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Caring for Women is Caring for the World

“Alice Springs 2014 – “Caring for Women is Caring for the World”

National Council of Women of Australia Conference

PM TUESDAY 27 MAY – EVENING THURSDAY 29 MAY 2014
Chifley Alice Springs Resort

This will be 2.5 days of caring, sharing, learnings and fun – why not come and join us?
Our conference is open to all women.”

For more information, visit: http://www.ncwa.org.au/Index.asp?pagename=AliceSprings2014&site=1&siteid=6553

Weekly Round-Up * 23 May

In this week’s edition of the Weekly Round-Up, we have highlighted a huge variety of programs, strategies, and research focussing on preventing and eliminating violence against women. From legal assistance to public marches, from educating school children to training doctors, and in so many other ways, our communities are stepping up to address gender-based violence.

AWAVA is also excited to announce that Sophie Hardefeldt will be joining the AWAVA team as Program Manager next month.

Sophie has a BA in Development Studies from Melbourne Uni, and a Masters of Social Science in International Development from RMIT. She has also completed some Human Rights courses in the US. She has most recently been working for the Centre for Social Research in India as the Campaigns and International Projects Manager. She has a strong background in human rights and gender and other social inequalities. She has undertaken internships for The Program on Women’s Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Human Rights Program in India, and for The United Nations Development Fund for Women South Asia Economic Security and Rights Program. Prior to moving to India she worked for the Department of Health in Victoria on the Victorian Data Linkages Project and Australian Catholic University as the Research Services Officer (Ethics).

We look forward to welcoming Sophie into our team. She is due to start work on 23^rd June.

Around the Country

A new pilot program is offering pro bono legal assistance to people in hospital, including victims of domestic violence
The Court of Appeal in Victoria has firmly condemned violence against women in a judgement rejecting an appeal by an offender against an 8-year gaol term
In Victoria, Premier Denis Napthine has committed $3 million for the construction of new facilities by the women’s crisis accommodation service Annie North in Bendigo
In Queensland, a police officer has spoken out to support the teaching of programs in schools specifically focussing on gender-based violence
Alice Williams writes about a day at a women’s crisis support centre
[TRIGGER WARNING: Descriptions of violence, sexual violence, stalking, financial abuse]
In Victoria, the growing Indian community is being confronted with the issue of violence against women [TRIGGER WARNING: Descriptions of violence, sexual violence]
Support continues to grow for the No Excuse campaign started by Domestic Violence NSW
Morning television presenter Samantha Armytage was the subject of an on-air ‘prank’ which many are describing as sexual harassment

Around the World

In the UK, two conferences are being planned to mark the end of Project Mirabal – a longitudinal research project into domestic violence perpetrator programmes. The conferences will be free to attend, and further enquiries can be made to [email protected]
In Zimbabwe, hundreds of women have marched in memory of Isabel Masuka who was killed by her husband last month. In response, the Government has affirmed its commitment to address gender-based violence
In Germany, figures have been released showing that the number of convictions in rape cases across the country has fallen from 22% to just 8% over the last two decades
In Indonesia, one of the Commissioners of the National Commission on Violence against Women, Andy Yentriyani, has spoken about her experiences of sexual violence in the context of racial prejudice [TRIGGER WARNING: Descriptions of sexual violence]
Taiwan’s Health Minister Chiu Wen-ta has described to the World Medical Association the steps his country is taking to address violence against women

Research and Reports

Women with Disabilities Victoria (WDV), in partnership with the Office for the Public Advocate (OPA) and the Domestic Violence Resources Centre Victoria (DVRCV) have launched their research project ‘Voices Against Violence’
A recording and transcript are now available from the Child Family Community Australia webinar ‘Sexual abuse and exploitation prevention: Effective responses’ which presented the current research on child sexual abuse in Australia
The Australian Centre for the Study of Sexual Assault has published ‘Bystander Approaches: Responding to and preventing men’s sexual violence against women’ by Dr Anastasia Powell
The call for research grant applications into a range of areas aimed at stemming the rate of violence against women from ANROWS, Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety, is still open

**Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of AWAVA and are included as items of interest only

Webinar: Technology, Stalking and Domestic Violence – What is it and how can your clients stay safe

“Topic: Technology, Stalking and Domestic Violence: What is it and how your clients can stay safe
Presenter: Dr Delanie Woodlock
Date: Wednesday 21st May 2014
Time: 1:00pm – 1:45pm AEST
Location: Online, at your computer!

The SmartSafe research conducted by the Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria (DVRCV) was one of the first studies to examine technology-facilitated stalking in the context of domestic violence. The webinar will explore:

• Evidence on the prevalence of technology-facilitated stalking in the context of domestic violence
• The types of technologies being used to harm women
• The ways that technology-facilitated stalking is being used by men to intimidate and control women
• The sexualised nature of technology-facilitated abuse and harassment
• The impact of technology-facilitated stalking on women’s lives and their help-seeking behaviour.”

For more information, visit: https://www.1800respect.org.au/workers/1800respect-webinars/#link2

Weekly Round-Up * 16 May

Welcome to the latest edition of the Weekly Round-Up. This has been a week of considerable developments in the preventing violence against women sector, in particular with the launch of ANROWS – Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety. ANROWS forms an integral part of the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and Their Children. Its establishment is a key step towards realising the rights of women and children to feel and be safe in their communities.

ANROWS CEO Heather Nancarrow speaking at the launch

Around the Country

At the launch of ANROWS this morning, Minister Kevin Andrews spoke about realities of violence against women
The Foundation to Prevent Violence Against Women and Their Children is currently hiring
In the Northern Territory, calls are being made for greater support for Aboriginal women experiencing violence
In Bundaberg, arts group Creative Regions are gearing up to perform stories told by survivors of domestic violence as part of a new play

[TRIGGER WARNING: descriptions of violence against children]

Simone O’Brien, a survivor of domestic violence, has spoken out about her story and experiences [TRIGGER WARNING: descriptions of violence]

Women with disabilities continue to experience violence at extremely high rates and are often not believed when they speak out about their experiences

Senator Larissa Waters has spoken in Parliament about the importance of taking decisive action to address violence against women [TRIGGER WARNING: Descriptions of violence]

Migrant women continue to have little support when they experience violence

Family violence groups have expressed outrage at the funding levels committed by the Victorian Government

Australian doctors are being called upon to do more to help patients that they suspect may be experiencing violence

Around the World

In Papua New Guinea, women are speaking out about the horrific levels of violence they experience [TRIGGER WARNING: descriptions of violence, sexual violence, and sexual violence against children]
In the United States, First Lady Michelle Obama has given a Mother’s Day address which reflected on the kidnapping of hundreds of Nigerian school girls last month
A US photographer is displaying a series of photographs of a man violently assaulting his partner in an effort to raise awareness about violence against women [TRIGGER WARNING: Images of family violence]
In Ireland, a Senator has called for a full debate in the Seanad of violence against women and gender based violence

Research and Reports

A study released by the Australian Institute of Family Studies has found that judges and lawyers need additional training to avoid revictimising victims and survivors in court
The Australian Institute of Family Studies has also released ‘The good practice guide to Child Aware Approaches: Keeping children safe and well’
In New Zealand, researchers have found that domestic and family violence is costing the economy millions of dollars
‘The Trauma and Homelessness Initiative Research Findings’ have been released by the Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health

**Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of AWAVA and are included as items of interest only

Our Work Our Lives 2014

“The 5th Our Work Our Lives conference on women and industrial relations will be held on May 15 & 16, 2014 at the Mercure Gold Coast Resort, Queensland, Australia.

The aim of the OWOL Conference is to bridge the gap between the worlds of academia, practitioners and community based individuals and organisations working in the field of gender and industrial relations. The conference attracts leaders in this field and makes a significant contribution to the public debate about the multi-faceted topic of women and work.

The program is designed to bring together national and international expertise and experience.

The conference themes will focus on:

• Women in precarious or vulnerable work
• Women’s access to their rights and entitlements
• Progress towards decent work in the Asia Pacific
• Building sustainable communities through women’s workforce participation

The 5th Our Work Our Lives conference is proudly presented by Queensland Working Women’s Service (QWWS) with the support of the Australian National Alliance of Working Women’s Centers.”

To learn more, visit: https://www.etouches.com/ehome/index.php?eventid=83072&&eb=110108

Introduction to Domestic Violence

“This four-day course provides the basic skills, knowledge and understanding to work effectively with women and their children affected by family violence. It is suitable for new workers in family violence services and for workers in community, health, legal or other services who have limited experience in working with women experiencing family violence. On successful completion of assessment tasks, participants will receive a Statement of Attainment for national units:

CHCDFV301A Recognise and respond appropriately to domestic and family violence.

CHCDFV403C Provide crisis intervention and support to those experiencing domestic and family violence

When
Wednesday, 14 May 2014 – 9:30am to 4:30pm
Thursday, 15 May 2014 – 9:30am to 4:30pm
Wednesday, 21 May 2014 – 9:30am to 4:30pm
Thursday, 22 May 2014 – 9:30am to 4:30pm”

To learn more, visit: http://www.dvrcv.org.au/course/accredited/introduction-domestic-violence-1

Conference: Crime Prevention and Communities

“The Australian Institute of Criminology and the Victorian Department of Justice are hosting Australia’s 2nd major Crime Prevention and Communities conference, in collaboration with Victoria Police, at the Melbourne Convention Centre on 10-11 June 2014.

This important conference, Building Better Local Solutions, will inform local government, urban planners, policy makers, police, criminologists, non-government community organisations, researchers and students.

Organisers are looking for best practice, best policy, best research underpinnings and best evaluation from contributors across a range of crime prevention projects and programs to inform an international audience.

Conference themes include:

Violence prevention
Problem solving approaches to crime prevention including problem-oriented policing
Engaging and empowering communities to develop local, collaborative responses
Successful and innovative environmental crime prevention solutions”

For more information, visit: https://etouches.com/ehome/crimeprevention2014/home/

Weekly Round-Up * 9 May

In this week’s edition of the Weekly Round-Up, we feature articles both from victims and survivors of violence, and from services dedicated to preventing and eliminating violence against women. Despite the many differences in perspective and focus among these articles, one thing is clear: it will require the entire community, working together, if we are ever to succeed in preventing and eliminating violence against women.

Around the Country

Gabrielle Upton, NSW Minister for Family & Community Services, has announced continued funding for the Keep Them Safe program
‘Domestic violence campaigners’ are arguing for family violence to be treated as a national emergency
Domestic Violence Victoria has called for the implementation of high-risk management task forces across Victoria to better identify and monitor men who are a risk to women and children
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse is preparing for next month’s public hearings in Canberra
Domestic and family violence survivors from rural Victoria have spoken out about the challenges they face dealing with violence in small communities
Survivor and advocate Kay Schuback believes that in the last 12 months there has been a groundswell of support for drastic action to address rates of violence against women
The Victorian Opposition has rejected a Bill before the state’s Legislative Assembly which services stated created the risk of criminalising women facing family violence

Around the World

In Scotland, disturbing links have been drawn between experiences of domestic and sexual violence and death from drug overdose
The University of Kentucky in the United States has created a new office aimed at reducing violence against women
In Ireland, a woman has described feeling like a prisoner after the man convicted of sexually assaulting her walked free on a two year suspended sentence [TRIGGER WARNING: Description of sexual assault]
In the United States, an 8-year-old boy had died trying to protect his older sister from being sexually assaulted

Research and Reports

La Trobe University have published the results of their fifth National Survey of Australian Secondary Students and Sexual Health

**Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of AWAVA and are included as items of interest only

Workshop: Keeping Hope Alive – vicarious trauma and emotional wellbeing in human services practice

“Encompass Family and Community

When: Friday, May 9, 2014 – 9:30am to 4:00pm
Pricing: $220
Location: Brisbane – venue tba

The concept of ‘vicarious trauma’ is used to describe the emotional and psychological impact of working in the human services. Those who have chosen careers that require them to care about the plight of others often endure a significant impact on their own emotional health. However few of us have had the opportunity to learn about these complex processes, to reflect on our own personal experiences of caring, and, most importantly, to learn and implement strategies which allow us to practice our unique profession in ways which are safe, sustainable, and which celebrate the privilege of helping others. This workshop is presented by Matthew J Armstrong, who has researched vicarious trauma and delivered papers on the topic at national and international conferences. Who should attend? Workers in human services who regularly assist adults, children or young people who experience trauma. Includes strategies for child protection and family welfare workers, teachers, foster carers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups, private practitioners, and administrative staff.”

For more information, visit: http://www.qcoss.org.au/keeping-hope-alive-vicarious-trauma-and-emotional-wellbeing-human-services-practice

Walk a Mile in their Shoes 2014

“When: 9th May, 10:30am to 12:00pm
Where: Southbank Boulevard, Melbourne, VIC 3006

Following the hugely successful Walk a mile in their Shoes 2013 which raised over $32,000 for White Ribbon Australia, CEO Harcourts Victoria Sadhana Smiles and her team are back to undertake the walk for another year on Friday 9 May 2014.

With over 250 participants donning a pair of heels and walking the distance last year (many who where men!), Harcourts Victoria will once again be walking down a different path and joining forces with White Ribbon Australia to take a stand against violence and raise funds and awareness for the White Ribbon Campaign in Walk a Mile in their Shoes 2014.

Violence exists in the workplace, family, community and in our schools, and it’s not just physical but verbal. Join us on Friday 9 May 2014 and Walk a Mile in their Shoes to stamp out violence today and in the future!”

For more information, visit: http://www.whiteribbon.org.au/events/harcourts-victoria-walk-in-their-shoes-2014