In October and November 2008, the Council held three specialist roundtable forums on the following issues: working with perpetrators; Indigenous healing; and judicial and restorative justice, with a total of 60 participants.
Consultations were also held with State & Territory women's officials, women's Ministerial advisers, State and Territory NGO safety councils, and members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women's Gatherings Working Group, with a total of 78 participants.
The Council conducted three specific expert Roundtables during October and November 2008:
- Working with Perpetrators (Adelaide, 28 October 2008)
- Indigenous Healing (Sydney, 12 November 2008)
- Judicial & Restorative Justice (Sydney 13 November 2008).
Over 60 participants came from across the country and engaged actively in the discussions, providing expert opinions and advice around the issues. Their attendance was much appreciated and their input important in helping to shape the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children.
On 2 October and 17 November 2008 I also hosted meetings with State & Territory women's officials, women's Ministerial advisers, State and Territory safety councils, and members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Gathering's Working Group, seeking their input into the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children.
These meetings had 32 and 46 participants respectively who shared their perspectives of work within their jurisdiction and identified areas in which the Australian Government could take a lead national role around domestic and family violence and sexual assault. Their input was thoughtful and comprehensive and I thank them for their participation.
Many shared issues were raised across the different roundtables, but each one also provided unique insights into the problem of violence against women and their children, as well as some possible solutions.
Libby Lloyd AM
Chair
National Council to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children
Women's Officials and Advisers, Brisbane, 2 October 2008
In summary, participants were of the view that the following are important considerations:
The Australian Government has an important role to play in providing leadership to support and assist the work of the States and Territories in reducing violence against women and their children. This includes taking a leadership role in helping create consistency and alignment in legislation, services, and the communication of critical messages where appropriate.
Responding to violence needs to be placed 'front' and 'centre' with both government and the community. This means a more focused, defined and better understood profile within policy, funding streams, program delivery and communication.
There is an urgent need to develop a shared understanding and definitions of what constitutes violence against women and their children. This needs to include agreement around principles, core components, actions and priorities that underpin all strategies aimed at reducing violence.
The sector must develop an evidence base to underpin decision making, service responses, legislation and investment decisions.
The evidence base must be built from robust data collection on activity and outcomes, research and evaluation and information sharing across government and the sector. We need to develop an understanding of what works in what situations.
There is a need to integrate and align the service system. Responding to violence is currently spread across multiple programs and funding streams.
There is a need to consider the way messages are delivered to the community regarding violence. Much of the message is negative - consideration should be given to positive images of men behaving and responding appropriately.
Primary prevention programs educating young people about violence against women are fundamental to changing the culture long-term. Development of a sector-wide workforce development plan that values and supports the recruitment, retention and development of the sector is important for the long term.
Embed the National Council (or similar body) as an ongoing governance structure to support and monitor the implementation of the National Plan of Action and long term initiatives.
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Working with Perpetrators, Adelaide, 28 October 2008
In summary, the main issues raised by participants were:
Wherever possible we need to develop strategies that unite rather than divide - that bring men along and build women's leadership skills and capabilities.
To achieve better outcomes for victims, perpetrators and the community, we need better integration and coordination of the criminal justice, restorative justice and social justice systems.
To improve our understanding and monitoring of violence against women and their children, we need better data and information and our research needs to be Australian-based.
To encourage successful outcomes, we need to connect the three dimensions: women and children's safety; behaviour change of men; and reconnection of victims and offenders with their communities. Programs should not just focus on "fixing the offender".
We need to build our capacity to do longitudinal studies and tracking, and find ways to overcome privacy and confidentiality barriers.
We shouldn't jump too quickly to accreditation and standards for perpetrator and offender programs as our knowledge is not yet advanced enough to confidently determine best practice.
Central coordinating mechanisms that can guide practice improvements and the evolution of the knowledge base around what works and best practice would benefit the system greatly.
Services and workers need the supports of recognised theoretical frameworks, support for collaboration, accredited training, and knowledge around how to evaluate their programs.
Servicing remote areas is challenging and expensive; but very necessary.
Indigenous Healing, Sydney, 12 November 2008
A report is being prepared on the consultations and will be available on the website shortly
Judicial and Restorative Justice, Sydney, 13 November 2008
In summary, some of the issues discussed included:
- Different approaches to dealing with family violence in the legal system exist, for example:
- The mediation/treatment approach (which sees the violence arising out of unresolved family conflict contributed by both parties and emphasising the use of counselling etc);
- The protective or "special" approach which takes the view that the special nature of the relationship between the perpetrator and the victim makes normal criminal sanctions inappropriate and hence an emphasis on protection such as the use of apprehended violence orders; and
- The law enforcement/attitudinal approach which emphasises family violence as criminal behaviour.
- No matter how well the policy or legislation is articulated or drafted; it will only work well if the legislation is interpreted and applied correctly.
- There is capacity for court procedures and the perceptions of participants to be improved.
- From the judicial perspective, the issue of impartiality is very important, but is often difficult to convey in an emotionally charged environment where any action on the part of judicial officers could conceivably be misunderstood.
- The importance of appreciating cultural differences was emphasised.
- Judicial understanding of domestic and family violence and sexual assault is also encouraged in particular the need for a sound understanding of the dynamics of family violence.
- The concepts of Restorative Justice, Therapeutic Jurisprudence and Indigenous Justice and their application to domestic and family violence and sexual assault should be further explored.
Women's Officials and Advisers, Canberra, 17 November 2008
A report is being prepared on the consultations and will be available on the website shortly.