The government has announced a domestic violence order scheme and more* Weekly Round-Up 28 July

In other news, The Prime Minister has urged men to speak up on domestic violence while announcing a domestic violence order scheme, making orders taken out in any state enforceable across the country. This is in addition to the recent announcement that the government will allocate $30 million to a campaign on domestic violence education and advertising around the country. We are pleased to see commitment from the government in tackling domestic violence and look forward to the implementation of these programs.

If you wish to get involved with AWAVA, consider applying for AWAVA’s Program Manager position. More information here!

Royal Commission into Family Violence

The first and second weeks of the Royal Commission into Family Violence saw the Commission hear from a range of stakeholders, offering insights into key issues in the sector. Over the past two weeks, the Commission has heard from experts in the following areas – children, financial abuse and empowerment, alcohol and drugs, experience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, housing, mental health, risk management and perpetrator interventions. At the conclusion of the first week, Melissa Davey from the Guardian identified seven key lessons learned from the submissions so far. Unsurprisingly, central to her analysis is the recognition that family violence is extremely complex and multi-faceted, essentially confirming the sector’s long standing belief. Here are some of the discussions that have been taking place in relation to the Royal Commission.

• The Royal Commission has heard from stakeholders that domestic violence is a major cause of homelessness.
• Dr Angela Spinney from Swinburne University told the commission to consider the ‘safe at home’ model, where the victim remains at home and the perpetrator is removed.
• The Commission has also highlighted that family violence incidents involving alcohol and drugs are on the rise.
• Commissioner for Aboriginal Children, Andrew Jackomos, told the Commission that Aboriginal women who are victims of family violence are being kept in jail for their own safety due to the limited availability of emergency accommodation.
• The Victorian Government’s 10 year Strong Culture Strong Peoples Strong Family plan, aimed at preventing family violence, was criticised at the Royal Commission for its inadequacy in addressing violence against Aboriginal women.
• Support services have made submissions on incorporating financial abuse in responding to family violence.
• On the topic of financial abuse, the Commission has heard from community groups and survivors about the phenomenon of dowry abuse.
• The Commission has also heard about abuse of the elderly at the hand of their families and factors such as shame and embarrassment that act as barriers to reporting.

Around the Country

• The Immigration Department has introduced a new visa category, allowing trafficked people and their families to stay in Australia while they help with police investigations.
• In a recent Senate inquiry, the Partners of Veterans Association of Australia has urged for more to be done to protect spouses and children of military personnel from domestic violence.
• In Victoria, the government has announced $400 000 in funding for a new state-wide program to reduce gender inequality and disability discrimination in the workforce.
• Also in Victoria, in response to a recent inquest into the death of 4 year old, Darcey Iris Freeman,Judge Gray is investigating the applicability of mandatory reporting obligations to legal professionals, doctors and counsellors if they have any concerns about the risk of family violence.
• In the ACT, the government is trialling a new program, aimed at altering the behaviour of domestic violence offenders.
• Again in the ACT, Greens Minister, Shane Rattenbury, has proposed draft legislation creating exclusion zones outside abortion clinics in order to prevent anti-abortion protests directly outside abortion clinics.
• In NSW, Premier Mike Baird has urged the NRL to formally suspend members charged with domestic violence offences.
• In South Australia, Police Commissioner, Grant Stevens, has announced major restructuring to address domestic violence, placing the issue high on his priorities list.

Around the World

• In Canada, the Court of Appeal has rejected the argument that cultural differences can be used to justify a light sentence for domestic violence.
• In India, the Pam Rajput Committee, a government appointed panel, has advised the government to criminalise marital rape.
• In Central China, police officers are being trained in domestic violence intervention.
• In the Pacific, UN Women has launched a new toolkit, titled “How to design projects to end violence against women and girls”.

Get Involved!

• Applications for the Cultural Diversity Scholarship Program are now open! This Australian Government and Australian Institute of Company Directors funded scholarship is open to women who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander or come from a culturally or linguistically diverse background, and aims to increase representation on Australian boards. Apply here!
• Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety is recruiting a Senior Diversity Data Research Officer. Applications close on 30 July. Apply here!
• YWCA Queensland is calling for applications for its inaugural Leadership Internship. Applications close on 31 July.
• YWCA Canberra is holding a film screening of East Timorese film, Beatriz’s War, on July 30. More information here!
• Homelessness Australia is hosting the national launch of Homelessness Prevention Week 2015 and ‘I stepped up to end youth homelessness forum’ on Monday, 3 August in the ACT.
• Ask LOIS (Legal Online Information Service) is a free online service, providing legal information to community workers assisting women in NSW. Find out more about upcoming webinars on various legal issues on their website.