures <strong>and</strong><br />

collective unc<strong>on</strong>scious <strong>of</strong> Australia’s patriarchal society.<br />

Ending gender-b<strong>as</strong>ed inequalities is, therefore, essential<br />

to the l<strong>on</strong>g-term preventi<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> male family <strong>violence</strong>.<br />

Violence is a choice for which each man is resp<strong>on</strong>sible.<br />

Although a man might have been socialised to believe<br />

he h<strong>as</strong> a right to c<strong>on</strong>trol wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>and</strong> children, he can still<br />

choose to take resp<strong>on</strong>sibility to learn <strong>and</strong> <strong>use</strong> n<strong>on</strong>-violent<br />

ways <strong>of</strong> relating.<br />

In this c<strong>on</strong>text, <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s <strong>use</strong> <strong>of</strong> intimate partner <strong>sexual</strong><br />

<strong>violence</strong> can serve at le<strong>as</strong>t two functi<strong>on</strong>s. First, <strong>sexual</strong><br />

<strong>violence</strong> can be <strong>use</strong>d <strong>as</strong> deliberate tactic to create fear<br />

<strong>and</strong> subordinati<strong>on</strong> <strong>and</strong> to enforce c<strong>on</strong>trol. Sec<strong>on</strong>d, <strong>sexual</strong><br />

<strong>violence</strong> may serve <strong>as</strong> an expressi<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s unearned<br />

gender-b<strong>as</strong>ed privilege, b<strong>as</strong>ed <strong>on</strong> a belief that they are<br />

entitled to <strong>sexual</strong> gratificati<strong>on</strong> <strong>and</strong> are being ‘victimised’<br />

when wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> ‘withhold’ sex from them.<br />

Funda<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>tal aim <strong>of</strong> engaging <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

The funda<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>tal aim <strong>of</strong> engaging male <strong>use</strong>rs <strong>of</strong> family<br />

<strong>violence</strong> is to support the safety needs <strong>of</strong> wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>and</strong><br />

children. This might seem obvious but, in our experience,<br />

it is possible for <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s services to lose sight <strong>of</strong> this aim.<br />

This can occur where services operate primarily from a<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s health framework, rather than <strong>as</strong> part <strong>of</strong> an integrated<br />

family <strong>violence</strong> service system, <strong>and</strong> when they have weak<br />

accountability processes to wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>and</strong> wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s services.<br />

There h<strong>as</strong> been very little research <strong>on</strong> the effectiveness<br />

<strong>of</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s behaviour change programs in Australia. The<br />

evidence for the l<strong>on</strong>g-term effectiveness <strong>of</strong> United States<br />

programs in stopping <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s <strong>use</strong> <strong>of</strong> family <strong>violence</strong> is not<br />

str<strong>on</strong>g either. While most reviewers in this field acknowledge<br />

the major methodological problems <strong>and</strong> limitati<strong>on</strong>s<br />

<strong>as</strong>sociated with evaluating effectiveness, it is uncertain<br />

whether there is sufficient evidence to justify working with<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> for the sole purpose <strong>of</strong> l<strong>on</strong>g-term behaviour change.<br />

Importantly, however, creating behaviour change is not<br />

the <strong>on</strong>ly pathway through which <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s programs support<br />

the safety <strong>of</strong> wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>and</strong> children. A sec<strong>on</strong>d key pathway<br />

is to provide partners <strong>of</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> who participate in programs<br />

with access to safety planning, referrals, direct support<br />

<strong>and</strong> other outcomes or processes that stem through<br />

partner c<strong>on</strong>tact work. Indeed, many wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> who engage<br />

in partner c<strong>on</strong>tact work have not previously accessed a<br />

family <strong>violence</strong> service.<br />

Sometimes work with <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> who do not or are not likely to<br />

make l<strong>on</strong>g-term changes can still support the work with<br />

wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>. Some <strong>of</strong> these <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> might make some temporary<br />

changes to some <strong>as</strong>pects <strong>of</strong> <strong>their</strong> behaviour through<br />

participati<strong>on</strong> in the program, which might provide <strong>their</strong><br />

partners with a degree <strong>of</strong> ‘breathing space’ through which<br />

to discover more <strong>of</strong> <strong>their</strong> own agency, find small but<br />

important opportunities to regain a sense <strong>of</strong> dignity, revise<br />

safety plans <strong>and</strong> make decisi<strong>on</strong>s. Furthermore, partners’<br />

unsuccessful or partly successful participati<strong>on</strong> in the<br />

program might help wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> to face the reality <strong>of</strong> the likely<br />

future trajectory <strong>of</strong> <strong>violence</strong>.<br />

Finally, male family <strong>violence</strong> services can report breaches <strong>of</strong><br />

interventi<strong>on</strong> orders <strong>and</strong> provide feedback to referrers such<br />

<strong>as</strong> police <strong>and</strong> courts, thereby supporting law enforce<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t<br />

<strong>and</strong> judicial systems to impose appropriate sancti<strong>on</strong>s.<br />

Addressing intimate partner <strong>sexual</strong><br />

<strong>violence</strong><br />

NTV acknowledges that, taken <strong>as</strong> a whole, the male family<br />

<strong>violence</strong> sector needs to do more to address intimate<br />

partner <strong>sexual</strong> <strong>violence</strong>. While <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> who ab<strong>use</strong> <strong>their</strong><br />

partners are ordinarily very hesitant to take resp<strong>on</strong>sibility<br />

for <strong>their</strong> behaviour <strong>and</strong> <strong>use</strong> a variety <strong>of</strong> strategies to deny<br />

<strong>and</strong> minimise it, this problem is even more pr<strong>on</strong>ounced<br />

in relati<strong>on</strong> to <strong>sexual</strong> <strong>violence</strong>. Often <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> in programs<br />

have a very narrow definiti<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>sexual</strong> <strong>violence</strong>. They<br />

are unlikely to sp<strong>on</strong>taneously talk about <strong>their</strong> sense <strong>of</strong><br />

entitle<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t to obtain <strong>sexual</strong> gratificati<strong>on</strong> or the effects <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>sexual</strong>ly objectifying wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>.<br />

Practiti<strong>on</strong>ers <strong>and</strong> facilitators in the <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s behaviour<br />

change field generally find addressing <strong>sexual</strong> <strong>violence</strong><br />

difficult work. As a result, workers have searched for<br />

Key practice points<br />

àà<br />

àà<br />

àà<br />

Men are <strong>of</strong>ten very hesitant to discuss intimate<br />

partner <strong>sexual</strong> <strong>violence</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s behaviour change<br />

programs addressing family <strong>violence</strong>.<br />

Program providers are trying innovative <strong>and</strong> creative<br />

ways to open up discussi<strong>on</strong> <strong>and</strong> to encourage <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

to reflect <strong>on</strong> <strong>their</strong> <strong>and</strong> society’s <strong>sexual</strong> objectificati<strong>on</strong><br />

<strong>of</strong> wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>.<br />

These approaches include dec<strong>on</strong>structing <strong>and</strong><br />

exploring the noti<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> ‘make up’ sex after <strong>violence</strong>,<br />

the <strong>sexual</strong> objectificati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> in the media<br />

<strong>and</strong> male peer cultures, healthy <strong>sexual</strong> relating <strong>and</strong><br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s <strong>use</strong> <strong>of</strong> pornography.<br />

3<br />

www.adfvc.unsw.edu.au


4<br />

innovative <strong>and</strong> creative approaches <strong>and</strong> activities to<br />

open up discussi<strong>on</strong> around <strong>sexual</strong> <strong>violence</strong> <strong>and</strong> related<br />

issues. Some approaches being trialled across the <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s<br />

behaviour change sector are outlined below. Together<br />

they dem<strong>on</strong>strate the potential for this sector to work<br />

harder <strong>and</strong> more creatively to resp<strong>on</strong>d to intimate partner<br />

<strong>sexual</strong> <strong>violence</strong>.<br />

Cycle <strong>of</strong> <strong>violence</strong><br />

The ‘cycle <strong>of</strong> <strong>violence</strong>’ model h<strong>as</strong> l<strong>on</strong>g been debated<br />

within the domestic <strong>violence</strong> sector in terms <strong>of</strong> how<br />

accurately it encomp<strong>as</strong>ses the experiences <strong>of</strong> wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

<strong>and</strong> how aptly it portrays <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s <strong>on</strong>going strategic <strong>and</strong><br />

tactical <strong>use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>violence</strong>. It is, however, <strong>use</strong>d in the<br />

psycho-educati<strong>on</strong>al <strong>as</strong>pects <strong>of</strong> a number <strong>of</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s<br />

programs, <strong>as</strong> it is a model to which many participants<br />

relate. It can provide opportunities for in-depth spin<strong>of</strong>f<br />

discussi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> issues ranging from the difference<br />

between self-centred <strong>and</strong> other-centred remorse to<br />

‘safety’ planning enabling <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> to identify <strong>their</strong> own ‘build<br />

ups’ to <strong>violence</strong>.<br />

In this way the cycle <strong>of</strong> <strong>violence</strong> can be <strong>use</strong>d to spark<br />

discussi<strong>on</strong>s about <strong>sexual</strong> <strong>violence</strong> <strong>and</strong> c<strong>on</strong>sent. It<br />

becomes an entry point for <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> to talk about the role<br />

that ‘make-up sex’ h<strong>as</strong> in the ‘remorse’ <strong>and</strong> ‘h<strong>on</strong>eymo<strong>on</strong>’<br />

ph<strong>as</strong>es (i.e. the <strong>use</strong> <strong>of</strong> sex to feel better after <strong>violence</strong> <strong>and</strong><br />

to try to keep the relati<strong>on</strong>ship together). Group facilitators<br />

can encourage <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> to c<strong>on</strong>sider how <strong>their</strong> partner might<br />

be feeling about <strong>sexual</strong> relating, in the days or weeks<br />

after a significant episode <strong>of</strong> <strong>violence</strong>, <strong>and</strong> whether <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

are using a (significant) degree <strong>of</strong> coerci<strong>on</strong> to engage<br />

in make-up sex which <strong>their</strong> partner does not want. This<br />

dialogue can open up spaces for discussi<strong>on</strong> about active<br />

c<strong>on</strong>sent <strong>and</strong> the difference between ‘self-centred’ <strong>and</strong><br />

‘other-centred’ perspectives.<br />

This approach engages with the widely recognised <strong>and</strong><br />

<strong>use</strong>d phr<strong>as</strong>e ‘make-up sex’, reframing it b<strong>as</strong>ed <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s<br />

explorati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>and</strong> underst<strong>and</strong>ings <strong>of</strong> the cycle <strong>of</strong> <strong>violence</strong><br />

model. By beginning a discussi<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> whether ‘make-up’ sex<br />

is experienced in the same way by wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>, space can be<br />

created for <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> to explore issues <strong>of</strong> coerci<strong>on</strong> <strong>and</strong> c<strong>on</strong>sent.<br />

Sexual objectificati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> in the media <strong>and</strong><br />

male peer cultures<br />

Another approach some programs <strong>use</strong> to engage <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong><br />

<strong>their</strong> <strong>use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>sexual</strong> <strong>violence</strong> is through a focus <strong>on</strong> media<br />

representati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>of</strong> wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>. At le<strong>as</strong>t <strong>on</strong>e program provider<br />

engages <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> in a series <strong>of</strong> exercises over time to explore<br />

issues <strong>of</strong> c<strong>on</strong>sent in <strong>sexual</strong> relating in the c<strong>on</strong>text <strong>of</strong> the<br />

<strong>sexual</strong> objectificati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> in the media <strong>and</strong> in male<br />

peer cultures. These exercises include:<br />

à àsome initial explorati<strong>on</strong>s with <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> around the definiti<strong>on</strong><br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>and</strong> issues <strong>of</strong> c<strong>on</strong>sent in <strong>sexual</strong> relating, a c<strong>on</strong>cept<br />

which is then revisited in future sessi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong>ce<br />

underst<strong>and</strong>ing deepens<br />

a historical analysis, through art, where <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> view<br />

particular paintings <strong>and</strong> are invited to c<strong>on</strong>sider how<br />

they represent <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>and</strong> wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> (these paintings<br />

portray the intergenerati<strong>on</strong>al c<strong>on</strong>cepts <strong>of</strong> wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

‘tempting’ <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>and</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> ‘cannot help themselves’)<br />

an analysis <strong>of</strong> the names <strong>and</strong> words <strong>use</strong>d to describe<br />

wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>, which are still embedded within male peer<br />

cultures (<strong>and</strong> society more generally)<br />

a presentati<strong>on</strong> <strong>and</strong> critical discussi<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> advertising<br />

images depicting wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> in <strong>sexual</strong>ly objectifying <strong>and</strong><br />

demeaning ways, encouraging <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> to reflect <strong>on</strong> <strong>their</strong><br />

reacti<strong>on</strong>s <strong>and</strong> what messages are communicated about<br />

wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>and</strong> <strong>sexual</strong> respect.<br />

à à<br />

à à<br />

à à<br />

Healthy <strong>sexual</strong> relating <strong>and</strong> active c<strong>on</strong>sent<br />

Another approach is to com<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>ce c<strong>on</strong>versati<strong>on</strong>s about<br />

<strong>sexual</strong> <strong>violence</strong> with a focus <strong>on</strong> what <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> believe is<br />

required to nurture an intimate, healthy, satisfying <strong>sexual</strong><br />

relati<strong>on</strong>ship. After <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> outline the positive <strong>as</strong>pects <strong>and</strong><br />

necessary c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s for intimate <strong>sexual</strong> relating with <strong>on</strong>e’s<br />

partner, the discussi<strong>on</strong> can then move towards <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s<br />

behaviours that sabotage or prevent what they really want<br />

out <strong>of</strong> <strong>their</strong> <strong>sexual</strong> relati<strong>on</strong>ships. From here, the facilitator<br />

can lead participants into a discussi<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>their</strong> <strong>use</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />

coerci<strong>on</strong> <strong>and</strong> c<strong>on</strong>trol <strong>as</strong> undermining <strong>and</strong> destroying an<br />

intimate relati<strong>on</strong>ship with <strong>their</strong> partner. Such approaches<br />

<strong>as</strong>sume that many <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> in behaviour change programs<br />

have a desire to work towards positive <strong>sexual</strong> relating.<br />

Pornography<br />

A further approach explores <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s <strong>use</strong> <strong>of</strong> pornography<br />

<strong>and</strong> the effects that it h<strong>as</strong> <strong>on</strong> <strong>sexual</strong> relating. This<br />

approach not <strong>on</strong>ly involves providing informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> the<br />

structural gender inequities inherent in pornography<br />

industries but also the distorti<strong>on</strong> that pornography <strong>use</strong><br />

creates for <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s expectati<strong>on</strong>s about <strong>sexual</strong> relating.<br />

Given that mainstream <strong>and</strong> accessible pornography h<strong>as</strong><br />

become incre<strong>as</strong>ingly violent <strong>and</strong> degrading towards<br />

wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> over the p<strong>as</strong>t ten to fifteen years, <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> who <strong>use</strong><br />

pornography can develop demeaning <strong>and</strong> inappropriate<br />

expectati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>of</strong> what <strong>their</strong> partner should be receptive<br />

to or participate in during sex. The effects <strong>of</strong> these<br />

inappropriate expectati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>and</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s intimate<br />

relati<strong>on</strong>ships can then be explored.<br />

C<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong><br />

The suggesti<strong>on</strong>s above provide a starting point for male<br />

family <strong>violence</strong> workers to introduce discussi<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>sexual</strong><br />

ab<strong>use</strong> in <strong>their</strong> work with <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>. Male family <strong>violence</strong><br />

workers are aware that <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> can hide more than they will<br />

reveal in group <strong>and</strong> individual discussi<strong>on</strong>s. Finding new<br />

ways to obtain <strong>and</strong> dec<strong>on</strong>struct the full picture <strong>of</strong> ab<strong>use</strong><br />

<strong>and</strong> c<strong>on</strong>trol will help to promote a safer community.<br />

newsletter .45<br />

GOOD PRACTICE HOTLINE<br />

The Clearingho<strong>use</strong> Good Practice Hotline is available<br />

<strong>on</strong> M<strong>on</strong>days 2-4pm (E<strong>as</strong>tern St<strong>and</strong>ard Time) <strong>on</strong><br />

(02) 9385 3843.<br />

For more informati<strong>on</strong>: visit the No to Violence web<br />

site at www.ntv.org.au or c<strong>on</strong>tact Not to Violence at<br />

(03) 9428 3536.


nati<strong>on</strong>al update<br />

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN FAMILY LAW BY KareN WILCOX, CLeariNGHouSE GooD<br />

PraCtiCE OFFICer<br />

This year h<strong>as</strong> seen some significant changes in the family<br />

law arena, both in legislati<strong>on</strong> <strong>and</strong> in service practices. This<br />

nati<strong>on</strong>al update looks at some <strong>of</strong> the key develop<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>ts<br />

across the country, including the introducti<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> the Family<br />

Law A<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>d<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t (Family Violence & Other Me<strong>as</strong>ures)<br />

Bill 2011, <strong>and</strong> incre<strong>as</strong>ed engage<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t <strong>and</strong> collaborati<strong>on</strong><br />

between the family <strong>violence</strong> <strong>and</strong> family law sectors.<br />

Family law a<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>d<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>ts introduced to<br />

Parlia<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t<br />

The Comm<strong>on</strong>wealth Govern<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t this year proposed l<strong>on</strong>gawaited,<br />

safety-foc<strong>use</strong>d a<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>d<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>ts to the Family Law Act<br />

1975 (Cth). The Family Law A<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>d<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t (Family Violence<br />

& Other Me<strong>as</strong>ures) Bill 2011 w<strong>as</strong> introduced to Parlia<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t<br />

<strong>on</strong> 24 March, following the wide circulati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> a c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong><br />

draft by the Comm<strong>on</strong>wealth Attorney-General, the H<strong>on</strong>.<br />

Robert McClell<strong>and</strong>. The Bill w<strong>as</strong> p<strong>as</strong>sed by the Ho<strong>use</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />

Representatives, without changes, <strong>on</strong> 30 May.<br />

These a<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>d<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>ts follow a series <strong>of</strong> reviews <strong>of</strong> the Family<br />

Law Act 1975 commissi<strong>on</strong>ed by the govern<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t. The Bill<br />

recognises the widespread c<strong>on</strong>cern put to govern<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t<br />

about the impact <strong>of</strong> the a<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>d<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>ts introduced in 2006<br />

by the previous Liberal Govern<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t, particularly in relati<strong>on</strong><br />

to wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s <strong>and</strong> children’s safety <strong>and</strong> wellbeing following<br />

separati<strong>on</strong>. High pr<strong>of</strong>ile homicides by domestic ab<strong>use</strong>rs,<br />

including the tragic Darcey Freeman murder, also prompted<br />

community outrage <strong>and</strong> calls for reform.<br />

The proposed a<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>d<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>ts address the following issues<br />

arising from the expert reviews:<br />

Determining children’s ‘best interests’<br />

Where there is an inc<strong>on</strong>sistency between the right <strong>of</strong> the<br />

child to have a ‘meaningful relati<strong>on</strong>ship’ <strong>and</strong> the right <strong>of</strong><br />

the child to be protected from family <strong>violence</strong> <strong>and</strong> ab<strong>use</strong>,<br />

the latter will have priority <strong>as</strong> a primary c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong> in<br />

determining children’s best interests. This a<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>d<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t<br />

means that the so-called ‘twin pillars’ in the Act which are<br />

<strong>use</strong>d to determine children’s ‘best interests’ will instead be<br />

weighted, with the right to safety taking precedence where<br />

domestic <strong>violence</strong> or child ab<strong>use</strong> is an issue.<br />

Widening the definiti<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> child ab<strong>use</strong><br />

The definiti<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> child ab<strong>use</strong> will be widened to cover:<br />

causing serious psychological harm to a child, including<br />

when the child is subjected or exposed to family <strong>violence</strong><br />

(i.e. sees, hears or experiences the effects <strong>of</strong> family<br />

<strong>violence</strong>); <strong>and</strong> neglect. Given the reform to the ‘twin<br />

pillars’ noted above, this is likely to enhance the capacity<br />

<strong>of</strong> the courts to find safety-b<strong>as</strong>ed soluti<strong>on</strong>s to parenting<br />

arrange<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>ts.<br />

Widening <strong>of</strong> the definiti<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> family <strong>violence</strong><br />

Similarly, the definiti<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> family <strong>violence</strong> will be widened<br />

to focus <strong>on</strong> fear, coerci<strong>on</strong> <strong>and</strong> c<strong>on</strong>trol, rather than what<br />

the courts might c<strong>on</strong>sider ‘re<strong>as</strong><strong>on</strong>able’. Examples in the<br />

Bill incorporate recent changes to state protecti<strong>on</strong> order<br />

definiti<strong>on</strong>s (such <strong>as</strong> in Victoria <strong>and</strong> South Australia) <strong>and</strong><br />

include:<br />

à à<br />

à à<br />

à à<br />

à à<br />

à à<br />

à à<br />

repeated derogatory taunts<br />

intenti<strong>on</strong>ally causing death or injury to an animal<br />

unre<strong>as</strong><strong>on</strong>ably denying the family member the financial<br />

aut<strong>on</strong>omy that he or she would otherwise have had<br />

unre<strong>as</strong><strong>on</strong>ably withholding financial support needed<br />

to meet the re<strong>as</strong><strong>on</strong>able living expenses <strong>of</strong> the family<br />

member, or his or her child, at a time when the family<br />

member is entirely or predominantly dependent <strong>on</strong> the<br />

pers<strong>on</strong> for financial support<br />

preventing the family member from making or keeping<br />

c<strong>on</strong>necti<strong>on</strong>s with his or her family, friends or culture<br />

unlawfully depriving the family member, or any member<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>their</strong> family, <strong>of</strong> his or her liberty.<br />

Inclusi<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> internati<strong>on</strong>al obligati<strong>on</strong>s<br />

A further a<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>d<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t adds the Internati<strong>on</strong>al C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong><br />

the Rights <strong>of</strong> the Child in the objects <strong>and</strong> principles <strong>of</strong> the<br />

Family Law Act 1975. This c<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> includes reference to<br />

a country’s obligati<strong>on</strong> to:<br />

àà<br />

à à<br />

à à<br />

ensure children ‘be provided the opportunity to be<br />

heard in any judicial <strong>and</strong> administrative proceedings<br />

affecting the child, either directly, or through a<br />

representative or an appropriate body’ (Article 12)<br />

‘take all appropriate legislative, administrative, social<br />

<strong>and</strong> educati<strong>on</strong>al me<strong>as</strong>ures to protect the child from<br />

all forms <strong>of</strong> physical or <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>tal <strong>violence</strong>, injury or<br />

ab<strong>use</strong>, neglect or negligent treat<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t, maltreat<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t or<br />

exploitati<strong>on</strong>, including <strong>sexual</strong> ab<strong>use</strong>, while in the care<br />

<strong>of</strong> parent(s), legal guardian(s) or any other pers<strong>on</strong> who<br />

h<strong>as</strong> the care <strong>of</strong> the child’ (Article 19)<br />

‘take all appropriate me<strong>as</strong>ures to promote physical<br />

<strong>and</strong> psychological recovery <strong>and</strong> social reintegrati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />

a child victim <strong>of</strong>: any form <strong>of</strong> neglect, exploitati<strong>on</strong>, or<br />

ab<strong>use</strong>; torture or any other form <strong>of</strong> cruel, inhuman or<br />

degrading treat<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t or punish<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t’ (Article 39).<br />

Repeal <strong>of</strong> the ‘friendly parent’ provisi<strong>on</strong>s<br />

The Bill will repeal the ‘friendly parent’ provisi<strong>on</strong>s (s 60CC<br />

(4)), which many have argued prevented wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> attempting<br />

to protect <strong>their</strong> children from <strong>violence</strong> from raising issues,<br />

for fear <strong>of</strong> being viewed <strong>as</strong> obstructive <strong>of</strong> the relati<strong>on</strong>ship<br />

between children <strong>and</strong> the other (abusive) parent.<br />

Other a<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>d<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>ts<br />

Further a<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>d<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>ts included in the Bill:<br />

à àensure that c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong> is given to interim <strong>and</strong><br />

unc<strong>on</strong>tested state/territory protecti<strong>on</strong> orders, <strong>as</strong> well <strong>as</strong><br />

final orders<br />

5<br />

www.adfvc.unsw.edu.au


6<br />

The Attorney-General announces the introducti<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> the Bill<br />

à à<br />

à à<br />

direct family lawyers <strong>and</strong> counsellors to focus more <strong>on</strong><br />

the effects <strong>of</strong> family <strong>violence</strong> in <strong>their</strong> advice to <strong>their</strong> clients<br />

repeal the specific ‘false allegati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>of</strong> domestic<br />

<strong>violence</strong>’ cost order provisi<strong>on</strong>s (s 117AB).<br />

The Bill does not alter the presumpti<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> shared parental<br />

resp<strong>on</strong>sibility or the linking <strong>of</strong> shared parental resp<strong>on</strong>sibility<br />

with equal, substantial <strong>and</strong> significant time spent with the<br />

other parent. As a result, victims <strong>of</strong> domestic <strong>violence</strong><br />

will still be required to provide what courts (<strong>and</strong> particular<br />

judicial <strong>of</strong>ficers) might c<strong>on</strong>sider sufficient evidence to rebut<br />

this presumpti<strong>on</strong>, if they are seeking limited, supervised or<br />

no c<strong>on</strong>tact between <strong>their</strong> children <strong>and</strong> <strong>their</strong> ab<strong>use</strong>r.<br />

Following its reading in Parlia<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t the Bill w<strong>as</strong> referred<br />

to a Senate Legal <strong>and</strong> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al Affairs Committee.<br />

Organisati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>and</strong> interested parties were invited to make<br />

submissi<strong>on</strong>s to this committee, in additi<strong>on</strong> to those they had<br />

previously made to the Attorney-General in relati<strong>on</strong> to the<br />

draft Bill. Over 190 submissi<strong>on</strong>s to this Committee were<br />

received at closing, including twelve separate submissi<strong>on</strong>s<br />

from <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s lobby groups <strong>and</strong> over sixty c<strong>on</strong>fidential/namewithheld<br />

individual submissi<strong>on</strong>s. This additi<strong>on</strong>al process<br />

ensures that community c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> around these reforms<br />

will be extensive.<br />

With the p<strong>as</strong>sing <strong>of</strong> the Bill in the lower ho<strong>use</strong>, it is likely<br />

that the Senate will debate the Bill in the spring sessi<strong>on</strong>,<br />

following the submissi<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> the report <strong>of</strong> the Senate<br />

Committee’s Inquiry. The final form <strong>of</strong> the Bill may be<br />

subject to further a<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>d<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>ts in the Senate.<br />

Details <strong>of</strong> the Bill, <strong>as</strong> well <strong>as</strong> links to the commissi<strong>on</strong>ed<br />

expert reviews can be viewed at: www.ag.gov.au/www/<br />

agd/agd.nsf/Page/Families_Family<strong>violence</strong><br />

Cross-disciplinary events have been held<br />

in several regi<strong>on</strong>s. A recent highlight w<strong>as</strong><br />

the annual Greater Sydney Family Law<br />

Pathways Network’s educati<strong>on</strong>al workshop<br />

<strong>and</strong> dinner. Sydney family law, child<br />

protecti<strong>on</strong> <strong>and</strong> domestic <strong>violence</strong> service<br />

pr<strong>of</strong>essi<strong>on</strong>als came together in autumn<br />

to hear c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong>s by expert speakers<br />

including Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Hilary Astor (New<br />

South Wales Law Reform Commissi<strong>on</strong>),<br />

Kate Alex<strong>and</strong>er (Statewide Services,<br />

New South Wales Depart<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t <strong>of</strong> Community Services) <strong>and</strong><br />

Her H<strong>on</strong>. Justice Ainslie-Wallace (Family Court <strong>of</strong> Australia).<br />

Speakers <strong>and</strong> participants outlined the failure <strong>of</strong> systems in<br />

protecting children where there h<strong>as</strong> been family <strong>violence</strong>;<br />

the difficulties in retaining, skilling <strong>and</strong> supporting the child<br />

protecti<strong>on</strong> workforce; <strong>and</strong> models <strong>of</strong> good practice overse<strong>as</strong><br />

in Hackney (United Kingdom), Minnesota (United States) <strong>and</strong><br />

Norway.<br />

A recurrent theme in discussi<strong>on</strong>s w<strong>as</strong> the need for better<br />

informati<strong>on</strong> sharing <strong>and</strong> collaborati<strong>on</strong> across sectors<br />

working with children living with family <strong>violence</strong> – a view<br />

str<strong>on</strong>gly supported by the Clearingho<strong>use</strong>. N<strong>on</strong>etheless,<br />

many family law pr<strong>of</strong>essi<strong>on</strong>als c<strong>on</strong>tinued to express support<br />

for practices <strong>of</strong> early ‘triaging’ <strong>of</strong> families, through schemes<br />

which differentiate between types <strong>of</strong> <strong>violence</strong>. ‘Parental<br />

alienati<strong>on</strong>’ theories also maintain some currency in the<br />

family law sector, with some pr<strong>of</strong>essi<strong>on</strong>als believing that this<br />

c<strong>on</strong>cept explains the behaviour <strong>of</strong> children who express that<br />

they do not wish to spend time with a parent.<br />

These cross-disciplinary events dem<strong>on</strong>strate the <strong>on</strong>going<br />

importance <strong>of</strong> discussi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>and</strong> cross-sectoral training<br />

between the family law <strong>and</strong> domestic <strong>violence</strong> sectors. The<br />

Clearingho<strong>use</strong> supports the workers in both sectors who are<br />

moving to engage, find comm<strong>on</strong> ground <strong>and</strong> collaborate in<br />

<strong>their</strong> work with victims <strong>of</strong> domestic <strong>and</strong> family <strong>violence</strong>.<br />

newsletter .45<br />

Collaborative relati<strong>on</strong>ships <strong>and</strong> crossfertilisati<strong>on</strong>:<br />

the family <strong>violence</strong> <strong>and</strong><br />

family law sectors<br />

While legislative reform is essential to ensure the safety<br />

<strong>of</strong> wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>and</strong> children affected by domestic <strong>violence</strong>,<br />

greater collaborati<strong>on</strong> between the family <strong>violence</strong> <strong>and</strong> family<br />

law sectors is also needed to challenge practices which<br />

undermine this safety. During the l<strong>as</strong>t year, several Family<br />

Law Pathways Networks have developed or enhanced<br />

linkages with domestic <strong>and</strong> family <strong>violence</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>essi<strong>on</strong>als in<br />

<strong>their</strong> regi<strong>on</strong>s. Their work, <strong>and</strong> the work <strong>of</strong> many domestic<br />

<strong>violence</strong> services <strong>and</strong> peaks, h<strong>as</strong> paved the way for<br />

incre<strong>as</strong>ed engage<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t across the sectors, with the potential<br />

for enhanced pr<strong>of</strong>essi<strong>on</strong>al underst<strong>and</strong>ing <strong>of</strong> the dynamics<br />

<strong>of</strong> domestic <strong>violence</strong> <strong>and</strong> greater cooperati<strong>on</strong> in working for<br />

wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s <strong>and</strong> children’s safety post-separati<strong>on</strong>.<br />

Workshop attendees (from left to right): Sue Davies <strong>and</strong><br />

Beverley Dobie (YWCA Nowra); Claire Martin <strong>and</strong> Rosanna<br />

Court (Newport Law); <strong>and</strong> Nicky Miller (Family Services<br />

Illawarra)<br />

Campaigns for safety in family law<br />

Several campaigns for a safety-foc<strong>use</strong>d family law system<br />

have emerged or gained mo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>tum in t<strong>and</strong>em with the<br />

legal <strong>and</strong> cross-agency develop<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>ts noted above. The<br />

Rally for Children’s Safety, held in Canberra, <strong>and</strong> the<br />

Wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s Legal Services Australia web campaign are<br />

highlights <strong>of</strong> this impetus for change within the various<br />

pr<strong>of</strong>essi<strong>on</strong>s working with wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>and</strong> children affected by<br />

family <strong>and</strong> domestic <strong>violence</strong>.


Rally for Children’s Safety<br />

On 25 May 2011, hundreds <strong>of</strong> supporters turned out for the<br />

Rally for Children’s Safety to improve the family law system.<br />

The date coincided with the introducti<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> debate <strong>on</strong> the<br />

govern<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t’s a<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>d<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t Bill. The rally w<strong>as</strong> organised<br />

by the Alliance for Children’s Safety, an initiative <strong>of</strong> four<br />

organisati<strong>on</strong>s (NSW Wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s Refuge Move<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t, the<br />

Benevolent Society, Justice for Children <strong>and</strong> the Nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />

Council for Children Post-Separati<strong>on</strong>) who are campaigning<br />

to better protect children <strong>and</strong> primary carers from <strong>on</strong>going<br />

<strong>violence</strong>, post-separati<strong>on</strong>. The Alliance for Children’s Safety<br />

calls for a Family Law Act that:<br />

à àputs children’s safety first<br />

à à<strong>as</strong>sesses children’s safety <strong>on</strong> a c<strong>as</strong>e-by-c<strong>as</strong>e b<strong>as</strong>is<br />

à àprotects the safety <strong>of</strong> primary carers, to make children<br />

safer.<br />

The rally heard presentati<strong>on</strong>s by family <strong>violence</strong> survivors,<br />

including those who had experienced outcomes from<br />

family court processes that incre<strong>as</strong>ed <strong>their</strong> risk <strong>of</strong> harm <strong>and</strong><br />

undermined <strong>their</strong> children’s safety <strong>and</strong> wellbeing. Helen<br />

Cummings, the author <strong>of</strong> Blood vows (2011), reported how<br />

dangerous the changes to family law since 2006 would<br />

have been for her family, given her ex-partner’s subsequent<br />

murder <strong>of</strong> his next family.<br />

Other speakers included University <strong>of</strong> Sydney researcher Dr<br />

Lesley Laing <strong>and</strong> Richard Spencer, CEO <strong>of</strong> the Benevolent<br />

Society, who stressed that the most important c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong><br />

<strong>of</strong> family law should be the protecti<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> children, especially<br />

if there are allegati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>of</strong> <strong>violence</strong> or ab<strong>use</strong>. Spencer noted<br />

the staggering fact that in 70-80% <strong>of</strong> c<strong>as</strong>es where domestic<br />

<strong>violence</strong> or ab<strong>use</strong> w<strong>as</strong> alleged by <strong>on</strong>e partner, shared care<br />

w<strong>as</strong> still the outcome, according to the Australian Institute <strong>of</strong><br />

Family Studies’ evaluati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> the 2006 family law reforms.<br />

The alliance invites organisati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>and</strong> individuals to read more<br />

about <strong>and</strong> endorse its campaign, through its web site at:<br />

www.safetyforchildrenalliance.org<br />

Put Safety First in Family Law<br />

Put Safety First in Family Law is Wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s Legal Services<br />

Australia’s campaign calling for the Australian Comm<strong>on</strong>wealth<br />

Govern<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t to reform family law to make sure it works to<br />

keep wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>and</strong> children safe. The campaign is endorsed<br />

by the Nati<strong>on</strong>al Associati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> Community Legal Centres. The<br />

campaign includes a web site equipped with e<strong>as</strong>y-to-access<br />

informati<strong>on</strong>, links, campaign resources <strong>and</strong> background<br />

material to support community acti<strong>on</strong> for the changes<br />

necessary to ensure safety for victims <strong>of</strong> domestic <strong>violence</strong>,<br />

post-separati<strong>on</strong>. It can be accessed at:<br />

safetyinfamilylaw.com<br />

Other develop<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>ts<br />

Other develop<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>ts <strong>as</strong>sisting to promote safe outcomes<br />

following family law system engage<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t include:<br />

à àthe Comm<strong>on</strong>wealth Govern<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t’s pilot <strong>of</strong> Coordinated<br />

Family Dispute Resoluti<strong>on</strong>, which allows family<br />

members who are experiencing family <strong>violence</strong> (or<br />

have experienced it in the p<strong>as</strong>t) to access a safe family<br />

dispute resoluti<strong>on</strong> process. The pilot, developed<br />

by Wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s Legal Service Queensl<strong>and</strong>, brings<br />

together family dispute resoluti<strong>on</strong> practiti<strong>on</strong>ers, legal<br />

practiti<strong>on</strong>ers, domestic <strong>violence</strong> services <strong>and</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s<br />

support services to <strong>as</strong>sist separating parents to make<br />

parenting arrange<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>ts<br />

à àthe rele<strong>as</strong>e <strong>of</strong> the AVERT multidisciplinary training<br />

package (see the Review in this Newsletter)<br />

à àthe Comm<strong>on</strong>wealth Govern<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t’s recent calls to tender<br />

for the develop<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t <strong>of</strong> a comm<strong>on</strong> risk <strong>as</strong>sess<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t<br />

framework in family law.<br />

C<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong><br />

The develop<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>ts noted in this update show the<br />

commit<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t <strong>of</strong> a wide range <strong>of</strong> services <strong>and</strong> individuals to<br />

promoting the safety <strong>of</strong> wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>and</strong> children, in view <strong>of</strong> the<br />

evidence b<strong>as</strong>e that highlights the detri<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>tal impact <strong>on</strong><br />

domestic <strong>violence</strong> victims <strong>of</strong> changes to family law made<br />

in the l<strong>as</strong>t decade. It is hoped that policy <strong>and</strong> law reform<br />

in this area will address the issues which undermine other<br />

efforts across Australia to reduce <strong>and</strong> prevent domestic <strong>and</strong><br />

family <strong>violence</strong>.<br />

Acknowledge<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>ts<br />

Thanks to Carolin Wenzel (the Benevolent Society) for<br />

providing informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>and</strong> photographs <strong>of</strong> the rally <strong>and</strong> to<br />

Edwina MacD<strong>on</strong>ald (Wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s Legal Services NSW) for<br />

updates <strong>on</strong> the parlia<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>tary process.<br />

REFERENCES<br />

Wilcox K 2010, ‘C<strong>on</strong>necting systems, protecting victims:<br />

towards vertical coordinati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> Australia’s resp<strong>on</strong>se to<br />

domestic <strong>and</strong> family <strong>violence</strong>’, University <strong>of</strong> New South<br />

Wales Law Journal, vol. 33, no. 3, pp. 1013-1037<br />

7<br />

Family law: a Clearingho<strong>use</strong> priority<br />

The impact <strong>of</strong> family law <strong>on</strong> domestic <strong>violence</strong> resp<strong>on</strong>ses is <strong>on</strong>e <strong>of</strong> the priority c<strong>on</strong>cerns <strong>of</strong> the Clearingho<strong>use</strong>. In<br />

2010, we made submissi<strong>on</strong>s to the Australian <strong>and</strong> New South Wales Law Reform Commissi<strong>on</strong>s’ Family Violence<br />

Inquiry, <strong>as</strong> well <strong>as</strong> to the Attorney-General <strong>on</strong> the c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> draft <strong>of</strong> the Family Law A<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>d<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t (Family Violence)<br />

Bill 2010. Staff have also been involved in the develop<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t <strong>of</strong> training modules <strong>and</strong> program develop<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t.<br />

We have enhanced our networks with family law sector pr<strong>of</strong>essi<strong>on</strong>als <strong>and</strong> explored pointers to good practice in<br />

this field. Newsletter articles <strong>and</strong> our <strong>on</strong>line research <strong>and</strong> resources <strong>and</strong> good practice datab<strong>as</strong>es include more<br />

resources <strong>on</strong> family <strong>violence</strong> for family court practiti<strong>on</strong>ers.<br />

www.adfvc.unsw.edu.au


feature<br />

WORKING WITH THE MEDIA: A NEW TOOL BY VICKI LEE THOMAS, SENIOR RESEARCH<br />

AND PROJECT WORKER, PACT COMMUNITY SUPPORT, AND CO-AUTHOR<br />

8<br />

newsletter .45<br />

On 10 June, the Victorian Minister<br />

for Wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s Affairs, the H<strong>on</strong>. Mary<br />

Wooldridge MP, <strong>and</strong> Sally Nicholes, <strong>of</strong><br />

Nicholes Family Lawyers, announced<br />

the recipients <strong>of</strong> the Victorian<br />

Eliminating Violence Against Wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

(EVA) Media Awards. Recipients<br />

were c<strong>on</strong>gratulated for presenting<br />

<strong>their</strong> stories ‘in a re<strong>as</strong><strong>on</strong>able,<br />

n<strong>on</strong>-sensati<strong>on</strong>al manner’ <strong>and</strong> for<br />

playing ‘a pivotal role in challenging<br />

<strong>and</strong> changing attitudes towards<br />

<strong>violence</strong> against wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>’. The goal<br />

<strong>of</strong> the recently updated Family<br />

<strong>violence</strong> in the news: a media toolkit<br />

is to promote high st<strong>and</strong>ards <strong>of</strong><br />

reporting about family <strong>violence</strong> by all<br />

journalists.<br />

The toolkit w<strong>as</strong> originally published<br />

in 2005, with the aim <strong>of</strong> promoting<br />

a better underst<strong>and</strong>ing <strong>of</strong> family<br />

<strong>violence</strong> in the community through<br />

accurate <strong>and</strong> informed coverage<br />

in the media. In the six years since<br />

the toolkit w<strong>as</strong> published, there<br />

have been changes to Victorian<br />

legislati<strong>on</strong> <strong>and</strong> the Police Code<br />

<strong>of</strong> Practice for the Investigati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />

Family Violence, publicati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> new<br />

research <strong>and</strong> updated statistics, <strong>and</strong><br />

further strategic approaches to family<br />

<strong>violence</strong> developed at both state <strong>and</strong><br />

Comm<strong>on</strong>wealth levels. The sec<strong>on</strong>d<br />

editi<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> the toolkit reflects this new<br />

material.<br />

Although the toolkit w<strong>as</strong> developed <strong>as</strong><br />

a resource for journalists, it is a more<br />

<strong>power</strong>ful instru<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t when linked to<br />

a broader strategic framework that<br />

supports the family <strong>violence</strong> sector<br />

to work effectively with media. In<br />

Victoria, a framework w<strong>as</strong> developed<br />

<strong>as</strong> <strong>on</strong>e comp<strong>on</strong>ent <strong>of</strong> the broader<br />

suite <strong>of</strong> projects falling under the<br />

banner <strong>of</strong> Family <strong>violence</strong> in the news.<br />

Funded by the Helen Macphers<strong>on</strong><br />

Smith Trust, the partnership project<br />

between Child <strong>and</strong> Family Services<br />

Ballarat Inc. <strong>and</strong> Pact Community<br />

Support w<strong>as</strong> undertaken in 2006-<br />

07. Project leaders Kate Owen <strong>and</strong><br />

Vicki Lee Thom<strong>as</strong> c<strong>on</strong>sulted with <strong>and</strong><br />

were <strong>as</strong>sisted by specialist family<br />

<strong>and</strong> domestic <strong>violence</strong> services <strong>and</strong><br />

peak bodies, member organisati<strong>on</strong>s<br />

<strong>of</strong> the Statewide Steering Committee<br />

to Reduce Family Violence <strong>and</strong> media<br />

pr<strong>of</strong>essi<strong>on</strong>als in Victoria.<br />

The framework w<strong>as</strong> completed in<br />

April 2007 <strong>and</strong> endorsed by Domestic<br />

Violence Victoria, Domestic Violence<br />

<strong>and</strong> Incest Resource Centre (now<br />

the Domestic Violence Resource<br />

Centre Victoria) <strong>and</strong> No To Violence<br />

– Victoria’s peak bodies for the<br />

family <strong>violence</strong> sector. The four<br />

main strategic are<strong>as</strong> defined in the<br />

framework are:<br />

à àbuilding capacity<br />

à àfamily <strong>violence</strong> sector to work<br />

directly with media<br />

à à<br />

events<br />

à àresearch reporting <strong>of</strong> family<br />

<strong>violence</strong>.<br />

The toolkit comple<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>ts the<br />

framework in a number <strong>of</strong> ways.<br />

It promotes capacity building by<br />

providing a resource to support<br />

both media reporting about<br />

family <strong>violence</strong>, <strong>and</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>essi<strong>on</strong>al<br />

develop<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t <strong>and</strong> educati<strong>on</strong>al<br />

activities in the family <strong>violence</strong>,<br />

media <strong>and</strong> university sectors. It<br />

<strong>as</strong>sists the family <strong>violence</strong> sector<br />

with <strong>their</strong> direct work with media; for<br />

example, in supporting wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> who<br />

have experienced family <strong>violence</strong><br />

to tell <strong>their</strong> stories. In additi<strong>on</strong>, the<br />

toolkit helps family <strong>violence</strong> sector<br />

stakeholders to better focus <strong>their</strong><br />

events with a view to attracting<br />

media coverage. Finally, the toolkit<br />

is an e<strong>as</strong>ily accessible source <strong>of</strong><br />

informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> statistics <strong>and</strong> current<br />

literature <strong>on</strong> family <strong>violence</strong>.<br />

Following the publicati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> the<br />

original toolkit in 2005, a series <strong>of</strong><br />

workshops were c<strong>on</strong>ducted with<br />

newspaper outlets <strong>and</strong> Victoria Police<br />

Family Violence Advisors. The Media<br />

Entertain<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t <strong>and</strong> Arts Alliance<br />

<strong>and</strong> Dart Center for Journalism<br />

<strong>and</strong> Trauma were introduced to the<br />

resource <strong>and</strong> were interested in its<br />

potential <strong>as</strong> both a reference tool <strong>and</strong><br />

training resource.<br />

Despite the original toolkit being<br />

well regarded by both media <strong>and</strong><br />

family <strong>violence</strong> sector stakeholders,<br />

its full potential w<strong>as</strong> not realised.<br />

The lack <strong>of</strong> funding for updates,<br />

communicati<strong>on</strong> <strong>and</strong> promoti<strong>on</strong>,<br />

<strong>and</strong> facilitati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> training events<br />

dampened mo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>tum.<br />

Hopefully, that will change. The<br />

Victorian Office <strong>of</strong> Wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s Policy<br />

funding for the sec<strong>on</strong>d editi<strong>on</strong> update<br />

h<strong>as</strong> come about in the c<strong>on</strong>text <strong>of</strong><br />

imple<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>ting two govern<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t<br />

frameworks – A Right to Safety <strong>and</strong><br />

Justice: Strategic Framework to<br />

Guide C<strong>on</strong>tinuing Family Violence<br />

Reform in Victoria 2010-2020 <strong>and</strong><br />

A Right to Respect: Victoria’s Plan<br />

to Prevent Violence Against Wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

2010-2020 – <strong>as</strong> well <strong>as</strong> in preparing<br />

for the EVA Media Awards. These<br />

new develop<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>ts suggest that<br />

the links between preventi<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>and</strong><br />

resp<strong>on</strong>ses to family <strong>violence</strong> <strong>and</strong><br />

effective relati<strong>on</strong>ships with media are<br />

now better understood <strong>and</strong> valued.<br />

The sec<strong>on</strong>d editi<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> Family<br />

<strong>violence</strong> in the news: a media<br />

toolkit w<strong>as</strong> launched at the EVA<br />

Media Awards cerem<strong>on</strong>y. It<br />

is available <strong>as</strong> an electr<strong>on</strong>ic<br />

publicati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong>ly <strong>and</strong> will be<br />

accessible <strong>on</strong> the Clearingho<strong>use</strong><br />

web site, <strong>as</strong> well <strong>as</strong> <strong>on</strong> the<br />

web sites <strong>of</strong> Child <strong>and</strong> Family<br />

Services, Ballarat (www.cafs.<br />

org.au), Pact Community<br />

Support (www.pactcs.org.au)<br />

<strong>and</strong> Grampians Integrated Family<br />

Violence Committee (www.<br />

grampiansfamily<strong>violence</strong>.<br />

com.au).<br />

For further informati<strong>on</strong>, c<strong>on</strong>tact<br />

Vicki Lee Thom<strong>as</strong> at vlt@pactcs.<br />

org.au or <strong>on</strong> (03) 5309 1900.


f<strong>as</strong>t facts<br />

THE FINANCIAL COST OF DOMESTIC AND FAMILY VIOLENCE BY ROSA CAMPBELL,<br />

CLEARINGHOUSE RESEARCH ASSISTANT<br />

Domestic <strong>and</strong> family <strong>violence</strong> can have a grave financial impact <strong>on</strong> victims <strong>and</strong> society generally. The two<br />

Australian reports most <strong>of</strong>ten cited in regards to these financial costs are: The cost <strong>of</strong> domestic <strong>violence</strong> to the<br />

Australian ec<strong>on</strong>omy: parts 1 & 2, by Access Ec<strong>on</strong>omics (2004), <strong>and</strong> The cost <strong>of</strong> <strong>violence</strong> against wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>and</strong> <strong>their</strong><br />

children, by the Nati<strong>on</strong>al Council to Reduce Violence Against Wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>and</strong> <strong>their</strong> Children (2009). Key statistics<br />

from these <strong>and</strong> other reports are cited below.<br />

Cost to Australia<br />

Domestic <strong>and</strong> family <strong>violence</strong> imposes<br />

a huge financial cost <strong>on</strong> the Australian<br />

ec<strong>on</strong>omy:<br />

à àAccess Ec<strong>on</strong>omics (2004, p. vii)<br />

estimated that domestic <strong>violence</strong><br />

cost Australia $8.1 billi<strong>on</strong> in 2002-<br />

03.<br />

à àThe Nati<strong>on</strong>al Council to Reduce<br />

Violence Against Wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>and</strong> <strong>their</strong><br />

Children (2009, p. 66) h<strong>as</strong> more<br />

recently projected that domestic<br />

<strong>violence</strong> will cost Australia $9.9<br />

billi<strong>on</strong> in the year 2021-22, if<br />

appropriate acti<strong>on</strong> is not taken.<br />

Cost to victims<br />

Victims themselves bear a large<br />

proporti<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> the costs <strong>of</strong> ab<strong>use</strong>:<br />

à àAccess Ec<strong>on</strong>omics (2004, p. vii)<br />

c<strong>on</strong>cluded that victims bear the<br />

largest cost burden <strong>of</strong> domestic<br />

<strong>violence</strong>, estimated at $4.05<br />

billi<strong>on</strong> out <strong>of</strong> a total $8.1 billi<strong>on</strong> in<br />

2002-03.<br />

à àThe Nati<strong>on</strong>al Council to Reduce<br />

Violence Against Wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>and</strong> <strong>their</strong><br />

Children (2009, p. 8) found that<br />

victims bear over half the costs <strong>of</strong><br />

domestic <strong>violence</strong>. It projected<br />

the costs to victims to rise to $8.1<br />

billi<strong>on</strong> in 2021-22.<br />

ààThe costs to victims include<br />

homelessness (Australian Institute<br />

<strong>of</strong> Health <strong>and</strong> Welfare 2007), loss<br />

<strong>of</strong> income due to unemploy<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t<br />

(Braaf & Barrett Meyering 2011;<br />

Moe & Bell 2004) <strong>and</strong> healthrelated<br />

expenses (Fishman et al.<br />

2010; VicHealth 2004).<br />

Cost to Australian<br />

business<br />

Domestic <strong>and</strong> family <strong>violence</strong> also<br />

creates costs for Australian business:<br />

à àAccess Ec<strong>on</strong>omics (2004, p.<br />

43) estimated that in 2002-03,<br />

domestic <strong>violence</strong> cost Australian<br />

businesses $175.2 milli<strong>on</strong>.<br />

à àThe Nati<strong>on</strong>al Council to Reduce<br />

Violence Against Wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>and</strong> <strong>their</strong><br />

Children (2009, p. 8) estimated<br />

that if appropriate acti<strong>on</strong> is not<br />

taken, domestic <strong>violence</strong> will cost<br />

Australian employers $456 milli<strong>on</strong><br />

in 2021-22.<br />

REFERENCES<br />

Access Ec<strong>on</strong>omics 2004, The cost <strong>of</strong><br />

domestic <strong>violence</strong> to the Australian<br />

ec<strong>on</strong>omy: part I, Office <strong>of</strong> the Status <strong>of</strong><br />

Wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>, Canberra<br />

Australian Institute <strong>of</strong> Health <strong>and</strong><br />

Welfare 2007, Homeless people in<br />

SAAP: SAAP Nati<strong>on</strong>al Data Collecti<strong>on</strong><br />

annual report 2005-06 Australia, cat.<br />

no. HOU 156, AIHW, Canberra<br />

Braaf R & Barrett Meyering I 2011,<br />

Seeking security: promoting wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s<br />

ec<strong>on</strong>omic wellbeing following<br />

domestic <strong>violence</strong>, Australian<br />

Domestic <strong>and</strong> Family Violence<br />

Clearingho<strong>use</strong>, Sydney<br />

Cadilhac DA, Magnus A, Cumming<br />

T, Sheppard L, Pearce D & Carter<br />

R 2009, The health <strong>and</strong> ec<strong>on</strong>omic<br />

benefits <strong>of</strong> reducing dise<strong>as</strong>e risk<br />

factors, VicHealth, Melbourne.<br />

Fishman PA, B<strong>on</strong>omi AE, Anders<strong>on</strong><br />

ML, Reid RJ & Rivara FP 2010,<br />

‘Changes in health care costs over<br />

Costs <strong>and</strong> benefits <strong>of</strong><br />

preventi<strong>on</strong><br />

The preventi<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> domestic <strong>and</strong> family<br />

<strong>violence</strong> is <strong>of</strong> enormous social <strong>and</strong><br />

ec<strong>on</strong>omic benefit to all Australians:<br />

à àThe Nati<strong>on</strong>al Council to Reduce<br />

Violence Against Wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>and</strong> <strong>their</strong><br />

Children (2009, p. 4) c<strong>on</strong>cluded<br />

that reducing all forms <strong>of</strong> <strong>violence</strong><br />

against wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> by 10% by 2021-<br />

22 could amount to $1.6 billi<strong>on</strong> in<br />

savings.<br />

ààAccording to VicHealth, eliminating<br />

intimate partner <strong>violence</strong> would<br />

save the health sector $207 milli<strong>on</strong><br />

dollars per year <strong>and</strong> save $1.8<br />

billi<strong>on</strong> in producti<strong>on</strong> <strong>and</strong> leisure<br />

costs annually (Cadilhac et al.<br />

2009, p. 64).<br />

time following the cessati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />

intimate partner <strong>violence</strong>’, Journal<br />

<strong>of</strong> General Internal Medicine, vol.<br />

25, n. 9, pp. 920-925<br />

Moe A & Bell M 2004, ‘Abject<br />

ec<strong>on</strong>omics: the effects <strong>of</strong> battering<br />

<strong>and</strong> <strong>violence</strong> <strong>on</strong> wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s work <strong>and</strong><br />

employability’, Violence Against<br />

Wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 29-55<br />

Nati<strong>on</strong>al Council to Reduce<br />

Violence Against Wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>and</strong><br />

<strong>their</strong> Children 2009, The cost <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>violence</strong> against wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>and</strong> <strong>their</strong><br />

children, Depart<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t <strong>of</strong> Families,<br />

Housing, Community Services <strong>and</strong><br />

Indigenous Affairs, Canberra<br />

Victorian Health Promoti<strong>on</strong><br />

Foundati<strong>on</strong> 2004, The health costs<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>violence</strong>: me<strong>as</strong>uring the burden<br />

<strong>of</strong> dise<strong>as</strong>e ca<strong>use</strong>d by intimate<br />

partner <strong>violence</strong>: a summary <strong>of</strong><br />

findings, VicHealth, Melbourne.<br />

9<br />

www.adfvc.unsw.edu.au


new research<br />

10<br />

newsletter .45<br />

PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR<br />

RESEARCH<br />

Wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>and</strong> housing affordability survey<br />

The Institute for Social Research at Swinburne University<br />

<strong>of</strong> Technology, in c<strong>on</strong>juncti<strong>on</strong> with the Salvati<strong>on</strong> Army, is<br />

c<strong>on</strong>ducting a survey <strong>of</strong> single wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>, aged 40 <strong>and</strong> over<br />

(with or without children) who do not expect to own <strong>their</strong><br />

home outright before they retire. The data obtained from<br />

the survey will <strong>as</strong>sist in developing a housing model to fit<br />

the needs <strong>of</strong> wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> in these circumstances. The survey<br />

closes at 10pm <strong>on</strong> Sunday, 14 August 2011.<br />

The survey can be completed <strong>on</strong>line at opinio.<strong>on</strong>line.<br />

swin.edu.au/ss=10098 or c<strong>on</strong>tact Andrea Sharam <strong>on</strong><br />

(03) 9214 5465 or at <strong>as</strong>haram@swin.edu.au to request a<br />

paper copy.<br />

Me<strong>as</strong>uring crime victims’ paths to justice<br />

Dr Rita Shackel from the University <strong>of</strong> Sydney Law School<br />

is working collaboratively with Tilburg University <strong>and</strong><br />

the Internati<strong>on</strong>al Institute <strong>of</strong> Victimology (INTERVICT) in<br />

the Netherl<strong>and</strong>s <strong>on</strong> a study titled ‘Me<strong>as</strong>uring access to<br />

justice’ (MA2J). This research aims to test the validity <strong>of</strong> a<br />

me<strong>as</strong>uring tool (survey) specifically developed to <strong>as</strong>sess<br />

victims’ experiences with the criminal justice process in a<br />

comprehensive <strong>and</strong> systematic way.<br />

If you are interested in completing the MA2J survey,<br />

distributing it to clients or want to find out more about the<br />

study ple<strong>as</strong>e either:<br />

à à<br />

à à<br />

à à<br />

go to a2j.uvt.nl/index.<br />

phpsid=91726%E3%80%88=en <strong>and</strong> complete <strong>and</strong><br />

directly submit the survey <strong>on</strong>line<br />

go to sydney.edu.au/law/subjects/survey/shackel_<br />

survey.pdf <strong>and</strong> complete the survey <strong>on</strong>line <strong>and</strong> email<br />

or print a hardcopy to send back to the researchers<br />

c<strong>on</strong>tact Dr Rita Shackel at rita.shackel@sydney.<br />

edu.au or <strong>on</strong> (02) 9351 0368 or Noleen Grogan at<br />

nkgrogan@iinet.net.au<br />

If you work with wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> affected by domestic <strong>violence</strong>,<br />

ple<strong>as</strong>e c<strong>on</strong>sider posting this notice in your work area or<br />

directing clients to this survey.<br />

D<strong>on</strong>’t forget our web site!<br />

You can view the latest news from the sector <strong>on</strong> our<br />

What’s New page, download Clearingho<strong>use</strong> papers<br />

from the Publicati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>and</strong> Submissi<strong>on</strong>s page, look for<br />

upcoming forums <strong>on</strong> the C<strong>on</strong>ferences <strong>and</strong> Events<br />

page, <strong>and</strong> search our datab<strong>as</strong>es for research <strong>and</strong><br />

good practice.<br />

www.adfvc.unsw.edu.au<br />

RECENTLY PUBLISHED RESEARCH<br />

AIFS rele<strong>as</strong>es new research reports from its<br />

evaluati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> the 2006 family law reforms<br />

Two new reports from the Families project comp<strong>on</strong>ent <strong>of</strong><br />

the Australian Institute <strong>of</strong> Family Studies’ evaluati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> the<br />

2006 family law reforms are now available:<br />

à à<br />

à à<br />

Parenting dynamics after separati<strong>on</strong> – a follow-up study<br />

<strong>of</strong> parents who separated after the 2006 family law<br />

reforms<br />

Views <strong>of</strong> adolescents in separated families – a study <strong>of</strong><br />

adolescents’ experiences after the 2006 reforms to the<br />

family law system.<br />

The evaluati<strong>on</strong> w<strong>as</strong><br />

commissi<strong>on</strong>ed in 2006 by<br />

the Comm<strong>on</strong>wealth Attorney-<br />

General’s Depart<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t <strong>and</strong><br />

the Depart<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t <strong>of</strong> Families,<br />

Housing, Community<br />

Services <strong>and</strong> Indigenous<br />

Affairs.<br />

The reports examine the<br />

behaviour <strong>and</strong> experiences<br />

<strong>of</strong> parents <strong>and</strong> adolescents<br />

from families that have separated since the 2006 family<br />

law reforms. They highlight that inter-parental c<strong>on</strong>flict,<br />

fear, ab<strong>use</strong> <strong>and</strong> safety c<strong>on</strong>cerns remain prevalent for a<br />

significant number <strong>of</strong> parents following separati<strong>on</strong>.<br />

The reports are b<strong>as</strong>ed <strong>on</strong> AIFS’ L<strong>on</strong>gitudinal Study <strong>of</strong><br />

Separated Families, which tracked the experiences <strong>of</strong><br />

over 7000 separated parents. One in five parents in<br />

the study reported that they had safety c<strong>on</strong>cerns for<br />

themselves or <strong>their</strong> child <strong>as</strong><br />

a result <strong>of</strong> <strong>on</strong>going c<strong>on</strong>tact<br />

with the other parent. Most<br />

parents who reported recent<br />

Views <strong>of</strong> adolescents in<br />

separated families<br />

experiences <strong>of</strong> being harmed<br />

A study <strong>of</strong> adolescents’ experiences after<br />

the 2006 reforms to the family law system<br />

physically indicated that<br />

Jodie Lodge <strong>and</strong> Michael Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />

December 2010<br />

<strong>their</strong> children had witnessed<br />

<strong>violence</strong> or ab<strong>use</strong>.<br />

The Comm<strong>on</strong>wealth Attorney-<br />

General’s media rele<strong>as</strong>e <strong>on</strong><br />

the reports is available <strong>on</strong>line<br />

at:<br />

www.attorneygeneral.gov.au/www/ministers/<br />

mcclell<strong>and</strong>.nsf/page/MediaRele<strong>as</strong>es_2011_<br />

Sec<strong>on</strong>dQuarter_25May2011-Newresearchhighlightsnee<br />

dtoaddressfamily<strong>violence</strong><br />

The reports can be downloaded at:<br />

Parenting dynamics after separati<strong>on</strong><br />

A follow-up study <strong>of</strong> parents who separated after<br />

the 2006 family law reforms<br />

Lixia Qu & Ruth West<strong>on</strong><br />

December 2010<br />

www.ag.gov.au/www/agd/agd.nsf/Page/Families_<br />

FamilyRelati<strong>on</strong>shipServicesOverview<strong>of</strong>Programs_<br />

Evaluati<strong>on</strong><strong>of</strong>the2006FamilyLawReforms


Bsafe program evaluati<strong>on</strong>, Victoria<br />

Bsafe is a pers<strong>on</strong>al alarm system for high-risk wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>and</strong><br />

children escaping family <strong>violence</strong> <strong>and</strong>/or <strong>sexual</strong> <strong>as</strong>sault<br />

who want to remain in <strong>their</strong> home. When activated, it alerts<br />

a twenty-four-hour Vital Call resp<strong>on</strong>se centre <strong>and</strong> police are<br />

c<strong>on</strong>tacted. Trialled in the Hume Regi<strong>on</strong> in Victoria for the<br />

p<strong>as</strong>t three years, the final report <strong>on</strong> the program indicated<br />

that it h<strong>as</strong> been successful in reducing physical <strong>as</strong>saults<br />

<strong>and</strong> interventi<strong>on</strong> order breaches. Although the program<br />

received an Australian Crime <strong>and</strong> Violence Preventi<strong>on</strong><br />

Award in 2010, funding for the program h<strong>as</strong> not yet been<br />

renewed.<br />

Since its imple<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>tati<strong>on</strong>, seventy-two wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>and</strong> 143<br />

accompanying children have participated in the Bsafe<br />

program. The wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> ranged in age from late teens to<br />

early seventies. All but three wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> in the program were<br />

escaping <strong>violence</strong> by an intimate partner.<br />

It w<strong>as</strong> initially expected that wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> would access Bsafe<br />

for three to six m<strong>on</strong>ths, during the immediate postseparati<strong>on</strong><br />

period. However, many wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> in the program<br />

<strong>use</strong>d Bsafe for a much l<strong>on</strong>ger period, in some c<strong>as</strong>es for the<br />

entire three years. The report emph<strong>as</strong>ised the importance<br />

<strong>of</strong> meeting wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s l<strong>on</strong>g-term support needs, especially<br />

where they are involved in extended family law or criminal<br />

proceedings.<br />

Importantly, wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> who accessed the program were<br />

c<strong>on</strong>sidered to be at high risk <strong>of</strong> <strong>violence</strong>. According to the<br />

report, <strong>of</strong> the seventy-two wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> who <strong>use</strong>d Bsafe:<br />

à à<br />

à à<br />

à à<br />

à à<br />

à à<br />

à à<br />

à à<br />

à à<br />

à à<br />

84% had been stalked post-separati<strong>on</strong><br />

81% had received death threats<br />

over three-quarters had experienced strangulati<strong>on</strong><br />

over two-thirds said the perpetrator had threatened or<br />

attempted suicide<br />

two-thirds said the perpetrator had access to weap<strong>on</strong>s<br />

57% said the perpetrator had harmed or threatened to<br />

harm or kill <strong>their</strong> children<br />

43% had been <strong>sexual</strong>ly <strong>as</strong>saulted<br />

40% said the perpetrator had harmed or threatened to<br />

harm or kill pets<br />

a quarter were pregnant or had recently given birth.<br />

The results <strong>of</strong> the program evaluati<strong>on</strong> indicated that Bsafe<br />

w<strong>as</strong> effective in improving the safety <strong>of</strong> wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>and</strong> <strong>their</strong><br />

children. One comp<strong>on</strong>ent <strong>of</strong> the evaluati<strong>on</strong> w<strong>as</strong> a series<br />

<strong>of</strong> voluntary questi<strong>on</strong>naires completed by wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> three<br />

m<strong>on</strong>ths <strong>and</strong> six m<strong>on</strong>ths after first accessing the program<br />

<strong>and</strong> again <strong>on</strong> exiting the program. Of the thirty-six wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

who completed questi<strong>on</strong>naires:<br />

à à<br />

à à<br />

à à<br />

à à<br />

twenty-seven wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> reported a decre<strong>as</strong>e in<br />

interventi<strong>on</strong> order breaches, <strong>of</strong> whom sixteen reported<br />

breaches had ce<strong>as</strong>ed completely<br />

68% had been able to stay in <strong>their</strong> own home <strong>and</strong> a<br />

further 20% had relocated but remained in the same<br />

community; however, 5% remained homeless<br />

50% said Bsafe had <strong>as</strong>sisted them to maintain <strong>their</strong><br />

c<strong>on</strong>necti<strong>on</strong>s with family, friends <strong>and</strong> social support<br />

networks <strong>and</strong> a further 18% said it had allowed them to<br />

incre<strong>as</strong>e <strong>their</strong> c<strong>on</strong>necti<strong>on</strong>s<br />

19% felt ‘very safe’ <strong>and</strong> 39% felt ‘safe’ <strong>as</strong> a result <strong>of</strong><br />

using Bsafe.<br />

The final report also dem<strong>on</strong>strated that Bsafe is a<br />

cost effective opti<strong>on</strong>. For a woman with three children<br />

accessing specialist housing support in the Hume<br />

regi<strong>on</strong>, the report estimated that the costs <strong>as</strong>sociated<br />

with accessing refuge or crisis accommodati<strong>on</strong> <strong>and</strong> then<br />

returning to <strong>their</strong> home with the support <strong>of</strong> Bsafe w<strong>as</strong><br />

$3755.12. By comparis<strong>on</strong>, the costs <strong>as</strong>sociated with<br />

accessing crisis accommodati<strong>on</strong>, a refuge, transiti<strong>on</strong>al<br />

housing <strong>and</strong> then exiting into private rental w<strong>as</strong> estimated<br />

at $10 195.90 (not including the cost <strong>of</strong> replacing<br />

bel<strong>on</strong>gings <strong>and</strong> ho<strong>use</strong>hold goods, storage, lost income<br />

from work <strong>and</strong> failure to make debt repay<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>ts).<br />

The report is available <strong>on</strong>line at:<br />

www.whealth.com.au/work_bsafe.html#bsafe_final<br />

For further informati<strong>on</strong>: c<strong>on</strong>tact Rachael MacKay from<br />

the Wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s Health Goulburn North E<strong>as</strong>t at<br />

r.mackay@whealth.com.au or <strong>on</strong> (03) 5722 3009.<br />

LOOKING FOR A RESEARCHER<br />

Find Australian researchers working in the field <strong>of</strong><br />

domestic <strong>and</strong> family <strong>violence</strong> <strong>on</strong> the Clearingho<strong>use</strong><br />

Researchers Datab<strong>as</strong>e. You can search for<br />

researchers by name, <strong>their</strong> research area, instituti<strong>on</strong><br />

or by keywords.<br />

In the coming m<strong>on</strong>ths, the Clearingho<strong>use</strong> will<br />

be c<strong>on</strong>tacting researchers already listed <strong>on</strong> the<br />

datab<strong>as</strong>e, <strong>as</strong>king them to update <strong>their</strong> c<strong>on</strong>tact <strong>and</strong><br />

research details.<br />

If you want to be listed <strong>on</strong> the Clearingho<strong>use</strong><br />

Researchers Datab<strong>as</strong>e, ple<strong>as</strong>e c<strong>on</strong>tact us at:<br />

clearingho<strong>use</strong>@unsw.edu.au<br />

11<br />

LATEST NEWS FROM THE SECTOR – e-news<br />

If you are looking to keep up to date with the latest news from the sector, subscribe to our m<strong>on</strong>thly e-news service.<br />

Email clearingho<strong>use</strong>@unsw.edu.au, call us <strong>on</strong> (02) 9385 2990 or subscribe <strong>on</strong>line at www.adfvc.unsw.edu.au/<br />

subscribe.html to receive updates <strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>ferences <strong>and</strong> events, grants, research <strong>and</strong> resources, good practice<br />

<strong>and</strong> more.<br />

www.adfvc.unsw.edu.au


new initiatives<br />

<strong>and</strong> resources<br />

12<br />

newsletter .45<br />

AUSTRALIAN INITIATIVES<br />

Audit <strong>of</strong> the NSW Police Force h<strong>and</strong>ling <strong>of</strong> domestic<br />

<strong>and</strong> family <strong>violence</strong> complaints<br />

The NSW Ombudsman h<strong>as</strong> published a report <strong>on</strong><br />

its audit <strong>of</strong> the NSW Police Force’s h<strong>and</strong>ling <strong>of</strong> 289<br />

complaints made in 2008 in relati<strong>on</strong> to domestic <strong>violence</strong><br />

matters. Complaints were raised regarding a number<br />

<strong>of</strong> issues, including alleged poor customer service,<br />

failure to investigate incidents or to investigate incidents<br />

adequately, <strong>and</strong> failure to identify the primary aggressor.<br />

The audit found that overall police resp<strong>on</strong>ded well to<br />

complaints but that some were poorly h<strong>and</strong>led. This report<br />

presents the findings <strong>of</strong> the audit <strong>and</strong> makes nineteen<br />

recom<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>dati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />

www.ombo.nsw.gov.au/publicati<strong>on</strong>/PDF/specialreport/<br />

Audit%20<strong>of</strong>%20NSW%20Police%20Force%20<br />

h<strong>and</strong>ling%20<strong>of</strong>%20domestic%20<strong>and</strong>%20family%20<br />

<strong>violence</strong>%20complaints.pdf<br />

New web site for Secretariat <strong>of</strong> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Aboriginal<br />

<strong>and</strong> Isl<strong>and</strong>er Child Care<br />

The Secretariat <strong>of</strong> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Aboriginal <strong>and</strong> Isl<strong>and</strong>er Child<br />

Care (SNAICC) h<strong>as</strong> launched a new web site, featuring<br />

resources, news <strong>and</strong> key policy pages, with c<strong>on</strong>tent<br />

organised around SNAICC’s priorities. SNAICC’s new look<br />

e-bulletin is also available <strong>on</strong> the web site. You can follow<br />

SNAICC <strong>on</strong> Facebook <strong>and</strong> Twitter.<br />

www.snaicc.<strong>as</strong>n.au<br />

Radio plays <strong>on</strong> domestic<br />

<strong>violence</strong> in multiple<br />

languages<br />

NSW Immigrant Wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s<br />

Speakout Associati<strong>on</strong> h<strong>as</strong><br />

developed three new radio<br />

plays about domestic <strong>violence</strong><br />

in Arabic, Dari, Dinka, Krio,<br />

M<strong>and</strong>arin, Somali <strong>and</strong><br />

Sudanese Arabic. The plays<br />

are available <strong>as</strong> a pack <strong>of</strong> nine<br />

languages or in single language packs.<br />

speakoutradio.wordpress.com/about<br />

Snapshot report <strong>on</strong> Victorian <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s behaviour<br />

change programs<br />

No To Violence Male Family Violence Preventi<strong>on</strong><br />

Associati<strong>on</strong> h<strong>as</strong> published a new report, Men’s behaviour<br />

change programs in Victoria – a sector snapshot. The<br />

report summarises findings from a 2010 survey <strong>of</strong> Victorian<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s behaviour change program providers <strong>on</strong> dem<strong>and</strong> for<br />

<strong>their</strong> services.<br />

For more informati<strong>on</strong>: c<strong>on</strong>tact No To Violence <strong>on</strong><br />

(03) 9428 3536 or via <strong>their</strong> web site<br />

www.ntv.org.au/pages/c<strong>on</strong>tact-us.php<br />

Latest crime statistics rele<strong>as</strong>ed<br />

New data <strong>on</strong> trends in crime, including domestic <strong>and</strong> family<br />

<strong>violence</strong>, are available from four Australian sources.<br />

The Australian Bureau <strong>of</strong> Statistics h<strong>as</strong> recently rele<strong>as</strong>ed<br />

data <strong>on</strong> crime victimisati<strong>on</strong> in the year 2009-10. Data <strong>on</strong><br />

pers<strong>on</strong>al crime (including physical <strong>as</strong>sault <strong>and</strong> <strong>sexual</strong><br />

<strong>as</strong>sault), ho<strong>use</strong>hold crime <strong>and</strong> social disorder were<br />

compiled from the nati<strong>on</strong>al Crime Victimisati<strong>on</strong> Survey,<br />

c<strong>on</strong>ducted between July 2009 <strong>and</strong> June 2010. Results are<br />

compared against the previous year’s Crime Victimisati<strong>on</strong><br />

Survey.<br />

www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4530.0<br />

In Australian crime: facts & figures 2010, the Australian<br />

Institute <strong>of</strong> Criminology (AIC) summarises the latest trends<br />

in crime <strong>and</strong> criminal justice. Compiled from a range <strong>of</strong><br />

administrative dat<strong>as</strong>ets <strong>and</strong> surveys, including the records<br />

<strong>of</strong> police, correcti<strong>on</strong>s agencies <strong>and</strong> criminal courts, <strong>and</strong><br />

crime victimisati<strong>on</strong> surveys, it is a <strong>use</strong>ful reference point<br />

<strong>on</strong> categories <strong>and</strong> locati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>of</strong> crime, victim <strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong>fender<br />

characteristics, <strong>and</strong> criminal justice resp<strong>on</strong>ses.<br />

www.aic.gov.au/en/publicati<strong>on</strong>s/current%20series/<br />

facts/1-0/2010.<strong>as</strong>px<br />

An interactive tool which allows <strong>use</strong>rs to analyse <strong>and</strong><br />

compare crime statistics from the Australian crime: facts &<br />

figures series is also available <strong>on</strong> the AIC website.<br />

data.aic.gov.au/aic16<br />

The NSW Bureau <strong>of</strong> Crime Statistics <strong>and</strong> Research h<strong>as</strong><br />

rele<strong>as</strong>ed a report <strong>on</strong> the latest trends in NSW recorded<br />

crime statistics. The bureau h<strong>as</strong> compiled data <strong>on</strong> crime<br />

reported to or uncovered by NSW police between January<br />

1995 <strong>and</strong> December 2010, with a focus <strong>on</strong> the final two<br />

years.<br />

www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/bocsar/ll_bocsar.nsf/<br />

vwFiles/RCS2010.pdf/$file/RCS2010.pdf<br />

Aboriginal Family Violence Preventi<strong>on</strong> <strong>and</strong> Legal<br />

Service Victoria policy papers<br />

The Aboriginal Family Violence Preventi<strong>on</strong> <strong>and</strong> Legal<br />

Service Victoria h<strong>as</strong> produced three policy papers aimed<br />

at improving access to justice outcomes <strong>and</strong> service<br />

provisi<strong>on</strong> for Aboriginal <strong>and</strong> Torres Strait Isl<strong>and</strong>er victims/<br />

survivors <strong>of</strong> family <strong>violence</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>sexual</strong> <strong>as</strong>sault. The<br />

three papers separately discuss nati<strong>on</strong>al policy issues,<br />

strengthening <strong>on</strong>-the-ground service provisi<strong>on</strong> <strong>and</strong><br />

improving accessibility <strong>of</strong> the legal system.<br />

The papers can be accessed at www.fvpls.org or by<br />

emailing informati<strong>on</strong>@fvpls.org


INTERNATIONAL INTIATIVES<br />

Council <strong>of</strong> Europe adopts new c<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong><br />

<strong>violence</strong> against wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

The Council <strong>of</strong> Europe C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> Preventing <strong>and</strong><br />

Combating Violence Against Wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>and</strong> Domestic<br />

Violence h<strong>as</strong> been signed by thirteen countries since it<br />

w<strong>as</strong> adopted by the Committee <strong>of</strong> Ministers in April 2011.<br />

The c<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> defines <strong>and</strong> criminalises various forms <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>violence</strong> against wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>, including forced marriage, female<br />

genital mutilati<strong>on</strong>, stalking, physical <strong>and</strong> psychological<br />

<strong>violence</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>sexual</strong> <strong>violence</strong>.<br />

www.coe.int/t/dghl/st<strong>and</strong>ardsetting/<strong>violence</strong>/<br />

default_en.<strong>as</strong>p<br />

Family justice review interim report rele<strong>as</strong>ed in the<br />

United Kingdom<br />

The United Kingdom’s Ministry <strong>of</strong> Justice, the Depart<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t<br />

for Educati<strong>on</strong> <strong>and</strong> the Welsh Assembly Govern<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t<br />

commissi<strong>on</strong>ed a review <strong>of</strong> the family justice system,<br />

starting in 2010. The interim report from the Family Justice<br />

Review panel w<strong>as</strong> rele<strong>as</strong>ed in March 2011.<br />

www.justice.gov.uk/publicati<strong>on</strong>s/family-justice-review.htm<br />

New Zeal<strong>and</strong> Govern<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t announces review <strong>of</strong> the<br />

Family Court<br />

In April 2011, New Zeal<strong>and</strong> Justice Minister Sim<strong>on</strong> Power<br />

rele<strong>as</strong>ed the terms <strong>of</strong> reference for the review <strong>of</strong> the Family<br />

Court. The review will examine the court’s sustainability,<br />

efficiency, cost effectiveness <strong>and</strong> resp<strong>on</strong>siveness to the<br />

needs <strong>of</strong> <strong>use</strong>rs.<br />

www.justice.govt.nz/policy/justice-systemimprove<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>ts/family-court-review<br />

Sultana F with Nair S 2011, Purple d<strong>and</strong>eli<strong>on</strong>: a<br />

Muslim woman’s struggle against <strong>violence</strong> <strong>and</strong><br />

oppressi<strong>on</strong>, Exisle, Auckl<strong>and</strong><br />

This book is b<strong>as</strong>ed <strong>on</strong> the true<br />

story <strong>of</strong> author Farida Sultana,<br />

who h<strong>as</strong> lived in Bangladesh,<br />

Iran, the United Kingdom <strong>and</strong><br />

New Zeal<strong>and</strong>. In 1995, Farida<br />

established the Shakti Asian<br />

Wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s Support Group, now<br />

the Shakti Community Council,<br />

the largest ethnic community<br />

organisati<strong>on</strong> in New Zeal<strong>and</strong>.<br />

Co-author Shila Nair h<strong>as</strong> been<br />

working for Shakti since 2002.<br />

Both wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> are survivors <strong>of</strong> domestic <strong>violence</strong>.<br />

WHO training resources <strong>on</strong> <strong>violence</strong> <strong>and</strong> injury<br />

preventi<strong>on</strong> available <strong>on</strong>line<br />

The Depart<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t <strong>of</strong> Violence <strong>and</strong> Injury Preventi<strong>on</strong> <strong>and</strong><br />

Disability at the World Health Organizati<strong>on</strong> (WHO) h<strong>as</strong><br />

developed a series <strong>of</strong> short courses, available for free<br />

<strong>on</strong>line. The courses provide a complete training resource<br />

for facilitators around the world. Designed to be delivered<br />

over two to five days, each course covers a specific injury or<br />

<strong>violence</strong> area.<br />

Each short course c<strong>on</strong>tains: a facilitator’s guide; training<br />

modules, including PowerPoint presentati<strong>on</strong>s; <strong>and</strong><br />

supporting resources, such <strong>as</strong> h<strong>and</strong>outs <strong>and</strong> c<strong>as</strong>e studies.<br />

www.who.int/<strong>violence</strong>_injury_preventi<strong>on</strong>/<br />

capacitybuilding/courses/en/index.html<br />

13<br />

Update <strong>on</strong> programs for children<br />

Closure <strong>of</strong> Peek-A-Boo Club<br />

<strong>and</strong> Addressing Family Violence<br />

Programs<br />

The renowned Melbourne Royal<br />

Children’s Hospital Addressing<br />

Family Violence Programs have<br />

been forced to close due to<br />

lack <strong>of</strong> <strong>on</strong>going funding. These<br />

programs include the Peek-a-Boo<br />

Club, an infant/mother family<br />

<strong>violence</strong> group; PARKAS (Parents<br />

Accepting Resp<strong>on</strong>sibility Kids Are<br />

Safe); Dads <strong>on</strong> Board for fathers<br />

completing a <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s behaviour<br />

change program <strong>and</strong> <strong>their</strong> infants;<br />

<strong>and</strong> BuBs <strong>on</strong> Board for infants <strong>and</strong><br />

<strong>their</strong> mothers living in refuge. The<br />

service also provided training in<br />

family <strong>violence</strong> work addressing<br />

children’s therapeutic <strong>and</strong> support<br />

needs, which had been taken up<br />

by workers from across the nati<strong>on</strong>.<br />

The programs ended <strong>on</strong> 30 June<br />

2011.<br />

The Royal Children’s Hospital<br />

programs, run by the team led<br />

by Wendy Bunst<strong>on</strong>, were well<br />

respected within the domestic<br />

<strong>violence</strong> sector <strong>as</strong> good practice<br />

models in working with children<br />

affected by domestic <strong>violence</strong>.<br />

They have w<strong>on</strong> several <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>tal<br />

health program awards <strong>and</strong> have<br />

been the subject <strong>of</strong> scholarly <strong>and</strong><br />

practiti<strong>on</strong>er publicati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />

The Clearingho<strong>use</strong> calls <strong>on</strong> the<br />

Victorian <strong>and</strong> Comm<strong>on</strong>wealth<br />

Govern<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>ts to establish secure<br />

<strong>and</strong> <strong>on</strong>going funding for these<br />

programs <strong>and</strong> to acknowledge<br />

<strong>their</strong> role in promoting both family<br />

wellbeing <strong>and</strong> improved <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>tal<br />

health outcomes for children <strong>and</strong><br />

wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> who have lived with family<br />

<strong>violence</strong>.<br />

Safe from the Start now nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />

The T<strong>as</strong>manian Safe from the Start<br />

program h<strong>as</strong> recently exp<strong>and</strong>ed<br />

to provide nati<strong>on</strong>al coverage for<br />

its ‘train the trainer’ workshops,<br />

which aim to raise awareness <strong>of</strong><br />

the impacts <strong>of</strong> domestic <strong>violence</strong> <strong>on</strong><br />

children. The workshops have been<br />

promoted at several Australian <strong>and</strong><br />

internati<strong>on</strong>al c<strong>on</strong>ferences, <strong>and</strong> are<br />

b<strong>as</strong>ed <strong>on</strong> developing knowledge<br />

from the field <strong>of</strong> neuroscience about<br />

brain develop<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t in children.<br />

The Safe from the Start program<br />

also provides resources <strong>and</strong> tools<br />

for work with children, including<br />

books, activities, puppets <strong>and</strong> visual<br />

materials.<br />

Safe from the Start is a project <strong>of</strong><br />

the Salvati<strong>on</strong> Army. Resources can<br />

be purch<strong>as</strong>ed by emailing:<br />

nell.kuilenburg@<br />

aus.salvati<strong>on</strong>army.org<br />

www.adfvc.unsw.edu.au


eview<br />

AVert FAMILY VioLENCE: COLLaboratiVE reSPONSES IN THE FAMILY LAW SYSteM<br />

REVIEW BY LIBBY WATSON, CLEARINGHOUSE GOOD PRACTICE OFFICER<br />

Australian Institute <strong>of</strong> Social Relati<strong>on</strong>s & Relati<strong>on</strong>ships Australia South Australia & Australian Govern<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t<br />

Attorney-General’s Depart<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t Family Law Branch 2010, AVERT family <strong>violence</strong>: collaborative resp<strong>on</strong>ses in the<br />

family law system, Attorney-General’s Depart<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t, Canberra<br />

In March 2011, the Comm<strong>on</strong>wealth Attorney-General<br />

launched AVERT, a multi-disciplinary training package<br />

for pr<strong>of</strong>essi<strong>on</strong>als working in the family law system. The<br />

package w<strong>as</strong> produced by Relati<strong>on</strong>ships Australia South<br />

Australia (RASA).<br />

The AVERT package aims to provide the <strong>use</strong>r with<br />

resources to design training that will give pr<strong>of</strong>essi<strong>on</strong>als in<br />

the family law system an underst<strong>and</strong>ing <strong>of</strong> family <strong>violence</strong><br />

<strong>and</strong>, importantly, practical strategies to resp<strong>on</strong>d to family<br />

<strong>violence</strong>. A sec<strong>on</strong>d aim <strong>of</strong> the package is the promoti<strong>on</strong><br />

<strong>of</strong> multi-disciplinary collaborati<strong>on</strong> between pr<strong>of</strong>essi<strong>on</strong>als<br />

working in the family law system.<br />

14<br />

newsletter .45<br />

Throughout AVERT, it is made clear that family <strong>violence</strong> is a<br />

complex issue <strong>and</strong> that it is not solely the resp<strong>on</strong>sibility <strong>of</strong><br />

particular groups <strong>of</strong> ‘specialists’ to resp<strong>on</strong>d to risk. Rather,<br />

safety is the business <strong>of</strong> all pr<strong>of</strong>essi<strong>on</strong>als involved in the<br />

system. AVERT is underpinned by the philosophy that<br />

<strong>violence</strong> is gendered <strong>and</strong> that perpetrators <strong>of</strong> <strong>violence</strong> are<br />

resp<strong>on</strong>sible for <strong>their</strong> behaviour.<br />

AVERT lists its target pr<strong>of</strong>essi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>as</strong> follows: legal<br />

practiti<strong>on</strong>ers, judicial <strong>of</strong>ficers, counsellors, psychologists,<br />

social workers, legal advisers, court staff (including family<br />

report writers), family dispute resoluti<strong>on</strong> practiti<strong>on</strong>ers <strong>and</strong><br />

child c<strong>on</strong>tact service workers. This wide-ranging, multidisciplinary<br />

audience means that the package h<strong>as</strong> to cover<br />

much ground, from b<strong>as</strong>ic legal issues <strong>and</strong> family <strong>violence</strong><br />

facts to children’s needs <strong>and</strong> good practice examples.<br />

There is a wealth <strong>of</strong> material to be found in this resource.<br />

The topics addressed include:<br />

à à<br />

à à<br />

à à<br />

à à<br />

à à<br />

di<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>si<strong>on</strong>s, dynamics <strong>and</strong> impacts <strong>of</strong> family <strong>violence</strong><br />

legal frameworks<br />

screening, risk <strong>as</strong>sess<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t <strong>and</strong> safety<br />

resp<strong>on</strong>ding to cultural diversity<br />

engaging people who <strong>use</strong> <strong>violence</strong>.<br />

Multi-disciplinary collaborative practice underpins the<br />

package <strong>and</strong> is encouraged throughout.<br />

The AVERT package is presented <strong>as</strong> a pack <strong>of</strong> five DVD-<br />

ROMs or it can be accessed <strong>on</strong>line (see below). The<br />

‘How to <strong>use</strong> the AVERT training package’ link (found<br />

in DVD-ROM 1) provides a thorough overview <strong>of</strong> the<br />

resources, including descripti<strong>on</strong>s <strong>of</strong> the videos, <strong>and</strong><br />

explains how the package h<strong>as</strong> been designed to be <strong>use</strong>d.<br />

creativecomm<strong>on</strong>s.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/au/legalcode<br />

The package includes sample training programs, fact<br />

sheets, PowerPoint slides, discussi<strong>on</strong> papers <strong>and</strong> course<br />

evaluati<strong>on</strong> forms. There are a number <strong>of</strong> training exercises<br />

<strong>and</strong> video resources (such <strong>as</strong> dramatised scenarios,<br />

opini<strong>on</strong> pieces, expert discussi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>and</strong> testim<strong>on</strong>ials). An<br />

additi<strong>on</strong>al feature is the ‘<strong>on</strong>line cl<strong>as</strong>sroom’ which is a family<br />

<strong>violence</strong> ‘employee inducti<strong>on</strong> program’. The cl<strong>as</strong>sroom is<br />

self-paced <strong>and</strong> can be completed in approximately three<br />

hours.<br />

Also included is a formal <strong>as</strong>sess<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t booklet for the<br />

Multidisciplinary Skills Five Day Training Program. This<br />

recom<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>ded program h<strong>as</strong> been aligned to competencies<br />

within the Australian Qualificati<strong>on</strong>s framework.<br />

AVERT does not set out a definitive training program.<br />

Rather, it provides several example programs, ranging from<br />

two-hour sessi<strong>on</strong>s to a five-day intensive workshop, with<br />

a number <strong>of</strong> different resources for trainers to design <strong>their</strong><br />

own program around the topics. Sample training programs<br />

for various pr<strong>of</strong>essi<strong>on</strong>al groups are included.<br />

AVERT’s flexibility allows a trainer to design <strong>their</strong> own<br />

program with access to an excellent range <strong>of</strong> resources<br />

available at the ‘click <strong>of</strong> a butt<strong>on</strong>’. It should be noted,<br />

however, that although the authors <strong>of</strong> AVERT give the<br />

trainer a lot <strong>of</strong> scope to devise <strong>their</strong> own package, in the<br />

introducti<strong>on</strong> they are clear about what c<strong>on</strong>stitutes best<br />

practice <strong>and</strong> <strong>their</strong> expectati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>of</strong> trainers who <strong>use</strong> the<br />

AVERT resources.


Using AVERT in the cl<strong>as</strong>sroom<br />

From a trainer’s perspective, the resources c<strong>on</strong>tained<br />

within AVERT are exciting <strong>and</strong> there are many potential<br />

<strong>use</strong>s for them. The training exercises are relevant <strong>and</strong><br />

interesting, while the video testim<strong>on</strong>ials <strong>and</strong> dramatisati<strong>on</strong>s<br />

are <strong>power</strong>ful. The video dramatisati<strong>on</strong>s fill an important<br />

gap, <strong>as</strong> there is a lack <strong>of</strong> local, current <strong>and</strong> well-acted<br />

material available.<br />

Examples include clients’ interviews with <strong>their</strong> lawyers<br />

(‘Jaber <strong>and</strong> Zahra’s story’) <strong>and</strong> a family dispute resoluti<strong>on</strong><br />

practiti<strong>on</strong>er’s initial interviews with both parties, in ‘T<strong>on</strong>y<br />

<strong>and</strong> Jessica’s story’. In the latter example, AVERT<br />

effectively c<strong>on</strong>veys how risks can be identified where no<br />

physical <strong>violence</strong> in the relati<strong>on</strong>ship is depicted <strong>and</strong> the<br />

client does not herself identify the family <strong>violence</strong>. Here,<br />

the family dispute resoluti<strong>on</strong> practiti<strong>on</strong>er is shown taking<br />

this c<strong>as</strong>e to supervisi<strong>on</strong>, al<strong>on</strong>g with her subsequent<br />

interview with ‘Jessica’.<br />

Each <strong>of</strong> the dramatisati<strong>on</strong>s is followed by two or three<br />

pr<strong>of</strong>essi<strong>on</strong>al com<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>taries, which give weight to the issues<br />

covered in the scenarios <strong>and</strong> highlight what is important<br />

for different pr<strong>of</strong>essi<strong>on</strong>als involved in the same c<strong>as</strong>e. This<br />

gives viewers an opportunity to learn about the focus <strong>of</strong> the<br />

different pr<strong>of</strong>essi<strong>on</strong>als in the system <strong>and</strong> also highlights that<br />

there are many ways <strong>of</strong> c<strong>on</strong>sidering the same scenario.<br />

Future improve<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>ts <strong>of</strong> the package might include the<br />

additi<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> a sample training program for family dispute<br />

resoluti<strong>on</strong> practiti<strong>on</strong>ers. While sample programs for other<br />

pr<strong>of</strong>essi<strong>on</strong>al groups are included, this sector, arguably<br />

<strong>on</strong>e <strong>of</strong> the key pr<strong>of</strong>essi<strong>on</strong>s that could benefit from good<br />

practice-foc<strong>use</strong>d family <strong>violence</strong> training, h<strong>as</strong> been<br />

omitted. Certainly there are plenty <strong>of</strong> good resources in<br />

the package to plan training for family dispute resoluti<strong>on</strong><br />

practiti<strong>on</strong>ers but it would be interesting to see how the<br />

authors <strong>of</strong> AVERT would approach this t<strong>as</strong>k <strong>and</strong> what they<br />

might suggest.<br />

AVERT is b<strong>as</strong>ed <strong>on</strong> sound adult learning principles. For<br />

those who facilitate family <strong>violence</strong> training, especially within<br />

the family law system, it is worth spending some time to<br />

become familiar with all AVERT h<strong>as</strong> to <strong>of</strong>fer. AVERT is free<br />

<strong>of</strong> charge, highly accessible <strong>and</strong>, in the l<strong>on</strong>g run, using this<br />

package could save trainers much time <strong>and</strong> energy, with so<br />

many quality resources <strong>and</strong> ide<strong>as</strong> in <strong>on</strong>e place.<br />

AVERT is available for download at<br />

www.avertfamily<strong>violence</strong>.com.au<br />

15<br />

The AVERT package features opini<strong>on</strong> pieces, expert discussi<strong>on</strong>s, testim<strong>on</strong>ials <strong>and</strong> dramatised scenarios, followed by pr<strong>of</strong>essi<strong>on</strong>al<br />

com<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>taries <strong>on</strong> the scenarios<br />

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK<br />

The Clearingho<strong>use</strong> is running a survey to find out what our <strong>use</strong>rs think <strong>of</strong> our services <strong>and</strong> publicati<strong>on</strong>s. Your<br />

feedback is very important to us.<br />

The survey is available <strong>on</strong>line until Sunday, 31 July 2011 <strong>and</strong> should take about ten to fifteen minutes to complete.<br />

Your answers are an<strong>on</strong>ymous <strong>and</strong> c<strong>on</strong>fidential.<br />

To fill in the survey, go to: www.surveym<strong>on</strong>key.com/s/Clearingho<strong>use</strong>SurveyJuly2011<br />

If you have any questi<strong>on</strong>s about the survey, ple<strong>as</strong>e c<strong>on</strong>tact us at clearingho<strong>use</strong>@unsw.edu.au or (02) 9385 2990.<br />

www.adfvc.unsw.edu.au


ecent additi<strong>on</strong>s to the<br />

research <strong>and</strong> resources datab<strong>as</strong>e<br />

Search our datab<strong>as</strong>e <strong>of</strong> over 5000 articles, reports, books <strong>and</strong> other resources <strong>on</strong> domestic <strong>and</strong> family <strong>violence</strong>:<br />

www.adfvc.unsw.edu.au/research.html<br />

16<br />

ARTICLES<br />

Belknap J & McD<strong>on</strong>ald C 2010, ‘Judges’ attitudes<br />

about <strong>and</strong> experiences with sentencing circles in<br />

intimate-partner ab<strong>use</strong> c<strong>as</strong>es’, Canadian Journal<br />

<strong>of</strong> Criminology <strong>and</strong> Criminal Justice/La Revue<br />

canadienne de criminologie et de justice pénale,<br />

vol. 52, no. 4, pp. 369-395<br />

This article reports <strong>on</strong> a study interviewing twenty-seven<br />

judges in Canada about <strong>their</strong> attitudes <strong>and</strong> experiences<br />

with the <strong>use</strong> <strong>of</strong> restorative justice in intimate partner<br />

<strong>violence</strong> c<strong>as</strong>es in 1998, prior to significant legislative<br />

changes. The authors particularly focus <strong>on</strong> the applicati<strong>on</strong><br />

<strong>of</strong> restorative justice to Aboriginal <strong>and</strong> First Nati<strong>on</strong>s<br />

peoples.<br />

Hopkins A & E<strong>as</strong>teal P 2010, ‘Walking in her shoes:<br />

battered wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> who kill in Queensl<strong>and</strong>, Victoria <strong>and</strong><br />

Western Australia’, Alternative Law Journal,<br />

vol. 35, no. 3, pp. 132-137<br />

This article examines legislative reforms which require<br />

judges <strong>and</strong> jurors in the comm<strong>on</strong> law applicati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> selfdefence<br />

to c<strong>on</strong>sider the experiences <strong>of</strong> an ab<strong>use</strong>d woman<br />

who h<strong>as</strong> killed her partner.<br />

Miller E, Decker MR, McCauley HL, Tancredi<br />

DJ, Levens<strong>on</strong> RR, Waldman J, Schoenwald P &<br />

Silverman JG 2010, ‘Pregnancy coerci<strong>on</strong>, intimate<br />

partner <strong>violence</strong> <strong>and</strong> unintended pregnancy’,<br />

C<strong>on</strong>tracepti<strong>on</strong>, vol. 81, no. 4, pp. 316-322<br />

This article reports the findings from a United States study<br />

that surveyed 1278 wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> accessing family planning<br />

services about <strong>their</strong> experiences with physical <strong>and</strong> <strong>sexual</strong><br />

partner <strong>violence</strong> <strong>and</strong> male partners’ attempts to c<strong>on</strong>trol<br />

<strong>their</strong> reproductive choices. The authors found that 53%<br />

<strong>of</strong> wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> reported physical or <strong>sexual</strong> partner <strong>violence</strong>,<br />

19% reported pregnancy coerci<strong>on</strong> <strong>and</strong> 15% reported<br />

birth c<strong>on</strong>trol sabotage. They discuss implicati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>and</strong><br />

recom<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>dati<strong>on</strong>s for health provider screening.<br />

Sutherl<strong>and</strong> MA 2011, ‘Implicati<strong>on</strong>s for <strong>violence</strong> in<br />

adolescent dating experiences’, JOGNN: Journal <strong>of</strong><br />

Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Ne<strong>on</strong>atal Nursing, vol. 40,<br />

no. 2, pp. 225-234<br />

This article explores issues <strong>as</strong>sociated with <strong>violence</strong> in<br />

adolescent dating experiences including the definiti<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />

dating <strong>violence</strong>, forms <strong>of</strong> <strong>violence</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>as</strong>sociated health<br />

c<strong>on</strong>sequences. The author provides <strong>as</strong>sess<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t tools<br />

<strong>and</strong> techniques <strong>use</strong>ful for nurses in the clinical setting.<br />

Strategies for intervening in situati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>of</strong> adolescent dating<br />

<strong>violence</strong> are also <strong>of</strong>fered.<br />

REPORTS<br />

Rawsthorne M, Chivell A & Smith A 2010, Aboriginal<br />

wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> against <strong>violence</strong> project: evaluati<strong>on</strong> report,<br />

University <strong>of</strong> Sydney, Sydney<br />

This report summarises the evaluati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> the Aboriginal<br />

Wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> Against Violence Project, which w<strong>as</strong> b<strong>as</strong>ed in<br />

the Sydney suburbs <strong>of</strong> Liverpool <strong>and</strong> Campbelltown.<br />

The evaluati<strong>on</strong> <strong>use</strong>d a mixed methods approach<br />

using questi<strong>on</strong>naires, focus groups, artwork, written<br />

feedback <strong>and</strong> key informant interviews. The report<br />

includes a discussi<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> the challenges <strong>and</strong> approaches<br />

to c<strong>on</strong>ducting a program evaluati<strong>on</strong> using culturally<br />

appropriate methods.<br />

RESOURCES<br />

PATH 2010, M<strong>on</strong>itoring <strong>and</strong> evaluati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> initiatives<br />

<strong>on</strong> <strong>violence</strong> against wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>and</strong> girls, UNIFEM, New<br />

York<br />

The United Nati<strong>on</strong>s Develop<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t Fund for Wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

(UNIFEM) h<strong>as</strong> established a knowledge centre <strong>on</strong> issues<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>violence</strong> against wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>and</strong> girls. This guide from the<br />

knowledge centre includes definiti<strong>on</strong>s <strong>and</strong> advice <strong>on</strong> how<br />

to c<strong>on</strong>duct m<strong>on</strong>itoring <strong>and</strong> evaluati<strong>on</strong>. The guide includes<br />

c<strong>as</strong>e studies.<br />

newsletter .45<br />

Miller SL & Smolter NL 2011, ‘“Paper ab<strong>use</strong>”: when<br />

all else fails, batterers <strong>use</strong> procedural stalking’,<br />

Violence Against Wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>, vol. 17, no. 5, pp. 637-650<br />

Using data from in-depth interviews with wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> who have<br />

left violent relati<strong>on</strong>ships, attorneys <strong>and</strong> practiti<strong>on</strong>ers/policy<br />

specialists, this research note explores the c<strong>on</strong>tinuati<strong>on</strong><br />

<strong>of</strong> c<strong>on</strong>trol <strong>as</strong> wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> encounter ‘paper ab<strong>use</strong>’. It explores<br />

how the barrage <strong>of</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s frivolous lawsuits, false reports<br />

<strong>of</strong> child ab<strong>use</strong> <strong>and</strong> other system-related manipulati<strong>on</strong>s<br />

exerts <strong>power</strong>, forces c<strong>on</strong>tact <strong>and</strong> financially burdens <strong>their</strong><br />

ex-partners.<br />

CAN’T FIND A PUBLICATION<br />

The Clearingho<strong>use</strong> can provide you with an<br />

electr<strong>on</strong>ic or photocopied versi<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> publicati<strong>on</strong>s<br />

<strong>on</strong> our datab<strong>as</strong>e that are not publicly available.<br />

C<strong>on</strong>tact the Research <strong>and</strong> Informati<strong>on</strong> Officer at<br />

clearingho<strong>use</strong>@unsw.edu.au or <strong>on</strong> (02) 9385 2990<br />

or 1800 753 382.


practice notes<br />

LEARNING FROM EXPERIENCE: THE FUTURE PARENTS PROGRAM BY MEGAN SETY,<br />

CLEARINGHOUSE RESEARCH AND INFORMATION OFFICER<br />

This year saw the Mackay-b<strong>as</strong>ed Centre for Domestic <strong>and</strong><br />

Family Violence Research’s annual Indigenous Family Violence<br />

Preventi<strong>on</strong> Forum alternate from a nati<strong>on</strong>al to a regi<strong>on</strong>al<br />

Queensl<strong>and</strong> focus. Plenary sessi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>and</strong> yarning circles<br />

gave attendees opportunities to hear <strong>and</strong> <strong>as</strong>k questi<strong>on</strong>s<br />

about innovative programs for Aboriginal <strong>and</strong> Torres Strait<br />

Isl<strong>and</strong>er families. Throughout the c<strong>on</strong>ference, presentati<strong>on</strong>s<br />

<strong>and</strong> discussi<strong>on</strong>s highlighted opportunities <strong>and</strong> challenges<br />

in primary preventi<strong>on</strong> <strong>and</strong> early interventi<strong>on</strong> for children <strong>and</strong><br />

young people.<br />

Save the Children Australia’s Future Parents Program w<strong>as</strong><br />

<strong>on</strong>e <strong>of</strong> the l<strong>on</strong>ger running programs featured at the forum.<br />

This early interventi<strong>on</strong> model seeks to <strong>as</strong>sist young people<br />

in creating safer envir<strong>on</strong><str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>ts for children within <strong>their</strong><br />

community. The program incre<strong>as</strong>es young people’s capacity<br />

to identify dangerous situati<strong>on</strong>s for children <strong>and</strong> develops <strong>their</strong><br />

awareness <strong>of</strong> strategies to keep themselves <strong>and</strong> children safe.<br />

Delivered through a twenty-hour fun <strong>and</strong> interactive course,<br />

the program is designed for young people aged thirteen to<br />

nineteen. It addresses safe <strong>and</strong> positive childcare practices,<br />

healthy relati<strong>on</strong>ships, problem solving <strong>and</strong> c<strong>on</strong>flict negotiati<strong>on</strong>.<br />

The program incre<strong>as</strong>es young people’s access to support<br />

services through the strategic inclusi<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> relevant community<br />

c<strong>on</strong>necti<strong>on</strong>s.<br />

The Future Parents Program w<strong>as</strong> developed in 1989 <strong>and</strong><br />

Save the Children currently delivers courses to young people<br />

in Queensl<strong>and</strong>, New South Wales, South Australia, Western<br />

Australia <strong>and</strong> the Northern Territory. Originally designed <strong>as</strong><br />

a general program for young people, it h<strong>as</strong> been adapted for<br />

Aboriginal <strong>and</strong> Torres Strait Isl<strong>and</strong>er young people <strong>and</strong> each<br />

course is specifically tailored for individual communities.<br />

communities. In additi<strong>on</strong> to maintaining the core structure<br />

<strong>and</strong> ‘not changing what works’, Leanne <strong>and</strong> Terri-Anne felt<br />

that clear <strong>and</strong> sustainable objectives, a commit<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t to<br />

building str<strong>on</strong>g partnerships, quality evaluati<strong>on</strong> tools, initial<br />

<strong>and</strong> <strong>on</strong>going quality training <strong>and</strong> a flexible approach were<br />

essential to the program’s success. They also emph<strong>as</strong>ised the<br />

need to respect <strong>and</strong> incorporate feedback from young people<br />

wherever possible.<br />

At an individual level, p<strong>as</strong>si<strong>on</strong>, commit<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>t, self-care,<br />

knowledge <strong>of</strong> the program <strong>and</strong> respect for the community<br />

made the difference in sustainable work. Respect for<br />

the community surfaced <strong>as</strong> a theme in many <strong>of</strong> <strong>their</strong><br />

recom<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>dati<strong>on</strong>s around networking <strong>and</strong> successful<br />

partnerships, including holding pre-planning meetings to<br />

tailor the program, knowing <strong>and</strong> acknowledging community<br />

protocols, aiming to meet the needs <strong>of</strong> the target group <strong>and</strong><br />

keeping your focus to avoid politics. When starting out,<br />

Leanne <strong>and</strong> Terri-Anne emph<strong>as</strong>ised the need to be c<strong>on</strong>fident<br />

in knowing your program <strong>and</strong> to be able to see a future for<br />

the program b<strong>as</strong>ed <strong>on</strong> clear objectives <strong>and</strong> a sustainable<br />

approach.<br />

Although I have <strong>on</strong>ly highlighted <strong>on</strong>e program here, the<br />

c<strong>on</strong>ference featured presentati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> many other programs<br />

which <strong>of</strong>fer ide<strong>as</strong> <strong>and</strong> models for developing future work.<br />

From art therapy to trauma-informed practice frameworks,<br />

from school-b<strong>as</strong>ed programs to interventi<strong>on</strong>s with violent <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>,<br />

programs covered the full spectrum <strong>of</strong> community-b<strong>as</strong>ed<br />

initiatives needed to prevent <strong>and</strong> reduce family <strong>violence</strong>.<br />

For more informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> the Future Parents Program,<br />

c<strong>on</strong>tact Leanne Smith <strong>on</strong> (07) 3844 2699.<br />

17<br />

Attending the c<strong>on</strong>ference to speak about the Future Parents<br />

Program were Leanne Smith (Program Coordinator) <strong>and</strong><br />

Terri-Anne Goodreid (Program Facilitator) from Queensl<strong>and</strong>’s<br />

arm <strong>of</strong> Save the Children. With incre<strong>as</strong>ing focus <strong>on</strong> respectful<br />

relati<strong>on</strong>ships <strong>and</strong> <strong>as</strong>sociated funding under the Nati<strong>on</strong>al Plan<br />

to Reduce Violence Against Wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>and</strong> <strong>their</strong> Children, I w<strong>as</strong><br />

interested to know what they felt others could learn from the<br />

experience <strong>of</strong> the Future Parents Program. I <strong>as</strong>ked them what<br />

made the program successful <strong>and</strong> whether they had any tips<br />

for others starting out.<br />

Leanne <strong>and</strong> Terri-Anne attributed the program’s l<strong>on</strong>g running<br />

success <strong>and</strong> expansi<strong>on</strong> to a variety <strong>of</strong> individual, program<br />

<strong>and</strong> community factors. The program itself h<strong>as</strong> changed<br />

little over time, with two key excepti<strong>on</strong>s: first, c<strong>on</strong>tent <strong>on</strong><br />

domestic <strong>and</strong> family <strong>violence</strong> h<strong>as</strong> been added; <strong>and</strong> sec<strong>on</strong>d,<br />

the program h<strong>as</strong> been adapted for specific groups, including<br />

young <str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>, young parents <strong>and</strong> young people from Aboriginal<br />

For the c<strong>on</strong>ference program, speakers’ presentati<strong>on</strong>s<br />

<strong>and</strong> forum report, visit the Queensl<strong>and</strong> Centre for<br />

Domestic <strong>and</strong> Family Violence Research web site at<br />

www.not<strong>violence</strong>.com.au<br />

The Clearingho<strong>use</strong>’s Good Practice datab<strong>as</strong>e<br />

also c<strong>on</strong>tains a growing collecti<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> examples <strong>of</strong><br />

Australian domestic <strong>violence</strong>-related programs,<br />

services <strong>and</strong> resp<strong>on</strong>ses which reflect ele<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>ts <strong>of</strong><br />

good practice: www.adfvc.unsw.edu.au/good_<br />

practice.html<br />

www.adfvc.unsw.edu.au


latest clearingho<strong>use</strong><br />

publicati<strong>on</strong>s<br />

See all Clearingho<strong>use</strong> publicati<strong>on</strong>s at: www.adfvc.unsw.edu.au/publicati<strong>on</strong>s.html<br />

You can be notified when Clearingho<strong>use</strong> papers are published <strong>on</strong> our web site. Just c<strong>on</strong>tact us<br />

<strong>on</strong> (02) 9385 2990 or subscribe <strong>on</strong>line: www.adfvc.unsw.edu.au/subscribe.html<br />

Research papers<br />

Issue Papers<br />

à à<br />

.45<br />

newsletter<br />

Hovane V & Cox D 2011, ‘Closing the gap <strong>on</strong> family <strong>violence</strong>: driving preventi<strong>on</strong> <strong>and</strong> interventi<strong>on</strong> through health<br />

policy’, Issues Paper 21<br />

www.adfvc.unsw.edu.au/issues_Papers.htm<br />

Other resources<br />

C<strong>on</strong>ference Papers<br />

à à<br />

à à<br />

à à<br />

à à<br />

à à<br />

Barrett Meyering I 2011 ‘Compensating domestic <strong>violence</strong> victims: how do the states <strong>and</strong> territories compare’,<br />

Meeting the Needs <strong>of</strong> Victims <strong>of</strong> Crime C<strong>on</strong>ference, Sydney, 18-19 May<br />

Braaf R 2011, ‘Preventing domestic <strong>violence</strong> death – is intimate partner <strong>sexual</strong> <strong>as</strong>sault a risk factor’, Domestic<br />

Violence Deaths: Risks, Resp<strong>on</strong>sibility <strong>and</strong> Review, Sydney, 20 May<br />

Braaf R 2011, ‘Fostering ab<strong>use</strong>d wo<str<strong>on</strong>g>men</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s safety through financial independence: the em<strong>power</strong>ing role that<br />

services <strong>and</strong> agencies can play’, Meeting the Needs <strong>of</strong> Victims <strong>of</strong> Crime C<strong>on</strong>ference, Sydney, 18-19 May<br />

Marcus G 2011, ‘Integrated resp<strong>on</strong>ses to domestic <strong>and</strong> family <strong>violence</strong>: what, how, when <strong>and</strong> why’, Meeting the<br />

Needs <strong>of</strong> Victims <strong>of</strong> Crime C<strong>on</strong>ference, Sydney, 18-19 May<br />

McFerran L 2011, Panel sessi<strong>on</strong>: ‘Aged care <strong>and</strong> homelessness’, Australian Council <strong>of</strong> Social Services (ACOSS)<br />

2011 Nati<strong>on</strong>al C<strong>on</strong>ference, Melbourne, 29-30 March<br />

www.adfvc.unsw.edu.au/other_publicati<strong>on</strong>s.htm<br />

F<strong>as</strong>t Facts<br />

à à<br />

Campbell R 2011, The financial cost <strong>of</strong> domestic <strong>and</strong> family <strong>violence</strong>, F<strong>as</strong>t Facts 3<br />

www.adfvc.unsw.edu.au/f<strong>as</strong>t_facts.htm<br />

Special Collecti<strong>on</strong>s<br />

à à<br />

Refugees <strong>and</strong> domestic <strong>and</strong> family <strong>violence</strong> (updated)<br />

www.adfvc.unsw.edu.au/specialcollecti<strong>on</strong>srefugees.htm<br />

Web Pages<br />

àà<br />

àà<br />

Domestic Violence Deaths: Risk, Resp<strong>on</strong>sibility <strong>and</strong> Review forum podc<strong>as</strong>ts (forthcoming)<br />

Intimate Partner Sexual Violence: Best Practice Resp<strong>on</strong>ses forum <strong>and</strong> training podc<strong>as</strong>ts (forthcoming)<br />

www.adfvc.unsw.edu.au/c<strong>on</strong>ference_proceedings.htm<br />

Australian Domestic & Family Violence Clearingho<strong>use</strong><br />

The University <strong>of</strong> New South Wales, NSW Australia 2052<br />

T +61 2 9385 2990 freecall 1800 753 382<br />

F +61 2 9385 2993 E clearingho<strong>use</strong>@unsw.edu.au<br />

www.adfvc.unsw.edu.au

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