table of contents accountability indicators · portfolio/s women community services & social...

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

2017-18 Budget Estimates Hearing- 27 June 2018

SELECT COMMITTEE ON ESTIMATES 2018-2019 Mr Andrew Wa!I MLA (Chair), Ms Tara Cheyne MLA (Deputy Chair), Ms Caroline Le Couteur MLA, Ms Elizabeth Lee MLA, Ms Suzanne Orr MLA.

YVETTE BERRY MLA MINISTER FOR THE PREVENTION OF DOMESTIC AND FAMILY VIOLENCE

OUTPUT CLASS 2: Strategic Policy, Inclusion and Participation

Output 2.7 Safer Families

2018-19 - Budget Initiative

1. Budget Initiative - Delivering the Family Safety Hub

2. Budget Initiative - More support for families and inclusion - More Frontline

domestic violence and rape crisis services

Accountability Indicators

3. Accountability Indicator Output 2. 7 (a) - Family Violence Statement presented to the ACT Legislative .Assembly

Strategic and Operational Priorities to be pursued in 2018-19

4. Safer Families Statement- BP3 AppendixJ

Key Statistics

5. Statistics

Key Facts and Key Services

6. Safer Families - Overview a. Attachment - ACT Repo nses to Fam Hy Viole nee

7. Safer Families Levy- Overview

8. Family Safety Hub 9. Frontline Worker Training

10. Ministerial Statement-Annual Safer Families Statement 2018

Supporting information from other Divisions/Directorates related to Safer Families: 11. ACT Housing; Homelessness Funding and Affordable Housing Strategy

a. Talking Points - Beryl, Oars and Toora Budget Initiative

12. JACS; Family Violence Death Review 13. ACT Police; Family Violence

14. ACT Health; Alcohol and Other Drugs Project 15. Education; Respectful Relationships

I Return to Agenda I

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16. Program Schedule 17. Privilege Statement 18. Witness List

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ISSUE: 2018-19 Budget Initiative

BUDGET ESTIMATES BRIEF

Portfolio/s Women

Community Services & Social Inclusion

More support for families and inclusion - delivering the Family Safety Hub

Financial Impact 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 Totals

$'ODO $'000 $'000 $'000 $'000

Expense Impacts

Expenses 1,583 1,420 1,343 1,615 S,961

Off~et - Expenses -2,442 -1,360 -1,389 -770 -5,961

Net EKpenses -859 60 -46 845

Summary Description --- ---- - - - ---- --

The Government will implement a Family Safety Innovation Hub to deliver holistic support so

that victims of domestic and family violence can achieve lasting safety. The Hub will operate

as a network for collaboration and innovation to enable the piloting and refining of innovative

approaches to enhancing safety. This initiative will be delivered by reprioritising existing

projects funded by the Safer Families Levy.

l(ey Points - ---- - - --- ---- --

The Family Safety Hub will deliver on the purpose of the original Government commitment to

a case management Hub model, by enabling holistic supports, to be provided to families

experiencing domestic and family violence to achieve long-term safety, based on the evidence

generated through insights gathering process and co-design.

The Hub also wi!I seek to attract investment in its innovation projects from private and philanthropic sectors and will prioritise projects with co-investment potential. The Family

Safety Innovation Hub will impact for service delivery across Chief Minister, Treasury and

Economic Development Directorate, Community Services Directorate, Health Directorate,

Justice and Community Safety Directorate and Education Directorate. Key functions of the

Hub will create a shared understanding of and capacity to respond to domestic and family

violence across the system, so that people get the right response wherever they seek help.

The Family Safety Hub wlll operate as a network for collaboration and innovation to:

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• build capability to integrate services for clients;

• create a shared understanding across the system so people get the right response

wherever they seek help; and

• create and test alternative pathways to safety that meet diverse needs.

The funding for the Family Safety hub for 2018~19 is encapsulated in the following table,

extracted from BP3 p 417.

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ISSUE: 2018-19 Budget Initiative


Portfolio/s Women

Community Services & Social Inclusion

More support for families and inclusion - Frontline crisis services supporting

people affected by sexual violence and domestic and family violence

Financlal Impact

Expense Impacts

Expenses

Summary Description

2018-19

$'000

420

2019-20

$'000

420

2020-21

$'000

420

2020-21

$'000

420

Totals

$'000

1,680

-- - - -- - - - - - - - - -

Enables the Government to better ·meet the significant increase in numbers of community members seeking assistance from frontline services for support as a result.of sexual, family and domestic violence. The funding will enable frontline services respond to the at times quadrupling of demand from t he community within the last twelve months.

ICey Points - -- - - - -- -

To address increased demand on sexual assault and domestic violence crisis services in the ACT. Funding is sought for frontline crlsls services to employ additional full time employees (FTE) at Canberra Rape Crisis Centre (CRCC: 2.48 FTE) and Domestic Violence Crisis Service (DVCS: 1.48 FTE).

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Prevention of Domestic & Family Violence

ISSUE: ACCOUNTABILITY INDICATOR OUTPUT 2.7 (A) Family Violence Statement presented to the ACT Legislative Assembly

Talking points:

• In 2016, the ACT Government made the single largest spending and policy commitment to address family violence in the ACT's history. This

commitment was made to support the implementation of the ACT Government Response to Family Violence.

• To coincide with this policy and financial commitment was a . commitment to present an Annual Family Violence Statement _to the ACT Legislative Assembly.

• The 2018 Ministerial Statement on Family Violence was presented to the ACT Legislative Assembly on 5 June 2018.

• The 2018 Statement begins with updated data on the prevalence and Impacts of domestic and family violence. It draws upon data rele.ased in 2018, and findings from the co-design for the Family Safety Hub to highlight the particular needs of the ACT service system.

• The 2018 Statement highlights the depth of understanding that has resulted from the strong collaboration between community and government, and opportunities this affords to make shifts to the service system that are both meaningful and enduring.

• The 2018 Statement concludes with a clear affirmation of the

Government's continuing commitment to reform around domestic and family violence.

Key Information

• The 2018 Safer Families Statement departs from the format of the previous year, in that it does not list the individual initiatives funded and/or implemented under the Safer Families Package, Many of these initiatives have become business ·as usual and therefore t he 2018 Statement sum ma rises the progress of some of the larger initiatives which are of particular interest to the community.

• Further detail on specific initiatives under the Safer Families Package is available in Appendix J of Budget Paper 3 (page 409).

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Background Information - may not be suitable for public disclosure

• The 2018 Ministerial Statement on Family Violence is the second such statement . The first was delivered in June 2017.


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ISSUE: . Strategic and Operational Priorities to be pursued in 2018-19

Talking points:

• The Safer Families package in 2018-19 provides increased funding to those services responding to the increase in reporting of domestic and family violence and builds on the gains made in the first two years of reform.

• The delivery of training to front line workers across the health, education, community services and justice sectors will commence in 2018-19. A Frontline Worker Training Strategy will be implemented to build enduring core capability to expand upon, rather than displace existing training.

• Training of frontline workers recognises the research findings that show women commonly seek support from those with whom they have trusted relationships. This training will equip workers to sensitively inquire about domestic and family violence and provide the skills needed to provide basic support to reduce the impact of domestic and family violence across the community. The training will help to build understanding, so that workers recognise the broad range of behaviours that constitute domestic and family violence.

• Testing of the Family Safety Hub approach occurred in May 2018, with full implementation planned from July 2018. The focus for the first phase of work will be on women and families during pregnancy and early parenting. Research tells us that women are at greater risk of experiencing violence from their partner (current or past) during pregnancy and post-partum.

• The Family Safety Hub will increase opportunities for prevention and early intervention, and facilitate improved responses including an expansion to the pathways to safety for fami lies experiencing domestic and family violence.

• Implementation of the Family Safety Hub will include a robust evaluation of both the process and outcomes. It is anticipated the first phase will provide valuable learnings for the next phase of the Family Safety Hub.

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• In 2018-19 we will see the implementation of a program to provide more effective responses for people who use alcohol and other drugs in harmful ways and experience or use domestic and family violence. This will build upon the work of ATODA {Alcohol Tabacco and other Drugs

Agency) and see organisations undertake a baseline assessment of capability. The program will utilise a whole of organisation approach to ensure staff have access to training about domestic and family violence

and are supported by leadership, policy, referral options, data collection and information sharing that place the needs of consumers at the centre.

• The Family Violence Act 2016 and its implementation will be

independently reviewed in 2018-19. Coinciding with twelve months of operation, the review will consider the application of the legislation. The project will identify best practice approaches that are working, and make recommendations for improvements at both a legislative and systemic

level.

• The Government will work with the Domestic Violence Prevention

Council (DVPC) to respond to the recommendations from the Domestic Violence Prevention Council Extraordinary Meeting. It is expected the recommendations will seek improvements to service and policy design for children and young people impacted by, or at risk of domestic and family violence.

• The Government will work towards the establishment of a legislative

mechanism for future family violence death reviews to be undertaken in the ACT. The legislative mechanisms will provide powers for those undertaking reviews to consider deaths such as suicides of both family violence victims and perpetrators, and the accidental deaths of family violence victims. This work is consistent with the national efforts in this area to enable the gathering of data and improvement in strategies for

community safety across the country.

• Comprehensive stakeholder engagement will begin in the coming months to ensure our approach to family violence death reviews is consistent with best practice principles, and appropriate for the ACT context. This will involve consideration of where death review functions will be located, whether this be with a new entity or within an existing

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~ACT ~ Government


agency. Policy work to implement the recommendation will continue throughout 2018, and legislation will follow once that work is complete.

Key Information

• Additional funding for frontline services to respond to increased demand for domestic and family violence support has also been provided from 2018-19 with an additional $1.7 million over four years for the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre and Domestic Violence Crisis Servlce.

• An increase in funding of $6.5 million over four years will also be provided from 2018-19 for specialist homelessness services to provide additional crisis accommodation and support to prevent women and children from becoming homeless due to domestic and family violence. This Includes a children's program which actively addresses trauma issues in children and promotes healthy relationships.


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·BUDGET ESTIMATES BRIEF

Portfolio/s Prevention of Domestic & Family Violence

-ISSUE: ACT Specific Statistics

ACT Pollclng 2014-15

No. of family violence incidents attended 2,903

No. of reported offences for famlly violence 1,558 recorded

maln offence: assault offences 746 (48.9 % of FV of fences recorded)

main offence: property damage offences 272 (17.5 %ofFV

offences recorded)

main offence: breach of domestic violence and 236 restraining orders offences (15.l % of FV

offences recorded)

Director of Publlc Prosecutions 2014-1S

No. of criminal proceedines related to family 517 violence commenced

legal Aid ACT 2014-15

No of new grants of legal assistance to support 132 victims of domestic and family violence

Common types of legal matters In which legal 1,375 ndvice and tasks services were provided during the (42.9 %of all year: Domestic Violence Order and Personal advice} Protection Order

Inquires handled by helpline during the year: 719 Domestic Violence Order and Personal Protection (4.95 % of total Order calls)

Clients seen in DVO m;itters for Advice, DL, Grants ---

Domestic Violence Crisis Service 2014-15

No. of crisis Intervention v!slts made to famllles 1,268 No. of information, personal support and other visits 85 to families

No. of calls received for telephone support and crisis 17,677 counselling

No. of nights of emergency accommodation provided 683

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2015-16 2016-17

3,403 3,197 2,224 2,736

1,125 1,351 {50.6%0/FV (49.4 % of all FIi offences offences recorded) recorded) 337 460 (15.2 %0/FV (16.8 % of all FV offences offences recorded) recorded) 248 345 {11.2 % of FV {12.6 % of all FV offences offences-recorded} recorded)

2015-16 2016-17

710 687

2015-16 I 2016-17 I 154 159

1,745 1,685 {26.8 % of all (22.5 % of all advice) advice)

696 598 (4.38 %of (3.91 % of total

total calls) calls)

1045 (client 1256 (cllent

count) count)

2015-16 2016-17

1,820 1,367 169 246

24,728 25,975

1350 886

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Cai:iberra Rape Crisis Centre 2014-1S 2015-16 2016-17

No. of indivld ua Is supported (total servl ce users) 3,044 6,162 7,947 -··-No. of call outs from police and/or forensic service to 246 307 471 support victims reporting sexual assault responded to

No. of crisis appointments provided 134 199 320 No. of counselling and support sessions provided 3,270 4,090 5,818 No. of telephone counselllng support/ crisis 12,524 27,623 23,934 interventions provided

Background Information - also provided to the Minister for Police

Key Statistics from ACT potlcing

• Table 2: Family Violence assault offences - 12 month comparison

Family Violence Assault offences

Assault - Famil violence related

All other assaults Total

Proportion of family violence related assaults{%)

01 May

2016 to 30

April 2017

1326 1675 3003

44.2%

01 May2017'

to 30 April

2018

1203 1568 2776

43.3%

Percent,age-change_(--%) -~ . ~- -4-.= ~._: ' - -i=.# - - • ::

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r,-,:_~:~~- ~- ·_i:--=. 01::1 - -__ ·c:.~;:-~- 0-l I.,:~.__-_ __ :;.~, .A,t:f __ -:~ ... _ ·.1 ~~~~:~~~~-~ :f~l .~~ ~-~-~~:~_'.rd

• Over the past 12 months, family violence related assault offences decreased by 9.3 per cent.


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ISSUE: Safer Families ~ Overview

Talking points:

• In 2016, the ACT Government made the single largest spending and policy commitment to address family violence in the ACT's history. This commitment was made to support the implementation of the ACT Government Response to Family Violence.

• The ACT Government Response to Family Violence included 41 separate commitments aimed at reducing the impact of domestic and family violence within the ACT.

• Together with the community sector, the Government has made considerable progress towards implementing the commitments given in 2016. Eighty per cent have been fully implemented, with the remainder in progress.

• The ACT Government remains committed to long term change so that we may reach our goal of zero tolerance of domestic and family violence. The change we are seeking will only come about with a long term investment in service and system design that is developed in partnership with the community and is informed by children, women and men with an experience of domestic and family violence. Long term investment is also required to shift attitudes In our community towards violence against women and children.

• A small number of initiatives within the Safer Families Package resulted in an·underspend for 2017-18. This has occurred only for initiatives that are new and innovative. The ACT Government has necessarily taken time to ensure we make changes and introduce new programs that are right for our local needs and expectations.

• Funds that were underspent in 2017-18 have all been reprofiled to Safer Families initiatives for 2018-19.

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Key Information

• Funding from the Family Safety Levy has gone directly to specialist services designed

to meet the needs of those experiencing domestic and family violence. Sim.ilarly,

Levy funding has enabled the strengthening of criminal justice responses, for example additional police officers to assist victims of domestic violence, In particular

to apply for domestic violence protection orders on behalf of victims and to

investigate family violence related offences.

• Significant progress has been made in the establishment of the Family Safety Hub, such that we now have a clear direction, Informed by the insights from people with a

lived experience of domestic and family violence and the service providers who

support them.

• The Family Safety Hub will bring people together in a collaborative network to drive

system change through the use of a 'try, test and learn' approach. Implementation

will focus on building: a shared understanding across the service system so people

get the right response wherever they seek help; capabillty to integrate services for

clients; and alternative pathways to safety that meet diverse needs.

• A comprehensive capability framework has been developed to ensure a sustainable

approach to the delivery of t raining to frontline workers across the health,

education, community services and justice sectors. Training will equip frontline

workers with the ability to recognise and provide basic support for clients who are

experiencing domestic or family violence. Importantly, the capability framework

recognises and builds upon existing training structures and workforce needs.


• The 2018-19 Budget allocates $24.1 million over four years for Safer Families initiatives, and includes a further $9.3 million over four years for initiatives that complement the Safer Families package.

• In the 2018-19 Budget, the levy funds $19.7 million of the $24.1 mllllon investment in Safer Families initiatives over four years.

• The 2017-18 Budget allocated $23.5 million over four years to Safer Famllfes initiatives, with $19.7 million being funded by the Levy.

• The 2017-17 Budget allocated $21.4 million over four years to Safer Famllies initiatives, with $19.1 million being funded by the Levy.

• The follow!ng init iatives resulted in an underspend for 2017-18

1. Enhancing access to justice for non-English speakers

2. Integrated case management

3. Training in domestic violence for frontline workers


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ACT Government Response to Family Violence - implementation progress at March 2018 by ACT Government Directorate

Community Services Directorate

1.1 A full-time Coordinator-General for Family Safety will be appointed and supported by a dedicated safer families team • 1.2 I The Coordinator-General will lead the development of an outcomes framework for family violence services • 1.7 I !mplement a cultural competency training package that will be compulsory for all CYPS staff

2.2 1 Additiona I funding for the Domestic Violence Crisis Service (DVCS) and the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre (CRCC).

2.3 Establish an innovative residential behaviour change program for men who use or are at risk of using violence.

3.3 Remove legislative barriers to Child and Youth Protection Services being able to effectively undertake appraisals.

3.7 Implement an awareness campaign and develop guideline documents to support new sharing information arrangements

4.1 Establish a Family Safety Hub to facilitate integrated services to address family violence across government and the community sector. 4.2 Facilitate a co-design process to develop the model for the Family Safety Hub including better access and referral to early intervention services for 4.3 children and young people who experience family violence. 2.1 Centralised and integrated case management and case coordination capability within the Hub for victims of family violence in the ACT. 3.4 Scope ICT support to facilitate accurate and appropriate information sharing between agencies. 5.1 Appoint a Community Engagement Officer in CYPS to improve critical partnerships and implement a community engagement plan

f 5.2 Present a Family Violence Statement to the Legislative Assembly every year.

5.3 Enhanced child protection case management and coordination

5.6 i Make publicly available information about review rights and ensure this is provided to individuals notified of a CYPS decision.

1.3 Training in domestic and family violence for frontline workers to include a module on record keeping in relation to family violence to adhere to the 0 3.5 Territory Records Act 2002 5.4 Develop a common risk assessment tool for use by agencies and service providers in the ACT. () 6.1 Brokerage for women and children to leave violence ()

Justice and Community Safety

1.4 Introduce the Family Violence Bill 2016 to amend the definition of domestic violence to capture a broader range of behaviours within the family violence -.---context.

1.5 Implement the Australian and NSW Law Reform Commission's (NSWLRC) recommendations relating to family violence in Family Violence -A National • Legal Response (2010). 2.6 Increase access to translation and interpreter services for people accessing the ACT Law Courts and Tribunal and specialist ACT family and domestic • violence services

-2.7 Stronger police support for family violence victims I t -3.2 Legislate to authorise information sharing in family violence matters broadly I t

'-

3':o-: Develop a policy and practice framework that supports the implementation oft he National Standards for Perpetrator Interventions I • --'--

. _4.4.. _ _; Remain actively engaged in forums of the Council of Australian Governments and other mechanisms to improve responses to families with complex needs within the family law system

5.7 Additional funding to Legal Aid ACT to increase its capacity to represent victims of family violence £

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5.8 Additional funding to the DPP to meet an increased need for prosecution of a!!eged perpetrators of family violence. .-5.10 Review the resources of the Public Advocate and Children and Young People Commissioner and resources in the Community Services Directorate that 0

respond to any oversight after the Human Rights Commission has been operating for a year.

N/A Levy Item Contribution to the Tara Costigan Foundation -.-1.6 Implement the justice reinvestment trial " ... l,,, 2.8 The Domestic Violence Prevention Council will lead the effort to identify areas for collaboration in prevention and intervention activities in relation to 0

elder abuse 5.5 Undertake a review of what decisions made by Child and Youth Protection Services should be subject to either internal or external merits review. C) 3.9 Legislate for the Attorney-General to order a future family violence death review and provide powers for those undertaking such a review •

ACT Health

2.4 Increase the capacity of specialist drug treatment services to deliver programs that integrate best practice in family violence prevention

2.5 Expand a family violence screening program in perinatal mental health across all Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.

Education Directorate

6.2 Work to share information with other jurisdictions to ensure that children at risk stay connected with the education system. @ {a)

6.2 Further strengthen supports for children to attend school and implement mechanisms with other agencies to support families where there are concerns • {b} with school attendance.

Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate

3.1 Amend the Children and Young People Act 2008 to clarify the ability for government and non-government agencies to share information in relation to child t, safety and wellbeing.

3.8 Request the Auditor-Genera! consider undertaking an audit of Mental Health, Justice Health and Alcohol and Drug Services (MHJHADS) files. • 5.9 Introduce a reportable conduct scheme for employees D

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ISSUE:



Safer Families Levy- Overview

Talking points:

• In the 2016-17 ACT Budget the ACT Government introduced the Safer Families Levy to ensure we have the resources needed to address family violence.

• · In the 2018-19 Budget, the levy funds $19.7 million of the $24.1 million investment in Safer Families initiatives over four years.

• Funding the safer families initiatives through a levy reflects the community's expectation that family violence can no longer be tolerated and shows that the community is acting together to address it.

Key Information

• Increasing numbers of people are experiencing family violence, including domestic violence and sexual assault. Close to half of all Australians have experienced violence since the age of 15.

• Family violence crosses socioeconomic and cultural boundaries and imposes an economic burden on the whole community. The impacts of this violence are devastating and well documented.

• Some of the initiatives being funded by the levy include:

o a full-time Coordinator-General for Family Safety to lead the whole-of-government effort to identify areas for early intervention and improve outcomes for domestic and family violence victims;

o the establishment of a Family Safety Hub to facilitate integrated services to address domestic and family violence across government and the community sectors;

o increased capacity in frontline crisis responses through Domestic Violence Crisis Service and Canberra Rape Crisis Centre

o more training for front-line staff;

o translation and interpreting services for people accessing the ACT Law Courts and Tribunal and specialist ACT family violence services;

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o an innovative residential behaviour change program for men who use or are at risk of using violence; and

o improved access to legal aid for victims.


• The 2017-18 Budget allocated $23.5 mlllion over four years to Safer Families initiatives, with $19.7 million being funded by the Levy.

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ISSUE: The Family Safety Hub

Talking points:

• Utilising a co-design approach, the Coordinator-General and her team made significant progress during 2017-18 towards the establishment of the Family Safety Hub.

• The Family Safety Hub was officially launched on 11 May 2018.

• The co-design commenced with gathering insights from 20 people affected by domestic and family violence and 50 frontline workers.

• The insights told us that a lot of people and communities who experience violence do not recognise it as violence. Power and control,

particularly, is not recognised as violence by victims, perpetrators or the system.

• The insights gathered through the co-design for the Family Safety Hub, have prompted the Government to think differently about the role for a Hub in the ACT. It is evident that we don't need a new service with a shiny front door in order to improve access. What w e need is a broad range of systemic reforms requiring a new way of working.

• The co-design highlighted that collaboration is needed to design and test

solutions to systemic problems. The insights also provide an evidence base for future reforms.

• The Family Safety Hub will bring together community, government and private sector experts and people with a lived experience of violence to

develop new solutions to challenges in the system. A 'try, test and learn1

approach will be used to test new ideas, acknowledging that good ideas

don't always work as well as expected in practice, and that adjustments may be required to achieve the best outcomes.

• The Family Safety Hub focuses on:

o Fostering shared understanding of domestic violence

o Building capability across the system for evidence-based responses that are culturally appropriate and family-centred

o Creating new or improved pathways that better meet the needs of the community, and

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o Promoting integration and cohesion across the system.

• The first area of focus for the Family Safety Hub is the prevention and early intervention of domestic violence for pregnant women and new parents. New ideas to tackle this challenge will be tested in the community in July, with the aim of establishing a pilot in the second half of 2018.

Key Information

• The Family Safety Hub is funded through the Family Safety Levy.

• Significant progress has been made in the establishment of t he Family Safety Hub. We now have a clear direction, Informed by the insights from people with a lived experience of domestic and family violence and the service providers who support them.

• Insights from the co-design process told us that people are offered generic pathways that do not meet their needs or aspirations. The insights showed that people will disclose their experience of violence with individuals where they have an existing

and trusting relationship. The insights gathered through the co-design for the Family Safety Hub, prompted the Government to think differently about the role for a Hub in the ACT.

• It was evident through the insights work that we didn't need a new service w ith a shiny front door in order to improve access. What we need is a broad range of systemic reforms requiring a new way of working. The co-design highlighted that collaboration is needed to design and test solutions to systemic problems.

• The Family Safety Hub will operate through a series of challenge workshops that will bring together field experts and people with lived experience to help find solutions to challenges faced by those living with domestic and family violence. The best of those solutions will be piloted and improved. Effective pilots will be scaled-up and embedded across the service system.

• The first Family Safety Hub challenge on early intervention for pregnant women and new parents started on 10 May, The first workshop generated 57 ideas. The most

promising ideas are being further developed over the ne><t two months and will be tested with system users, including both clients and frontline workers. From the user

testing, a couple of the most promising ideas will be selected to move into a formal pilot. Other challenges will follow including a focus on access to financial support and private housing.


• The 2018-19 Budget allocates $5.961 million over four years for the Family Safety Hub, which is part of a total $24.1 million over four years for Safer Families initiatives.

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• In the 20_18-19 Budget, the levy funds $19.7 million of the $24.1 million investment in Safer Families initiatives over four years.

• The 2017-18 Budget allocated $23.5 million over four years to Safer Families Initiatives, with $19.7 million being funded by the Levy.

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ISSUE: Domestic and Family Violence Frontline Worker Training

Talking points:

• Delivery of domestic and family violence training to frontline workers across the health, education, community services and justice sectors will commence in 2018-19.

• The training will help to build understanding, so that workers recognise the broad range of behaviours that constitute domestic and family violence and provide the skills needed to provide basic support to reduce the impact of this violence across the community.

• A comprehensive capability framework has been developed to ensure a sustainable approach to the delivery of training to frontline workers that recognises and builds upon existing training structures and workforce needs.

• Training of frontline workers recognises the research findings that show women commonly seek support from those with whom they have trusted re lationships.

• Training of frontline workers such as midwives and librarians recognises the valuable role that ACT Government employees can play as a first responder for people who may not otherwise seek support.

Key Information

• The Strategy will train approximately 21,790 ACT Government workers to recognise domestic and family violence and respond effectively. 11,500 of those trained will be frontline workers.

• There will be three tiers of training available, with each tier differing in capability and outcomes according to role.

• The Strategy will also include a manager support package to ensure all Senior Managers and Executives are well equipped to support staff and support a culture of change in the workplace to stop violence against women.

Background Information

• $770,000 was allocated for the delivery of frontline worker training as part of the 2016-17 budget. This money has been rolled over to be spent on training in 2018-19.

Cleared as complete and accurate : 12/06/2018 Cleared by: Choose an item. Ext: Contact Officer Name: Ext: Lead Directorate: Community Services

r TRIM Ref:



23

2018

THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY FOR THE

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

Annual Safer Families Statement 2018

Presented by Yvette Berry M LA

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence

24

Today I am delivering the second annual Safer Families Statement. This

statement will highlight some of the significant achievements of the ACT

Government and.community over the past twelve months, and will provide a

reminder of why we must continue on this path of greatly needed reform.

Domestic and family violence is a pervasive social problem, impacting

individuals, families and indeed the entire community.

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics confirms that one in six women

and one in 16 men have been subjected, since the age of 15 to physical and/or

sexual violence by a current or previous cohabiting partner.

The experience of violence is not a one-off incident for most women, with 54%

of women who had experienced current partner violence, having experienced

more than one violent incident.

Nationally, in 2014-15, on average, 8 women were hospitalised each day after

being assaulted by their spo_use or partner, compared with less than two men a

day. In this same time period, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women

were 32 times as likely to be hospitalised due to family violence as non

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women

Domestic and family violence is not limited to physical violence. The Australian

Bureau of Statistics reports that since the age of 15 one in four women.and

one in six men have experienced emotional abuse by a current or previous

partner.

We understand that controlling and coercive behaviours can have devastating

consequences for individuals and that the impacts can be long lasting. The

25

ending of a violent relationship does not automatically mean the effects of

trauma cease.

In 2011 intimate partner violence contributed more burden of disease {the

impact of illness, disability and premature death) than any other risk factor for

women aged 25-44.

In 2015-16 the financial cost of violence against women and their children in

Australia was estimated at $22 billion. There is no measure of the emotional

cost.

The ACT Governmenfs Coordinator-General for Family Safety has been a

driver for an interconnected, whole of government and community approach

to implementing the Governments' commitments to address domestic and

family violence. Crucial to this approach has been the goal to put victims and

survivors at the centre of policy and service design.

Utilising a co-design approach, the Coordinator-General and her team made

significant progress during 2017-18 towards the establishment of the Family

Safety Hub.

The co-design commenced with gathering insights from 20 people affected by

domestic and family violence and 50 frontline workers. The insights were

published in the Insights Report, honouring the contributions of the service

providers and families experiencing violence who had contributed.

The insights told us that a lot of people and communities who experience

violence do not recognise it as violence. Power and control, particularly, is not

recognised as violence by victims1 perpetrators or the system.

26

We learnt that people are offered generic pathways that do not meet their

needs or aspirations. For example some people are afraid to access services

and they want a non-legal response that does not involve police or child

protection. The insights told us that having a gendered system excludes some

people and communities; it doesn't allow for those who a re gender fluid or

identify d iff ere ntly.

Communities are seeking culturally competent and trauma informed services

that work with the whole family. The insights also told us that there is not

enough focus on the children and the impact of the significant trauma they

experience.

The insights gave us very valuable information about how and where people

seek help or support. We learnt that trust is critical for seeking help in relation

to domestic and family violence; people will disclose their experience of

violence with individuals where they have an existing and trusting relationship.

A recent report released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

confirmed what we learnt through the co-design for the Family Safety Hub

about help seeking, The AIHW reported that 5 in 10 women and 7 in 10 men

who experienced violence from a current partner did not seek advice or

support after the incident. Of those who did seek support, women were most

likely to seek that support from a family member or friend, followed by a

health professional.

The insights gathered through the co-design for the Family Safety Hub, have

prompted the Government to think differently about the role for a Hub in the

ACT. It is evident that we don't need a new service with a shiny front door in

order to improve access. What we need is a broad range of systemic reforms

27

requiring a new way of working. The co-design highlighted that collaboration

is needed to design and test solutions to systemic problems. The insights also

provide an evidence base for future reforms.

The Family Safety Hub will bring together community, government and private

sector experts and people with a lived experience of violence to develop new

solutions to challenges in the system. A 1try, test and learn1 approach will be

used to test new ideas, acknowledging that good ideas don't a I ways work as

well as expected in practice, and that adjustments may be required to achieve

the best outcomes.

Under the leadership of the ACT Coordinator-General for Family Safety/ work

has commenced to bring about the changes we are seeking in the system. The

focus for the first challenge is women and families during pregnancy and early

parenting. This recognises that pregnancy and early parenting are periods of

increased risk for exposure to domestic and family violence.

Implementation will focus on building: a shared understanding across the

service system so people get the right response wherever they seek help;

building capability to integrate services for clients; and alternative pathways to

safety that meet diverse needs. Implementation of the Family Safety Hub will

include a robust evaluation of both the process and outcomes. It is anticipated

the first phase will provide valuable learnings for the next and subsequent

phases of the Family Safety Hub.

Implementation of the Family Safety Hub will be supported by the delivery of

training to front line workers across the health, education, community services

and justice sectors. A Frontline Worker Training Strategy will be implemented

to build enduring core capability to expand on, rather than displace existing

[~-- -,

28

training. To commence in 2018-19, the frontline worker training will equip

workers to sensitively inquire about domestic and family violence and provide

the skills needed to provide basic support to reduce the impact of domestic

and family violence across the community. Training of front line workers such

as midwives and librarians, recognises the valuable role that ACT Government

employees can play as a first responder for people who may not otherwise

seek support.

During the past twelve months we have learnt more about the impacts of

domestic and family violence upon children as a result of research published by

the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, and work undertaken by the

Domestic Violence Prevention Council.

The AIHW reported that 68% of women surveyed, who had children in their

care when they experienced violence from their previous partner said their

children had seen or heard the violence. It also reported that 1 in 6 girls and 1

in 9 boys experienced physical and/or sexual abuse before the age of 15.

Children exposed to domestic, family and sexual violence can experience long

term effects on their development and have increased risk of mental health

issues, and behavioural and learning issues. The Domestic Violence Prevention

Council held an extraordinary meeting in April this year to further explore the

impacts of domestic and family violence on children and young people. This

meeting was attended by Members of the Legislative Assembly, senior

executives from across ACT government directorates and the community

sector.

The Government will work with the Domestic Violence Prevention Council to

respond to the recommendations from the Domestic Violence Prevention

C

29

Council Extraordinary Meeting. It is expected the recommendations will seek

improvements to service and policy design for children and young people

impacted by, or at risk of domestic and family violence.

The recent report by the AIHW told us that alcohol was involved in about 1 in 3

incidents of intimate partner violence) and 3 in 10 incidents of other family

violence. Whilst the relationship between alcohol use and domestic and family

violence is complex, we have a clear mandate to address the issues together

and with access to the best available evidence.

Significant progress has been made in the ACT towards bu[lding capacity in the

alcohol and other drug sector to better respond to domestic and family

violence. Through funding from the Safer Families Package, the Alcohol

Tobacco and Other Drug Association of the ACT (ATODA) developed a suite of

Australian first tools to assess and build capacity among workers and

organisations within the specialist alcohol and other drug sector. Launched in

the Legislative Assembly, in April 2018, the tools developed by ATODA are an

important step in the ACT Government's commitment to expand upon

pathways to safety for those experiencing domestic and family violence.

A number of the commitments made by the ACT Government in 2016 have

now been fully implemented. An example of this is the introduction of the

Family Violence Act 2016 which saw a broadening of the definition of family

violence in the ACT to include the full range of coercive, controlling and

abusive behaviours. Having now been in operation for over twelve months,

the Government is monitoring the application of the Family Violence Act 2016

to gauge whether it is achieving the changes that were intended.

30

I have described only a handful of the initiatives taking place across the ACT

community to address domestic and family violence. I am pleased to know

that the community, including community groups, not-for-profit organisations

through to the corporate sector have taken steps to address domestic and

family violence. I would like to acknowledge the contributions made by the

community to improve the lives of people affected by domestic and family

violence.

There have been significant gains in the last year, however we are really only

just getting started. There is still much to be done to reduce the occurrence

and the impact of domestic and family violence. The ACT Governm~nt remains

committed to this essential area of reform and looks forward to continued

strengthening of activity and partnerships over the coming years.

ENDS

[

31

Meeting

Date

ACT Government

Community Services

HOUSING ACT

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BRIEFING

Community Budget Lock-Up

Tuesday, 04 May 2018

Agenda item Reducing Homelessness - Budget Initiative -·"

Action For information

SUMMARY -TALKING POINTS

• This budget money is about continuing to Invest in early crisis intent ion - to prevent peoples circumstances

getting worse

• We are particularly focusing on the key groups that were highlighted during our.seven week consultation

process and at the Housing and Homelessness Summit.

• This is a focus on:

o women and children escaping domestic violence,

o older women whose Issue is largely poverty,

o young pregnant women at risk of statutory lntervention; and

o migrant famllies who have uncertain immigration status which In turn limits their access to either

income or employment.

• To support these and other services we will be extending the operating hours of Onelink to improve coordination of services and responsiveness to the individual needs of people seeking support,

• This Budget Initiative draws heavily on the feedback from the seven week consultation process with the community and the sector at the end of last year, which culminating in the Housing and Homelessness

Summit.

• The focus is overwhelmingly on women and children - particularly those who are escaping domestic and

family violence.

DETAILED-TALKING POINTS

Will there be separate Service Funding Agreements for the existing providers? What wiff go out to tender?

• We wlll work with Beryl, Doris, Toora, Karinya and Onelink on a variation to their current service funding

agreements.

• The additional funding will align with their current Agreements-which expire on June 2019 with an option

of a 1 plus 1 extension until 2021.

• We will tender for programs to address asylum seekers and older women at risk of homelessness.

[ ···- --- -· ~-I

32

Funding for Beryl, Doris, Toora

• $100,000 per annum will be provided to specialist domestic violence services, Doris Women's Refuge, Beryl

Women Inc and Toora Women Inc to support their work in helping women and their children experiencing

domestic and family violence

• These three women's services provide immediate support to women and their children at a critical time of

crisis to address the effects of domestic and family violence and help them to regain control of their lives.

• Beryl and Doris have both been able to use an annual grant of $100,000 to work with women and chlldren

escaping Domestic and Family Violence -this funding will enable that to continue.

Where did that grant money come from?

• · We were able to use money N~AH funding - however at the time the future of NPAH funding was uncertain

therefore we were unable to commit for a longer period of time.

Karinya House

• Karinya House Home for Mothers and Babies Inc (Karinya) will also receive $80,000 per annum in funding to provide addltional resources for their supported accommodation facility for young pregnant women and mothers.

• This is in response to a rise In demand - In 2017 l<arinya reported unmet demand for their service with an additional 176 women annually seeking residential services support.

• This is also to fund the two additional places In the new purpose- built facility that the government funded and built, and Karinya moved in to in 2016.

• Karinya now has capacity to employ more staff to support 11 women and their babies at any one time.

Older Women

• Older women at risk of homelessness was a strong theme througho.ut our consultations.

• For these women poverty is the main Issue rather than complex needs.

• We intend to initiate a tender process for an appropriate service model to reach out to older women who are at risk of homelessness and help them maintain or obtain long term affordable accommodation options. ensure olderwomei,are not

Asylum seekers and migrants with uncertain immigration status

• There is a service gap for new migrants who may or may not be asylum seekers but whose residency is unclear due to issues such as relationship breakdown and domestic violence.

• Some are still waiting for a resolution on their immigration status - these people can't work or get a Centrelink income.

• While our existing crisis services support these migrants - with no income and uncertain migrant status there are no exits from crisis.

• This contributes to the bottleneck in crisis accommodation.

• Funding of $420,000 per annum will support longer term transitional accommodation for migrant families who are falling through t he service gaps - including rental subsidies and support to gain employment, training and government family benefits.

• We know that once new migrants have access to employment they do well in the private housing market -but they need help in navigating a complex system and support while they do so.

__ 2

33

• We are working with the Office of Multicultural Affairs to more fully understand the service gaps and will develop an expression of interest for an appropriate model.

• This funding would provide case management and accommodation for 15 families at any one time.

How did you come up with the funding figure for the asylum seeker program

• The funding was based on the cost of supporting a family for 12 months to rent a three bedroom property at market rent as well as providing case management and brokerage funds.

• With intensive case management (to assist in resolving immigration status, access education and employment opportunities) the average length of stay in homelessness accommodation is less than 6 months. It is anticipated over a 12 month period the service provider would support around 30 families per year, including through rental and brokerage.

• Depending upon the model this may utilise Housing ACT properties and fund providers to help families transition into the private market.

OneLink

• Funding is being provided to extend the operating hours of Onelink to improve coordination of services and responsiveness to the individual needs of people seeking support

• One link currently operates from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday (except public holidays. This funding wlll provide an additional hour of operation for One link each working day (Monday to Friday) as well as an additional 8 hours of operation on weekends,

• The funding also includes brokerage funds, up to $150,000 per year, so that appropriate crisis support can be provided at the time lt's needed.

BACKGROUND

Beryl. Doris. Toora

• Beryl Women Inc. provides therapeutic support and safe housing to women and children escaping domestic and family violence in the ACT and surrounding region.

• Doris Women's Refuge provides supported short and medium term accommodation and transitional support for women and children fleeing domestic or family violence.

• Toora Women Inc. provides accommodation and other support to women and children with complex Issues who are affected by trauma due to domestic and sexual violence, and homelessness.

• These three women's services provide immediate support to women and their children at a critical time of crisis to address the effects of domestic and family violence and help them to regain control of their llves.

• Following the introduction of the Commonwealth's National Affordable Housing Agreement, Beryl, Doris and Toora were disproportionately affected by significant funding reductions by the Commonwealth that were passed onto them in 2013.

• Prior to these funding cuts, women's accommodation services were funded at a significantly higher rate than other homelessness services. Under an agreed funding reform, Beryl had a core funding reduction of 32 per cent, while Toora and Doris received 39 per cent and 41 per cent reduction of their core funding respectively. This meant that each service were forced to reduce staff who were specifically employed to work with children.

• Doris and Beryl have received additional one-off funding of $100,000 each for the 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19 financial years in recognition of the restoration work they do with children traumatised by domestic and family violence.

3

34

• This additional funding has allowed Beryl and Doris to provide accommodation based and other supports to an average of 150 children per annum, not only as a part of a family unit, but also in their own right. Toora supports over 200 children per annum in the same capacity.

• More specifically, the funding has enabled the services to employ an additional child and family specialist worker to provide an ongoing healthy relationships program for children and young people who reside at the refuges. Through this and other programs offered in-house, the services are able to integrate children into mainstream services and other supports in the community for their ongoing recovery from trauma related to

domestic violence.

• This funding also allows services to deliver a weekly children's group and consistent case management of individual children through assessment of their developmental and emotional health and wellbeing, providing advocacy and referrals. They can also organise school holiday activities and fund attendance at holfday camps

for a number of children in need.

• It also allows the services to plan long- term and attract and retain qualified personnel.

Karinya

• Karinya House Home for Mothers and Babies Inc (Karinya) provides supported accommodation, transitional housing, outreach services and support groups to pregnan·t and parenting women and their families in crisis.

• Karinya also receives funding from the Ch lid Youth and Family Support Program (CYFSP) to provide lntensive support for mothers whose babies are at risk of entering care.

• In 2016, Karinya moved to a new purpose- built facility, with a capacity to support a minimum of 11 women

and their babies at any one time.

• While the new facility allows more women to be supported 'in-house', there is an imbalance with the number

staff Karinya can afford to employ under its current funding.

• Karinya has reported unmet demand for their service with an additional 176 women annually seeking

residential services support.

• Access to safe accommodation for pregnant and parenting women is an identified issue within the sector, and Karlnya has consistently sought additional funding for two more accommodation places at the new facility.

• The additional funding would maximise the use of the service's expanded residential capacity.

• In addition, rent costs at the new facility are markedly higher, as it Is based on the improved market value of the new property. The additional funding will assist in reducing the rental impost on the service.

Contact Officers

Deb Fou/cher, Senior Manager - Housing and Homelessness Policy

[ , ..


35

j. ACT ~ Government

Community Services

Talking Points

Reducing Homelessness Budget Initiative - Beryl, Doris and Toora

Organisation Contact Position Phone number

Beryl Women Inc Ms Robyn Martin Coordinator 6230 6900

Doris Women's Refuge Ms Nevenka Canelo Acting-Coordinator 6278 9900

Toora Women Inc Mirsada Draskovic, Acting -Executive 612 27020

Director 0404 319 125

• I am delighted to personally speak with you this morning/ this afternoon to advise

the ACT Government will provide you with additional funding of $100,000 per ~nnum

over the next four years.

• Th is is part of the $6.542 m ii lion package that I announced in the Budget to continue

our focus on early intervention and prevention to prevent chronic homelessness.

• The focus of this commitment is overwhelmingly on women and children, particularly

those escaping domestic and family violence.

• In recognition of your significant work in this area, Housing ACT will align the

additional funding with your existing service funding agreement.

• Min McIntyre, Senior Manager, Specialist Homelessness Service Delivery, will contact

you shortly to discuss contractual arrangements.

Reducing Homelessness Budget Initiative - Karinya

Organlsation Contact Position Phone number

Karlnya House Horne for Ms Marie- Louise Corkhill Executive Director 6259 8998

Mothers and 13ables Inc

• I am delighted to personally speak with you this morning/ this afternoon to advise the

ACT Government will provide you with additional funding of $80,000 per annum over

the next four years.

• This is part of the $6,542 million package that I announced in the Budget to continue

our focus on early intervention and prevention to prevent chronic homelessness.

• The focus of this commitment is overwhelmingly on women and children, including

young pregnant women at risk of statutory intervention.

• In recognition of your significant work in this area, Housing ACT will align the

additional funding with your existing service funding agreement.

• Min McIntyre, Senior Manager, Specialist Homel.essness Service Delivery, will contact

you shortly to discuss contractual arrangements.

[ "---·---,

36

QUESTION TIME BRIEF

Portfolio: Attorney-Genera I

ISSUE: FAMILY VIOLENCE POLICY

Talking points:

• Family violence is a serious issue that the Government remains absolutely committed to addressing. All Canberrans have the right to

feel safe, and to be safe.

• The experience of domestic and family violence causes enduring damage

to individuals and to society as a whole.

• The financial cost of family violence in our community is measured in the

bilHons of dollars.

• The ACT Government views acts of family violence as intolerable and is

actively working to make changes to protect the safety of all members of

our community.

What is the Government doing to prevent family violence?

• Domestic and family violence is a difficult and complex problem which

has no sirr;iple solutions.

• To prevent domestic and family violence we need to change th'e way

Australians think and act in their homes. This means the whole community needs to be engaged in the job of changing attitudes and social norms.

• It was in recognition of this complexity that the ACT Government refocused its efforts to combat domestic and family violence in 201'6. The commitment was to a comprehensive and long term re.form agenda. The Safer Families package was the largest action to address family

violence in Canberra's history.

• The investment in Safer Families is continuing. In the 2017-18 Budget the commitment has grown to $23.5 million over four years.


Cleared by: Information Officer name:

Contact Officer name: Lead Directorate:

TRIM Ref; 2018/000083-018

08/05/2018

Justice and Community Safety


37

QUESTION TIME BRIEF

• The reform program involves a new model for integration across Government, the community sector and the community. The work is being led by the first full-time Coordinator General for Family Safety, who commenced in October 2016.

• On 11 May 2018 the Government launched the Family Safety Hub, which will be a catalyst for change within the existing ACT service system. The Hub was developed through a co-design process led by the Coordinator General for Family Safety. It will bring together people with expertise to help find and test new solutions before allowing them to be scaled-up and merged into the broader justice and service systems. The Hub's first focus is on how to build better early intervention support for pregnant

women and new parents.

Death Review

• The Government has committed to introducing a family violence death

review scheme for the ACT.

• This commitment was in response to the first and only ACT Death

Review in 2016, which analysed 14 family violence deaths in the ACT between 2000 and 2012.

• A death review scheme will analyse information relating to family violence deaths in the ACT and make recommendations for system wide improvements to services to prevent similar deaths occurring in the

future.

• Death reviews will help to improve family violence responses by examining the ways in which our systems and services performed when they were most challenged.

• The Justice and Community Safety Directorate {JACS) will consult with key stakeholders with a view to introducing legislation to implement a

death review scheme in 2019-20.

• Comprehensive stakeholder engagement will be important to ensure establishment of a death review process that is consistent with best

practice principles and appropriate for the ACT context.

Key Information

Cleared as complete and accurate: 08/05/2018 Cleared by: Information Officer name: Contact Officer name: Lead Directorate:

TRIM Ref: 2018/000083-018

Justice and Community Safety r--· --------- J


38

QUESTION TIME BRIEF


Death Review

• The ACT Death Review, published in May 2016, provided 28 recommendations for

action, including the recommendation that the ACT establish a legislative scheme to

enable future family violence death reviews.

• In June 2016, the Government published the ACT Government Response to Family

Violence, which included a commitment to 'legislate for the Attorney-General to

order a future family violence death revlew and provide powers for those

undertaking such a review'.

• An ACT death review model will require funding. Costing for a death review model is

yet to be determined. Legislation, Policy and Programs (LPP) will prepare a detailed

costing for the 2019-20 budget process.

• LPP is preparing to consult key family violence stakeholders on two draft death

review models, in anticipation for implementation in 2019-20.

• All jurisdictions, except Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the ACT, have a family violence death review function.

Sentencing of Graham Dillon

• On 4 June 2018 Graham Dillon was sentenced to 41 years in jail, including 36 years

for the murder of his 9-year-old son, Bradyn. Bradyn was killed on 15 February 2016

following months of abuse by Dillon. On the day of his death, Bradyn was beaten by Dillon, causing fresh brain injuries and causing older brain injuries to re-bleed.

Bradyn died in hospital.

• In response to this tragedy, a week after Bradyn's death, the ACT Government

launched a review into system level responses to family violence in the ACT, also

known as the Glanfield Inquiry. The Glanfield Inquiry considered the interactions

between ACT Government Directorates, agencies and service providers to identify

areas where the Government can improve support for familles experiencing

violence. A report was published in April 2016 and all 31 recommendations were

accepted by the ACT Government.

• One of the key areas of reform identified by the Glanfield lnqu lry is about

information sharing between family violence agencies to ensure women and children

receive the assistance they need. An ACT family violence death review scheme would

address this issue as it will aim to facilitate better information sharing in the family

violence context.

• The ACT Children and Young People Death Review Committee (the Committee)

reviews information about the deaths of children and young people to help prevent

similar deaths from happening in the future. This would include review of Bradyn's

death. An ACT famlly violence death review scheme would have a similar function to Cleared as complete ;ind accurate: 08/05/2018 Cleared by: Information Officer name: Contact Officer name: Lead Directorate: Justice and Community

Safety

TRIM Ref: 2018/000083-018 r--7


39

QUESTION TIME BRIEF

the Committee, and LPP will consult with the Committee in developing a family violence death review model.

Family Violence Policy

• On 6 June 2016, the ACT Government announced the Safer Families package which included $21.42 million in funding and highlighted four key priority actions for the ACT Government,

including:

o appointing the first, full-time Coordinator-General for Family Safety to lead change and provide accountability across the service system;

o implementing a collaborative and integrated approach to services through a dedicated Family Safety Hub;

o authorising information sharing and collaborative practices via a new legislative

framework; and

o developing a skilled and educated workforce, especially frontline staff, to respond to the needs of adults and children experiencing family violence.

Family Safety Hub

• The Family Safety Hub was a key commitment in the ACT Government's Response to Domestic and Family Violence. The Coordinator General for Family Safety has spent the last 12 months co-designing the final hub design with input from government, community services and front-line workers, experts and victims of domestic and family violence.

• The Family Safety Hub is funded at $5.96 million over four years through the Safer Families Levy which sees each household contribute $30 per year through their rates.


Cleared by: Information Officer name: contact Officer name: Lead Directorate:

TRIM Rof: 2018/000083--018

08/05/2018

Justice and Community Safety I ·-- --·----··· 'I

i ............ .,._,._. .................... .


40

SELECT COMMITTEE ON ESTIMATES 2018-2019 Budget Estimates June 2018

ACT Policing

ISSUE: Family Violence

CONTEXT

Family violence is still a key issue in the ACT community and remains a key focus for ACT Policing.

TALKING POINTS

• ACT Policing works with partner agencies from the ACT and other jurisdictions, community and government to deliver a holistic approach to tackling violence within the home, which engages with victims and offenders.

• Over the past 12 months, family violence related assault offences decreased by

9.3 per cent. • On average, ACT Policing officers attend between 8 and 12 family violence

incidents each day, many of which occur after hours. After Hours Family Violence Orders (AH-FVO) provide police with an important tool to intervene in the family violence cycle, in circumstances where arrest is not an available

option. • A focus must be on keeping people safe through a diverse range of mechanisms,

including avenues outside the judicial process. • An enhanced inter-agency cross-sector approach towards domestic and family

violence in the ACT is vital to ensure: o Early intervention o Appropriate response to the situation o Prevention

BACKGROUND

In March 2018, ACT Policing appeared before the ACT Standing Committee on Justice and Community Safety - Inquiry into Domestic and Family Violence - Policy approaches and responses.

The inquiry has not yet released recommendations.

Performance indicators

• ANZPAA is seeking to develop performance indicators to measure effectiveness of police response and intervention to family violence incidents, identify the responsibilities and capability within family violence contexts and identify focus areas for policing in seeking to

improve family violence responses.

Cleared by:

Date: 23/5/2018 Action officer: Action officer phone:




41

Key statistics

Table 2: Family Violence assault offences -12 month comparison

Family Violence Ass au It offences 01May 01 May2017

2016 to 30 to30Aprll

Aprll 2017 2018

Assault- Family violence related 1326 1203

All other assaults 1675 1568

Total 3003 2776

Proportion of famlly violence related assaults (%)

44.2% 43.3%

• Initiatives focus on prevention, risk analysis, victim support and perpetrator programs.

• Structure: o Officer in Charge (Station Sergeant}

o Team Leader (Sergeant) o 4 x police members (training and support to frontline)

o 2 x FV-Order Liaison Officers (OLOs)

o 1 x policy/project officer (professional staff)

Collaboration

• ACT Policing has strengthened its ability to respond to family violence incidents by adopting a 'pro-intervention' model focused on prevention and safety. Initiatives Include:

Initiatives

o Providing assistance in the Family Violence Order (FVO) application process.

o Regular engagement with the Coordinator-General for Family Safety regarding

development of new polldes and initiatives such as the Family Safety H~b. o Sharing Information with partner agencies to support early intervention for victims

of family violence where a judicial approach is not appropriate. o Formalised MOUs with partners such as Domestic Violence Crisis Service regarding

cooperative working relations.

• Key initiatives that the FVCU has implemented that focus on victim safety and streamlining

the judicial process include:

o The FV Risk Assessment toolkit o Fam Hy Violence Evidence in Chief (FVEIC) interviews. Providing regular FVEIC court

outcome data is difficult and was only captured for a period of 12 months after it was Introduced.

o Appointment of Family Violence Order Liaison Officers (FV-OLOs). Between 1 May 2017 and 30 April 2018 the FV~OLOs assisted 513 people through the Family

Violence Order (FVO) process. Referrals were received from frontline police,

external agencies and directly from victims. o Between 1 May 2017- 30 April 2018, there were 1133 FVO's (both Interim and Final

orders) Issued.

o Strangulation Prevention and Intervention Program

Clea red by:


r -- -I

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42

•

Protection Orders

• On 5 and 6 March 2018, a Strangulation Prevention and Intervention program was delivered by two internationally recogn lsed experts from the San Diego Institute on Strangulation Prevention.

• Moving forward with identified outcomes from the workshop a sub working group has been endorsed by the FVIP CC to develop multiagency approaches including strategies and training that wlll enhance awareness and the dangers of strangulation in family violence incidents.

• The court's ability to issue FVOs of their own volition Is an important component of the

legislative framework designed to combat family violence. • With funding from the Safer Families budget package, ACT Policing has employed two

dedicated Family Violence OLOs since November 2016 to assist applicants In applying for FVOs.

• All requests received by police for assistance in applying for a FVO are referred to the

OLOs. • All FVOs granted after hours are also referred to the OLOs to contact the affected person to

offer assistance and support services.

Police Issued Safety Notices

• With the exception of the ACT, all other State and Territory jurisdictions have a police

issued protection order framework. • Under these frameworks, police can Issue Protection Safety Notices where requisite

thresholds are satisfied. • The utility of an equivalent pol!ce issued Protection Safety Notice framework in the ACT is

currently under consideration. Thls matter requires widespread consultation with

stakeholders.

Diversity

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Liaison officers support police to provide a culturally and gender relevant response to family violence in the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community with the intent to reduce repeat victimisation and interMgenerational

violence. • People with disabilities can contact police by phone, email or telephone typewriter.

• People who do not speak English can contact police via the Telephone Interpreter Service (TIS) .

• Police reach out to people from culturally diverse background through a Community Safety team. This team represents ACT policing at a variety of multicultural events and venues in order to engage with Canberra's multicultural community.

Family violence within policing families

• The AFP is committed to supporting AFP appointees who experience family and domestic

violence. • The AFP Family and Domestic Violence Strategy (the strategy) and Resource Gulde is

available to all staff and outlines the AF P's approach to supporting staff experiencing

violence at home.

Cleared by:


,·-··-···----·-----1 l ~




43

~!l! 'l!!!!I Community Services

UNCLASSIFIED

To: Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Tracking No.: MIN 17 /1574

CC:

From:

Date

Subject:

Critical Date:

Critical Reason:

Purpose

Family Violence

Michael De' Ath, Director-General

Jo Wood, Coordinator-General for Family Safety

19 October 2017

Update regarding the Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drug Association ACT

domestic and family violence project

N/A

N/A

To provide an update on the domestic and family violence project being undertaken by the

Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drug Association ACT (ATODA).

Recommendations

That you:

1. Note the information contained in this brief. Noted / Please Discuss

Yvette Berry MLA ................................................................. . ... ./ ..... / .... .

Comments and Feedback

Background 1. You were recently briefed on the work being undertaken by ATODA to develop a pilot

project to increase the capacity of specialist drug treatment services (M-17 /1241).

2. The Office of the Coordinator-General for Family Safety (OCGFS) has met regularly with ATODA representatives to receive updates on the implementation of the project. In addition, ATODA has published Project Update #4 on their website http :Uwww .atoda.org.au/research-scope-and-design-a-pi lot-pro ject-safer-fam i I ies/

UNCLASSIFIED

Tracking No.: MIN 17/1574 1

44

UNCLASSIFIED

Issues

3. ATODA are progressing with implementation as per the project plan agreed with ACT Health. This includes the development of a Domestic and Family Violence Capability Assessment Tool (DFVCAT) that will collect baseline information from participating services on DFV capabilities. The tool will give an indication of where efforts are required to improve DFV capability and can be re-administered at regular intervals to assess increased capacity. The OCGFS participated in a consultation workshop regarding the DFVCAT on 6 September 2017.

4. Other activity underway includes the development of a Scope of Practice, the Clinical Guidelines/Evidence Based Practice Framework and the Evaluation Framework. ATODA are working closely with the alcohol and other drug sector and academics to progress this work.

5. A TODA will provide a draft of the pilot project plan to ACT Health in November 2017 for consideration by ACT Health. This will be finalized in December 2017 with the expectation that ACT Health will commence implementation in early 2018. The pilot project plan will provide guidance on activities, funding models and evaluation over three years from January 2018.

6. ATODA are working with ACT Health to make certain the project plan remains relevant to ACT Health and to ensure a smooth transition to the implementation phase. The OCGFS has maintained a watching brief over this aspect of the project in light of a recent restructure within ACT Health and the transfer of drug and alcohol policy from Policy and Stakeholder Relations to Population Health.

Financial Implications

7. The 2016-17 ACT Government Budget allocated $2.0 million over four years to increase capacity of the alcohol and other drug sector in responding to DFV. This funding was extended in the 2017-18 Budget to $2.13 million over four years.

Consultation

8. The OCGFS maintains contact with ACT Health and ATODA regarding progress on this project.

Benefits/Sensitivities

9. ATODA is working closely with the alcohol and other drug sector to prepare a pilot project to be implemented over the next four years, pending approval by ACT Health.

10. The sector is likely to assume the project will be implemented from early 2018, and hence it will be vitally important for ACT Health to remain engaged with ATODA both in the lead up to the December 2017 report and in early 2018.

Media Implications 11. There are no media implications arising from this brief

Signatory Name:

Action Officer:

UNCLASSIFIED Tracking No.: MIN 17 /1574

Phone:

Phone:

2



45

QUESTION TIME BRIEF

Portfolio/s Education & Early Childhood Development

ISSUE: Respectful Relationships education in ACT Public Schools.

Talking points:

Why is it important?

• A focus on respectful relationships is important because gender inequality and gender-based violence continue to have a profound effect on outcomes for Australians.

• Respectful Relationships Education is a school based approach to primary prevention of Domestic and Family Violence.

• It aims to develop skills and attitudes early, that will stop Domestic and Family Violence from happening in the future.

• Respectful Relationships Education {RRE) programs have had increased attention in recent years, with the link between this curriculum area and primary prevention of gender based violence becoming more widely understood. In all Australian jurisdictions, Education departments are working on developing resources and implementing curriculum in this area.

• The Directorate's approach has been informed by the work of Our Watch, an independent, not for profit organisation established under the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-2022 (the National Plan). Our Watch works closely with Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety (AN ROWS).

Implementation in ACT public schools

• Respectful Relationships Education is most effective when used as part of a whole school approach, which involves students experiencing the "key messages" in many different ways across the curriculum and in different areas of the school and community. This should involve the whole school community, including students, staff and the wider school community in the

process of cultural change.

• At the universal level (all students), schools teach RRE through the Australian Curriculum (AC) supported by Social and Emotional approaches and specific RRE resources.

• This is supported through the Directorate's Safe and Supportive Schools Policy (2016), requiring all Canberra public schools to deliver Social and Emotional Learning programs, and the requirement for all ACT public schools to implement the AC.

Cleared as complete and accurate: 23/05/2018 Cleared by: Director Contact Officer Name: Lead Directorate: Education

·-··· j Sched 2.2 (a)(ii) FOI Act 2016

46

QUESTION TIME BRIEF

• Schools a re able to choose programs and resources that suit their particular context and school community. All ACT public schools have access to the online QLD Curriculum to Classroom (C2C}, the 'Student Wellbeing Hub' hosted by the Commonwealth and resources from Our Watch and Victorian Department of Education and Training to support implementation of RRE.

• The Directorate supports schools to access a range of PL including the White Ribbon Breaking the Silence Schools program and the Love Bites Program (NAPCAN) provided by senior psychologists.

• In the ACT some non-government organisations, such as the YWCA, PCYC and Menslink offer training to schools in this area. The YWCA's program involves a cost to schools which covers a license to train other school staff and a resource kit. There are also a range of commercial programs available to schools.

Who are we working with?

• The Directorate is working with Our Watch to progress Respectful Relationships Education. Our Watch is also working with other education jurisdictions (Victoria and Queensland) to help meet commitments under the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-2022.

• The ACT Education Directorate contributes to an Australian Government led working group in this area and is also a member of the Our Watch National Respectful Relationships Education Expert Group. The Directorate attended workshops provided by Our Watch on 5 and 6 March 2018.

• The Directorate has promoted the White Ribbon Australia, Breaking the Silence Schools Program to Canberra Public Schools. Participation in the program is free. 20 ACT schools have engaged with this respectful relationships program which takes a whole school approach. 16 have finished the program, 6 finishing in 2018. Planning is currently occurring to commence another cohort of schools in the training in August, 2018.

How do we support individual families/students experiencing family violence?

• In addition to the primary prevention approach of Respectful Relationships Education, the Directorate provides a range of supports for individual students/families who have/are experiencing family violence.

• This includes support from the Network Student Engagement teams (NSET) and links to Government and NGO providers.


[_ -----_ ---, Sched 2.2 (a)(ii) FOI Act 2016

47

/3):\ACT e, Government QUESTION TIME BRIEF

Where Respectful Relationships Education fits in Education's

Domestic and Family Violence Plan

Resources: EDU: Student Support Teams, including

School Psychologist

Targeted Responses for students

affected by DFV needing individualised responses

Network Student Engagement Teams

Government eg. CARHU, Malaleuca Place,

CYPS, Housing, Onelink.

Individualised Plans developed as required with focus on Support for Learning and Wellbeing.

Community: NGOs providing co.unselling,

family support, housing.

Resources:

Selected Responsive approaches for students Impacted by DFV

Responsive Practices to address students needs

EDU: eg. Student Support

Teams, including School

Psychologist

Network Student Engagement

Teams, School Youth Health

Nurses.

for example trauma informed practice, referrals for support, small group programs, capacity

building for staff

Local NGO Providers - eg.

Menslink, PCYC, Regional

Community Services,

Marymead .

u n ive rsa I all Students

School based approach to primary prevention of Domestic and Family Violence

Australian Curriculum

Social and Emotional Leaming

Respectful Relationships Education (RRE)

Teaching and modelling of positive social -attitudes, respect, personal resilience and wellbeing.

Resources: Online Australian Curriculum, Curriculum Resources from QLD (C2C), VIC and TAS.


SEL Approaches (e.g. KidsMatter, Mindmatters)

RRE (e.g. QurWatch, White Ribbon)

Local NGO Pre>viders (e.g. YWCA, Menslink, PCYC).

[-·---------- ..

J- ~- ~- ••

·1 !


48

~ACT \51 Government QUESTION TIME BRIEF

Key Information

• The YWCA Canberra has, on a number of occasions, spoken out in public forums and in the media commenting that the Education Directorate needs to do more in the area of Respectful Relationships Education.

• On 17 May, 2018 YWCA released their Leading the Change: Gender Equality Report,

which provided recommendations based on YWCA's assessment of the ACT Government's progress on gender equality. The Education Direcotrate met with the YWCA on 11 May and provided a follow-up letter, providing information about their approach to RRE and clarified inaccuracies in the draft report.

• The YWCA has been promoting its Respect Ed suite of training and resources to ACT schools. There is a cost to schools to access training. The Directorate has supported the advertisement of the Respect Ed to schools.

Background Information

The ACT Education Directorate's (EDU) response to Family Violence aligns with both Australian and ACT government priorities and recognises the important role the education system plays as a setting for primary prevention.

Young people benefit from education programs which assist them to recognise and question gender norms, and to critically examine the potentially negative or limiting im-pacts they may have. Research indicates that education programs that work on building positive gender relationships must commence from an early age, as children are well aware of gender norms and make efforts to fit within gendered expectations by the time they are in kindergarten.1

Continuing social and emotional learning programs in schools to enhance the skills of children and young people to engage in respectful relationships forms part of the current Parliamentary Agreement between ACT Labor and ACT Greens.

During the 2015 and 2016 the Directorate made Social and Emotional Learning grants available to schools (up to $5000/school). 51 schools applied for a grant to assist implementation of SEL approaches in their school.

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) forms a strong foundation for teaching about positive gender relationships. SEL programs provide a logical starting point from which to engage in more explicit work with students around gender norms, gender identity and respectful relationships.

Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is the process through which students acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to:

o understand and manage their emotions o understand and show empathy for others o establish and maintain positive respectful relationships

1 Victorian Department of Education and Training (2016). Resilience, Rights & Respectful Relat ionships: Teaching

For Social and Emotional Learning and Respectful Relationships. Melbourne. Available at

www.education.vic.gov.au/respectrel

Cleared as complete and accurate: 23/05/2018 Cleared by: Director Contact Officer Name: Lead Directorate: Education ll


49"

@ !~! QUESTION TIME BRIEF

o set and achieve positive goals o make responsible decisions.

0



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