Policy and Community Engagement Initiatives
The work of the Family and Domestic Violence Unit (FADVU) includes the development of policy and research that guides consistent responses to Family and Domestic Violence in Western Australia and research and evaluation to underpin the planning of initiatives and projects.
The State Strategic Plan for Family and Domestic Violence
Consultation has occurred with community and government in the development of a State Strategic Plan for Family and Domestic Violence.
Community comment, government input and a very strong evidence base underpin the development of the Strategic Plan.
The Purpose of the Plan
The 2004 - 2008 plan aims to prevent and reduce the incidence of family and domestic violence in Western Australia. It is a culmination of comprehensive community and inter-government consultation to identify priority areas, focus areas and high level strategies, which could achieve maximum results in the community. The resulting strategic framework will guide all government departments in future planning and implementation of policies and programs aimed at the safety of women and children.
Community engagement work takes on a community development approach and includes community education. Examples of work that is currently underway includes:
Continuation of Freedom From Fear Community Education and Development Campaign.
During the year three waves of media advertising were implemented, June/July 2002, November 2002 and March 2003. Advertising focused on physical aspects of domestic violence and placed the responsibility for the violence on the perpetrator.
The fifth post-campaign evaluation for Freedom From Fear took place in April 2003. The results of the evaluation will be used for the future planning of the program. Additionally a campaign advisory group advises the community education campaign with the aim of enlarging its focus on community-based indicatives and broadening strategies for a range of diverse cultures and groups. For more information about Freedom From Fear including publications and other useful material visit www.freedomfromfear.wa.gov.au
An overview of other strategies that support the Freedom From Fear Community Education and development Campaign follow.
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Workplace Strategy
A workplace strategy has been developed and includes a partnership project between Edith Cowan University, the Centre for Research for Women and the Family and Domestic Violence Unit. This project is called the Impact of Domestic Violence on the Workplace Project.
A series of workplace and domestic violence business breakfasts have taken place bringing business people together and providing information about the potential impact family and domestic violence can have on the their operations.
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Women with Disabilities Project
The Women with Disabilities Project is a partnership between People with Disabilities Inc, Ethnic Disability Advocacy Centre and the Family and Domestic Violence Unit. This project builds on the findings of the research report Silent Voices. It is acknowledged that women may be at additional risk because their disability and the barriers to ending the abuse can be much greater than for women without disability. This is evidenced by their inability in many instances to speak up for themselves and the failure of many around them to listen when they do try to disclose the abuse.
This project will develop good practice standards to support family and domestic violence service to better meet the needs of women with disabilities.
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Family and Friends Strategy
The Family and Friends strategy acknowledges the important role that family and friends play in assisting victims of domestic violence to get help. Research confirms that only a small proportion of women will access refuges and related services and that family and friends are often the first people that those affected by domestic violence turn to.
The FADVU are working on a range of projects to assist family and friends to know who to turn to should someone close to them express that they are experiencing family and domestic violence.
The first project involved the development of an Aboriginal Family Violence Brochure. Consultation and research occurred with professionals and the Aboriginal Community to develop and test the Aboriginal Family Violence brochure.
This publication includes two pieces of original artwork painted by Aboriginal artist, Loretta Egan.
Using this same theme two additional resources have been developed, they include the Aboriginal Family Violence Poster and the Aboriginal Family violence Wallet Card 2004.
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Multicultural Project
The Multicultural Women's Consortium project aims to provide culturally appropriate solutions to facilitate prevention and early intervention in family violence. The Women's Health Care Association sponsors this group.
The Consortium comprises:
- Multicultural Women's Advocacy Centre
- Western Australian Trans-cultural Mental Health Centre
- Ethnic Disability Advocacy Centre
- Canning Division of General Practice
- Unity of Ethiopia Association (WA)
- Muslim's Women's Support Centre (WA)
Other Projects
Family violence community project grants were awarded in three regions. These regions included Fitzroy Valley, Mulan/Kutjunka and Derby/Mowanjum. Each of the projects are working to increase knowledge and understanding about family and domestic violence and to impact on community.
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