Overview
The Gold Coast Domestic Violence Integrated Response
(GCDVIR) has been successfully operating on Queensland’s
Gold Coast since 1996. It was developed
following community discussions
about the high incidence of domestic violence and domestic homicides
on the Gold Coast. The local Magistrates Court currently records
the highest number of applications for domestic violence protection
orders in Queensland.
The GCDVIR is a community-based
integrated multi-agency response to domestic violence that focus on
services working together to provide coordinated, appropriate
and consistent responses to domestic violence within a justice
reform model. The project includes court assistance and follow-up
support for victims and their children, men’s groups
and a system of interagency information-sharing, monitoring
and tracking.
Drawing on international expertise in developing
the model (including visits from personnel from Hamilton,
New Zealand, and from the United States) the GCDVIR is continually
evolving and developing .
Structure
GCDVIR’s three core goals are:
- To enhance the safety of victims and their children
- To hold perpetrators of domestic violence accountable
for their behaviour
- To reduced secondary victimisation by the provision of
a multi-agency response with enhanced information sharing,
monitoring and tracking
Strategies
The GCDVIR has developed several strategies
to achieve it goals. These include:
- Police Fax Back
- Domestic Violence Court Assistance Program
- Safety First
Project
- Court Mandated Men’s Program
- Development of Interagency
Protocols
- Provision of Interagency Training
- Development of Resources
Police Fax Back
The Fax-Back which originated on the Gold
Coast in 1998, is a partnership between the Gold Coast Police
and the Domestic Violence Prevention Centre Gold Coast Inc. The Fax Back project operates
across all nine police stations on the Gold Coast. Through
the Fax-Back project, women have receive immediate follow-up
support and assistance following a police call out and this
has cleared the pathways ensuring women have appropriate
and timely access to support and information.
Following, a police call-out and with the
victim’s consent, a fax is sent to the Domestic Violence Prevention Centre Gold Coast Inc. detailing action taken by police, on-going safety
issues and a safe phone contact to enable a counsellor to
initiate contact with the women. Telephone counsellors work
with the woman to determine risks and undertake safety planning.
Women are provided with information and resources to enable
them to make safe choices – including refuge referral
if required. As the project also has strong links to the
Court Assistance Program, women are provided with information
on court outcomes, bail conditions and any future court hearings.
The Fax-Back Project is linked to both the
Court Assistance Program and the Mandated Men’s Program
and many women receive on-going support and contact from
the point of police call-out – through the court process – to
regular contact while their partner or ex-partner is in the
Mandated Men’s Program.
Domestic Violence Court Assistance
Program
The Domestic Violence Court Assistance Program
operates at Southport Magistrates Court and provides assistance
and support to women accessing the court for legal protection.
A specifically designed domestic violence office which includes
office space, secure waiting area, interview room, distressed
witness room and restroom was incorporated into courthouse
design. The area is secure with a separate entrance to
the Domestic Violence Court. By creating a user-friendly
environment and placing victim safety at the core of our
approach, the program empowers women to take action to protect
themselves and their children. A key feature of the Domestic
Violence Office is a safe waiting space for women.
The domestic violence office at the Southport
Court is staffed by the Domestic Violence Prevention Centre Gold Coast Inc. which
can assist with:
- the provision of information about legal
and court processes
- applications for violence
protection orders or variations to existing orders
- criminal
matters arising before the court
- safety planning
- pre-court visit and orientation
- preparation in giving
evidence
- support in the courtroom
- post-court debriefing
- referral
- liaison and advocacy
The Court Assistance staff are available to
assist women with applications for domestic
violence
orders, provide
information on court processes
and courtroom orientation, liaise with
police prosecutors and
court staff, provide support for Mentions
and Hearings, provide information
and referral as well as follow-up post court.
The Court Assistance Program continues to work
closely with the police, court registrar and
court staff.
The court assistance program is an integral part of the Integrated
Response Project. This collaborative approach to domestic
violence prioritises women and children’s safety which
is paramount when women and children’s lives are at
risk. Positive feedback from clients accessing the service
often highlights the increased safety they feel when accessing
the Domestic Violence Office.
Mandated
Men's
Program
A response to men who use
violence in the inter- personal relationships
is a crucial element of the Domestic Violence
Integrated Response.
The court mandated men’s domestic violence program is a
collaborative project between Community Correction Southport
and Domestic Violence Prevention Centre Gold Coast Inc. The group
runs for a period of 24 weeks.
A fundamental requirement in the development
of the program is that they are not run in isolation to domestic
violence women’s services. Men’s Domestic Violence
Programs need to be incorporated into a whole of community
response to ensure that the safety nets provided to women
and children are as secure as possible.
Ongoing contact with the female partners
of men attending the group is an essential component of the
program. It ensures that the safety of the women and children
is the main priority. Women are provided with ongoing phone
contact, counselling appointments and information sessions.
All programs are open to observers from women’s services.
Considerable time was spent in the development
of the program to include some fairly rigorous screening,
monitoring and safety checks and balances. Extensive discussions
took place to identify how services could work in a collaborative
way to prioritise the safety of female partners
and their children. Risk assessment forms an integral element
of the program and is supported in all aspects of program
design & management. Group participants are required to sign
a detailed contract outlining group requirements, safety
mechanisms and sanctions for non-compliance.
Safety First Project
The Safety First Project was developed by
the Women’s Services Sub-Committee of the Gold Coast
Domestic Violence Integrated Response. Membership of the
group includes representatives of Macleod Women’s Refuge,
Sanctuary 7 Women’s Refuge, and the Domestic Violence Prevention Centre Gold Coast Inc. Plans are to expand the membership to include other
services supporting women with domestic violence issues.
The purpose of this subcommittee is to inform the GCDVIR
of current issues, to gain some uniformity in the way risk
and safety for women are responded to on the Gold Coast and
to initiate and participate in projects that aim to enhance
the safety of women and children.
The Safety First Project aims to increase
the safety of women and children after they leave refuge
accommodation. Basic information about the woman is collected,
with her consent, including the woman’s name, children’s
details, date of admission to refuge and date of departure.
Her departure address and partner’s details are also
recorded.
A comprehensive risk assessment is included
with details of safety planning and room for any other important
information. This form is faxed to the Domestic Violence Prevention Centre Gold Coast Inc. upon the woman’s departure from the refuge.
Once received at the Domestic Violence Prevention Centre Gold Coast Inc. the Safety
First Form is attached to the woman’s file if she is
an existing client. If she is a new client a new file is
made. When the woman makes contact with the Domestic Violence Prevention Centre Gold Coast Inc. the staff will be alerted to the security issues
and recent relevant information regarding risk immediately.
This ensures an appropriate and timely response is made.
This project also benefits women’s refuges as the woman
is linked into the Domestic Violence Prevention Centre Gold Coast Inc. already should
she require future crisis or ongoing support.
Interagency Protocols
Protocols and/or communication agreements
have been developed between the Domestic Violence Prevention Centre Gold Coast Inc. and key agencies within the GCDVIR.
Provision of Interagency
Training
Training within and across agencies has
been and remains an important aspect of the project. Training
provided by both local and internationl trainers includes:
- ‘Working with Perpetrators of Domestic Violence”. Several
workshops have been provided and trainers include Dawson Ruhl from
Canberra and Graham Barnes from Hamilton New Zealand.
- Stalking training provided by Anne
O’Dell USA
- Identifying the Predominant Aggressor
Training Provided by Mark Wynn USA
- Crisis Intervention Training – provided
by Wendy Styles
- Ongoing training provided by staff
of the Domestic Violence Service
- Beyond the Barriers Conference 1999
- Seeking Solutions Conference 2001
- Showcasing Solutions: - International Domestic
Violence and Sexual Assault Conference 2003
Development of Resources
A variety of resources have been developed
and disseminated as part of the project and these include:
- Domestic
Violence information video developed jointly by the
Gold Coast Police and Gold
Coast Seven News.
- “Every Home A Safe Home” Information Card
tare given out by Police at the time of call out.
- Fact
Sheet distributed to local police.
- Brochure regarding
the men’s program
- Various information forms, risk
assessment, safety planning, intake- assessments and
other material vital for information sharing and prioritising
safety.
- Numerous training packages available
Coordinating Committee Structure
The GCDVIR has a coordinating committee with key representatives
from the following agencies:
Queensland
Police Service
- Regional Domestic Violence Coordinator
- District Domestic Violence Liaison Officer
- Officer-in-Charge Police Prosecutions
- Juvenile Aid Bureau
Community
Corrections Southport – Area Manager
Community
Corrections Burleigh Heads – Area Manager
Macleod
Women's Refuge
Sanctuary
Seven Women's Refuge
Department
of Families – Community Development
Department
of Families – Child Protection
Domestic Violence Prevention Centre Gold Coast
- Coordinator
- CDVIR Program Manager
- Court Assistance Worker
Majella
House Women's Refuge
Southport
Magistrate's Court Registry - Registrar
Coolangatta
Magistrate's Court Registry - Registrar
Sexual
Assault Support Service
Legal
Aid
The Coordinating Committee and sub-committees
all meet on a monthly basis.
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Domestic Violence Information
