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DECEMBER 2005 ................. DVIRC Home Page | Feedback | Training Calendar| Publications
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NEW RELEASES
Report of the Statewide Steering Committee to Reduce Family Violence (2005)
The Minister coordinating the new approach to family violence in Victoria, The Hon Candy Broad MP, released Reforming the Family Violence System in Victoria on Tuesday 8 November 2005
When the Victorian government established the Statewide Steering Committee to Reduce Family Violence in 2002, a community and government partnership, it set it a specific task to provide advice on the development of a multi-agency and integrated response to family violence. Similar models, operating in the UK, Canada, the US and in the ACT, had proven effective in addressing family violence.
The reform proposals included in this report have been developed in the context of the Victorian Government Women's Safety Strategy, the five year whole of Government strategy bringing 11 Ministers and their respective Departments together to work within a single policy framework to reduce both the level and fear of violence against women.
Drawing on the accumulated knowledge and practice experience of its members, the Committee has outlined in the report broad directions for system reform in Victoria.
The Report was provided to government in early 2005, and the recommendations informed the budget investment of the $35.1 million over 4 years outlined in A Fairer Victoria.
Download a copy of Reforming the Family Violence System in Victoria (818KB adobe acrobat) or call the Office of Women's Policy on 03 9208 3129 to have a copy sent to you.
Victorian Homicide Legislation.
'If Victoria is to lay claim to a truly just legal system, it cannot condone behaviour that is rife with the stench of male aggression and ownership of women' (Rob Hulls, Victorian Attorney General, Launch of Homicide Law Reforms, 4/10/05).
An excerpt from Rob Hulls' Second Reading Speech to Parliament heralding reforms
The release of the justice statement in May 2004 confirmed this government's commitment to modernise Victoria's justice system. This is a commitment to achieve greater transparency and to make the system fairer and more responsive and accessible.
The work performed by the Victorian Law Reform Commission has been integral to achieving this goal.
This bill will implement key legislative recommendations made by the commission. In particular, it abolishes the law of provocation and amends the laws of self-defence to align them with community standards, especially with regard to family violence.
VIOLENCE-INDUCED DISABILITY |
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How many women experience … disability as a result of family violence? Well we don't know. No one is counting (Jennings 2004: 3).
We are women of broken spirits, broken bodies and broken minds. Not so much because of impairment or disability, but as a result of violence… (Doe et al 1999: 1).
This discussion paper sets out to explore the links between domestic and family violence and disability. Much disability is actually caused by violence. However, the most common connection made when disability is discussed in research literature is that disability is a risk factor affecting the likelihood of violence being perpetrated against the woman. Disabilities resulting from violence are often only discussed incidentally. Our paper considers violence and disability in a causal relationship in distinction to a ‘risk factor' discourse.
The paper explores all life-stages and the relationship of experiences of violence to particular disabilities, for example: cerebral palsy; behavioural and learning disabilities in children; acquired brain injury; and the effects of depression and anxiety in older years. We hear from women and children about their own experiences. The paper also takes a look at government policy and practice.
This paper is written primarily to raise public awareness of violence-induced disability. It is aimed at a broad audience including policy-makers, educators and service providers, and women who have experienced violence-induced disability.
As a community we say we do not condone violence against women, however we consistently resile from actively condemning violence by taking action to stop it. Violence is preventable and disability arising from violence is also therefore preventable.
Available early 2006
Contact DVIRC on (03) 9486-9866
THE DVIRC NEWSLETTER IS NOW
THE 'DVIRC QUARTERLY'
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In response to readers feedback in an Evaluation of DVIRC's Newsletter, conducted in 2003-2004, some changes have been implemented. The most obvious of these is the new look cover and the renaming of the Newsletter to the DVIRC Quarterly. For more details of the Evaluation findings see the Winter 2005 Issue (the final) 'Newsletter'.
In 2005 DVIRC re-developed their website to improve accessibility for people with disabilities.
Click here to visit the site and read more about accessibility on the web
Bursting the Bubble wins National Awards
DVIRC's site for young people experiencing family violence recently won an Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Award. Bursting the Bubble helps young people to recognise forms of domestic violence and child abuse, and provides ideas and stories on what they can do about it. See www.burstingthebubble.com
An evaluation of the website also won the Australasian Evaluation Society's Community Development Award. Click here: Bubble Evaluation
Planning for 2006
Links to
Conferences,
Events and News
Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse
This page is a quick way to catch up on new and interesting additions to the Clearinghouse website and databases.
Take the following link and then click on news to see conferences, events, new publications
Australian Centre for the Study of Sexual Assault
The following link will take you to a list of Australian and International conferences, seminars and other events with a focus on sexual assault and related topics.
Link to ACSSA conference listing
Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention & Legal Service (Victoria)
have a listing of useful numbers for Aboriginal women and children
Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service
INDIGENOUS WOMEN'S JUSTICE FORUM news page keeps you up to date with what is happening with the forum
VALS Indigenous Women's Justice Forum News Page
The Australian Network for Promotion, Prevention and Early Intervention for Mental Health.
Auseinet works with governments and organisations across many sectors to support change in Australia 's mental health policy and practice. We develop, collect and disseminate information on promotion, prevention and early intervention approaches to mental health. We also establish and maintain networks of people and organisations committed to this approach.
Link to Auseinet conference listing
Auseinet resources at
includes a range of resources around issues such as family matters, domestic and family violence, trauma, grief.
Women With Disabilities Australia
have developed a new Information and Referral Directory.
Click on the link below
Information and Referral Directory
to: 3rd Floor, Queen Victoria Women's Centre, 210 Lonsdale Street , Melbourne
on 14 December, 2005.
CASA House phone numbers will remain the same.
NEW REPORT
Women’s Refuges, Shelters, Outreach and Support Services in Australia: From Sydney Squat to complex Services. Challenging Domestic and Family Violence 2004.
WESNET, Written by : Wendy Weeks and Julie Oberin. This report was funded by the Commonwealth DFaCS' Office for Women, through the Partnerships Against Domestic Violence initiative
This report provides an assessment of the progress that has been made in expanding accommodation and support options available to women experiencing, or escaping, domestic violence and what options or directions might be pursued in the future.
The research documented in this report measured progress through a national survey of services; a survey of ‘key informants’ from all States and Territories; special data analysis by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare; consultations with women in each State and Territory; and visits to services.
The emerging picture, as a result of this 2003 survey of 137 crisis accommodation, outreach, information, support and advocacy services is of complex domestic and family violence services, responding to high demand.
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The Vine is a bi-monthly publication from DVIRC that updates you on the latest research, publications, news and training related to family violence and child abuse. Please forward The Vine to anyone you know who may find this information helpful.
Send us your
on The Vine and let us know how we can best resource you.
New Children's Booklet
This booklet provides a variety of snapshots based on research, current policy and practice and argues why we need to be aware of and support policies important to children's welfare. It is a call to action for each of us by highlighting children's experiences of homelessness and/or domestic and family violence. A number of recommendations are made which include the urgent need for more resources for children and a call for Family Law reform. This booklet is recommended for workers in the field and women whose children have been affected by homelessness and/or domestic or family violence.
Order your copy of 'Making Children Count' at
The Domestic Violence Resource Centre is funded by the Victorian Department of Human Services
and works to end all forms of family and relationship violence through education, training, research and systemic advocacy.
The Vine is circulated free of charge. If you didn't receive this publication directly and would like to become a subscriber, or if you would like us to send The Vine to a more suitable address, please email us . To unsubscribe, click here and type "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
Copyright (c) DVIRC 2005
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