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Women's Health West
Media Release: 19 July 2006
An Integrated Approach to Family Violence in Melbourne's West
Family violence is a fundamental violation of human rights and is unacceptable in any form. From July 2006 women and children affected by family violence in the western region will be supported by a new consortium of local agencies including Women's Health West, Western Region Health Centre - the lead agency for community health, MacKillop Family Services and Elizabeth Hoffman House in association with The Gathering Place. This integrated multi-agency approach will provide a range of support services, counselling and group work programs. The changes will improve communication between services to ensure that women receive an appropriate, gendered response, regardless of the pathway by which they receive assistance.
The Western Integrated Family Violence Partnership includes member agencies with a long history of effective service provision. They will build on this experience to provide a strengthened, integrated service model by building stronger connections with stakeholders in the western region. A regional integration committee will be established to achieve this over time.
"We are pleased that services in the western region are being increased," said Melissa Afentoulis, CEO of Women's Health West and consortium spokesperson. "The aim is to deliver the most appropriate services possible to women and children affected by family violence."
"Women's Health West is currently reviewing our service model in order to provide the most accessible responses to women and to support other agencies dealing with family violence," said Ms Afentoulis. "The new system is an exciting development for the sector as it encourages collaboration between agencies."
New indigenous services have also been funded for the western suburbs. "This is an important response for indigenous women and their children. Aboriginal women in Victoria are eight times more likely to be exposed to family violence than other women in the community" said Rose Solomon, CEO of Elizabeth Hoffman House. "It is important to be able to expand our services to the suburbs of western Melbourne as part of this consortium."
The other development is the introduction of long term counselling and support provided by the community health sector. Claire Amies, CEO of Western Region Health Centre stated that, "We are now able to provide a counselling service that is responsive, culturally appropriate and sensitive to the needs of women."
"The consortium will also be announcing grants to other agencies delivering recovery programs for women. We are keen to ensure that programs are not disrupted during the process of change brought about by the reforming of the system," said Ms Afentoulis. Some of these agencies include: Western Women's Domestic Violence Services Network (WWDVSN), Community West and community health agencies.
"The consortium will also put in place a sector-based reference group to review and develop guidelines for future group work program priorities" said Maureen Dawson-Smith, Program Manager of MacKillop Family Services and consortium member. "We will work together with experts in the field to develop these guidelines."
The implementation of the Integrated Family Violence Services System (IFVSS) is part of the State Government strategy to reduce the incidence of family violence, the leading contributor to death, disability and illness in Victorian women aged 15-44.
The introduction of the Police Code of Practice for Police Response and Investigation of Family Violence (August 2004) shifted the focus from women (and children) initiated responses to family violence toward a system where police are more accountable for women's safety. For example, Victorian Police must now provide options in family violence situations including referral opportunities and obtaining intervention orders.
Changes to the legal system include the introduction of Family Violence Court Services which operate at Sunshine, Melbourne and Werribee courts providing specialist Family Violence Magistrates, Police Prosecutors and Applicant Support Workers.
Historically the judicial system (police and courts) and family violence services have worked towards the same goals but largely in isolation from each other and in very different ways. The service integration model aims to encourage a nexus between these parallel systems by:
Family violence cannot be resolved in isolation so the Western Integrated Family Violence Partnership (WIFVP) is adopting a multifaceted approach involving not only consortium members, but also complementary partners and the broader service system. This inclusive approach means that agencies and services who may not view family violence as their core business will be encouraged to become more responsive to the needs of women and children experiencing family violence.
Other key initiatives to be delivered by member agencies of the consortium include:
MEDIA CONTACT
Melissa Afentoulis, Women's Health West - 9689 9588
Sharon Read, Western Region Health Centre - 9362 8121
Maureen Dawson-Smith, MacKillop Family Services - 9689 4799
Rose Solomon, Elizabeth Hoffman House - 0438 551 398
or via email.