Women’s Safety Strategy 2005 – 2010
Launched 2005
A Right to Safety 2011 – 2022
The next phase of South Australia’s Women’s Safety Strategy
Released 2 December 2011
Key Directions
Prevention, Service Provision, Protection,
Performance
Supports the National Plan to Reduce Violence
Against Women and their Children
Women’s Safety Strategy 2005 – 2010
Achievements Report
Available at www.officeforwomen.sa.gov.au
Governance
Minister for the Status of Women
Chief Executives
Group
Family Safety
Framework
Implementation
Committee
Working Groups
Prevention
Service Provision
Protection
Performance
Violence Against Women Regional
Collaborations
Coroners Position
Alliance
Network
Over 24 specific initiatives since launch in 2005
Initiatives aimed at system improvement, law
reform and primary prevention
Aims
• Ensure consistent responses across the State
• Build a state that sees VAW as everyone’s
business
• Prevent violence against women before it occurs
2011
2011Target
Targetto
toReduce
ReduceViolence
ViolenceAgainst
AgainstWomen
Womenincluded
included
in
inSouth
SouthAustralia’s
Australia’s Strategic
StrategicPlan
Plan
2005
2005Family
FamilyCourt
CourtSupport
SupportProgram
Program
2005
2005New
NewDomestic
DomesticViolence
ViolencePolicing
PolicingModel
Model
2006 Family Safety Framework
2009
2009Domestic
Domesticand
andAboriginal
AboriginalFamily
FamilyViolence
ViolenceSector
Sector
2012
2012Development
Developmentof
ofrecognise
recogniseand
andrespond
respond
guidelines
guidelinesfor
formainstream
mainstreamagencies
agencies
System
Improvement
2013
2013Adaption
Adaption of
ofthe
theNSW
NSWAurora
Aurora App
App
2012
2012Improving
Improvingaccess
accessto
tosexual
sexualassault
assaultservices
services
2010
2010Intervention
InterventionOrders
OrdersIntegrated
IntegratedResponse
ResponseModel
Model
2012
2012Domestic
DomesticViolence
Violenceand
andthe
theworkplace
workplace
2011
2011Senior
SeniorResearch
ResearchOfficer
Officer (Domestic
(DomesticViolence)
Violence)in
in
the
theCoroners
CoronersOffice
Office
2013
2013Improving
Improvingintegration
integrationwith
with1800
1800RESPECT
RESPECT
2012
2012Expansion
Expansionof
ofthe
theInformation
InformationSharing
SharingGuidelines
Guidelines
2005
2005Community
CommunityEducation
EducationGrants
Grants
2010
2010Prevention
Preventionactivities
activities across
across
specific
specificsectors
sectors––education,
education,
hospitality
hospitalityindustry
industry
2012
2012Violence
Violenceagainst
againstWomen
Women
Collaborations
Collaborations
Community
Awareness
2009
2009Don’t
Don’tCross
Crossthe
theLine
LineCampaign
Campaignand
and
Community
CommunityEducation
EducationGrants
Grants
Prevention
2006
2006The
TheSex
SexOffender
OffenderRegister
RegisterBill
Bill
2008
2008Criminal
CriminalLaw
LawConsolidation
Consolidation(Rape
(Rape
and
andSexual
SexualOffences)
Offences)Amendment
AmendmentBill
Bill
passed
passed
2008
2008Statutes
StatutesAmendment
Amendment(Evidence
(Evidence&&
Procedure)
Procedure)Bill
Billpassed
passed
2011
2011Intervention
InterventionOrders
Orders(Prevention
(Preventionof
of
Abuse)
Abuse)2009
2009Act
Actenacted
enacted
2005
2005Key
KeyEvents
Events––Reclaim
Reclaimthe
theNight,
Night,White
White
Ribbon
RibbonDay,
Day,16
16Days
Days of
ofActivism
Activism
2007 New offence of drink or food spiking
Law Reform
2007 Establishment of a Commissioner for
Victims’ Rights
Law Reform
2008 Criminal Law Consolidation
(Rape and Sexual Offences)
Amendment Bill passed
2008 Statutes Amendment (Evidence &
Procedure) Bill passed
2011 Intervention Orders (Prevention
of Abuse) 2009 Act enacted
Clearer definition of sexual
offences
Clearer definition of consent
Amended judicial warnings in
relation to children’s evidence
Provided special arrangements
for vulnerable witness’s
New terminology – abuse,
protected persons, defendants
Definition of abuse expanded
Definition of relationships
expanded
System
Improvement
2006 Family Safety Framework
Aims to enhance the safety of victims - women and children at high risk;
increase perpetrator accountability and reduce repeat victimisation
Involves a range of government and non government agencies, some are
location specific
Has 3 elements - Family Safety Meeting, Common Risk Assessment and
Information Sharing
Family Safety Meeting
Local meeting of relevant services
Jointly construct and implement a
multi agency positive action plan
Increases agency accountability
and transparency
Enables relationship building and
partnerships across agencies
Improves support for staff involved
in high risk family violence cases
Held fortnightly
Common Risk Assessment
Process relies on common
understandings of risk
among agencies
Research indicates
commonalities of risk in
relation to domestic homicide
such as nature of abuse,
patterns of behaviour,
victim’s perception of risk
Importance of incorporating
women’s assessment of her
risk
Information Sharing
Privacy Committee of SA
Identification of High Risk
Informed consent - always the
preferred response
Information Sharing Guidelines
now operating across SA
Region
Implementation
Holden Hill
2007
Noarlunga
2007
Port Augusta
2007
Elizabeth
October 2009
Port Adelaide
October 2009
Port Pirie
October 2009
Sturt
April 2011
Adelaide Eastern
April 2011
Limestone Coast
August 2011
Berri
November 2011
Murray Bridge
January 2012
Port Lincoln
May 2012
APY Lands
2013
Coober Pedy
October 2012
Clare/Yorke Peninsula
December 2012
Barossa/Gawler
February 2013
Adelaide Hills
March/April 2013
Ceduna
June 2013
Whyalla
July 2013
Fleurieu and
Kangaroo Island
October 2013
436 meetings held
across South
Australia that
combined received
575 new referrals in
2013/14.
System
Improvement
2006 Family Safety Framework
• Implemented in Alice Springs commencing in
July 2012
• Cross Borders Referral and Information Sharing
Protocol: Alice Springs/ South Australia
• New South Wales - Safety Action Meetings
Further development work includes:
• Reporting to court and parole board
• Data collection including attendance, referrals
and referring agency by location
• Review of risk assessment form
System
Improvement
2011 Senior Research Officer (Domestic
Violence) in the Coroners Office
Role involves researching and investigating open and closed
matters related to domestic violence
Works as part of the Coroners Office team
Aims to identify systemic improvements and facilitate interagency approaches to assist in the prevention of deaths which
occur within a family or domestic violence context
As at 30 June 2014 this position has conducted file reviews or
investigations on over 100 homicide, suicide and multiple fatality
deaths reported to the Coroner.
These reviews have contributed to four Coronial Inquests which
have a specific domestic violence context, resulting in a total of
30 Coronial recommendations aimed at improving domestic
violence responses in South Australia.
INQUEST # 1:
Deaths of Robin Hayward and Edwin
Durance 2012
Internal and Inter-agency Case Management of
High Risk
November
14 –POLICE
JANUARY 1
POLICE –
– safety
concern resolved
Safety concern
- resolved
2
4
POLICE: Assault /
3
Arrest / Bail
Risk assessment High
9
• POLICE
10
POLICE –
• Community
support service
#1
• Community
Support Agency
#3-
unsuccessful attempt
to contact victim
15
16
22
8
55
Community Support
Agency #1 – support +
Housing application
6
Community Support
Agency #2 - Housing
available – but not
taken up at this point
11
12
13
17
18
19
20
23
24
25
26
27
29
30
31
FEBRUARY 1
2
3
5
6
7
8
9
10
12
13
19
26
Confides Violence to work colleague
TakesTakes
fatherFather
to work
to work
with her
withfor
her
hisfor
protection
his protection
27 Murder of
victim /Death
of offender
28
MARCH 1
2
17
24
3 Offender- 1st in
court date
INQUEST # 2:
Deaths of Jacob and David WYATT 2012
Information sharing, ‘family’ safety planning
(rather than a narrow therapeutic focus on the
‘client’) and protective factors (or the
assumption of them) which may be present at a
medium level of risk.
24 year old
Male: Deceased
20 Year Old
Female: Critically
injured
Stab wounds
Self inflicted stab
wounds
2005 –
2009
Mental health
James Nash
House
Community
Forensic team
Community
treatment orders
MAC Team
MH Triage
NEAMI – Non-Gov
MH support
2 ½ Year old
Male: Deceased
Stab wounds
Justice
Parole Board
DPP
District Court
Prison &
Community
Corrections
SAPOL
ArrestsOffensive weapon
Breaches
MH detention
15 day old
female: Seriously
injured
Stab wounds
Health
ED
Psychiatric
Admissions
FamiliesSA
6+ Child
protection
notifications
Numerous –
financial support
Health –
Midwife – Family
Home Visiting
Domestic Violence
Crisis Services
DASSA
Counselling
Urine
Screening
SAPOL
DV responses
Mapping Service System context: Safety & Risk assessment/management points
2005 2006
July
Significant instances
of Domestic (DV)
/Other violence (OV)
2007
Dec
July
Dec
2008
2008
July
Aug
2009
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
March
Fatal
incident
16
March
DV
X1
(OV)
X1
(OV)
X1
(DV)
Parole Board/DPP/DCSA
Community Corrections
Community / Forensic
Mental Health
Other Mental Health (Gov
& Non-gov)
Breech of conditions
NEAMI
X6
/
ACIS
W
X1
Guardianship Order $
X6
Admissions/detention
MH
Child protection
notifications
Community Treatment
Order
X5
X2
X1
X2
X2
X2
DV
MHx2
JN
H
X1
D-5
days
X1
28 Feb
X1
X1
DV Services
SAPOL Contact
Ambulance
Family Home Visiting
Pregnancy/Child born
Relationship Separation
Housing instability
X2
X4
W
X1
X1
INQUEST # 3:
Death of Shane ROBINSON
Disclosures of domestic violence and appropriate
responses, investigation of and information
sharing. Call for pro-active agency responses to
disclosures
• The Coroner found “that there were opportunities to intervene in
the management of Mr Robinson in a way that might have
prevented the events culminating in his death, thus saving not only
his life but the serious sexual assault of an elderly lady and the
serious stabbing wounding of a member of the police force”
• This course of event is dealing with a repeat, seriously violent, high
risk offender and parolee. There were obvious points of
intervention drawn out by the inquest:
• Corrections management of the breeches of Parole and notifying
the Parole Board
• ANCOR management of a known sex offender who was also
known to be residing in a house with four girls under 18 years of
age and seeing this a ‘not ideal’ and also considering the ‘option’ of
making a child protection report
• The response by the DCS staff to the allegation of serious
domestic assault on the 2 June 2009 and the subsequent
response by SAPOL call centre to the report made by
corrections.
What part did responding to a domestic violence allegation, made one
month prior, have in the potential to alter the circumstances of the
offending and death?
[1 minute 23 second break]
SAPOL: Follow up, I have just had a chat with my
Sergeant do you actually have a phone number for
her where she can be contacted:?
DCS: Yes
SAPOL: Right, if she doesn’t wish to take it any further
though we can’t make her.
DCS: No that’s fine, we are fully aware of that we just
thought that because she’s stated that she’s um
been assaulted last night and he broke into her
property to assault her that obviously its still a
police matter.
SAPOL: Yes but we can’t, but yeah, but we can’t make
her say that has happened
DCS: No
EXCHANGE TELEPHONE NUMBER AND NAME
SAPOL: Ok then,
DCS: Thanks you, bye
INQUEST # 4:
Death of Zahra Abrahimzadeh
Failures on the part of police, need for
oversight and police to follow policies
and procedures
1. all aspects of domestic violence policing be characterised by
a sense of curiosity, questioning and listening. Risk
assessment must be actually applied, not merely recited as a
mantra;
2. SAPOL Criminal Justice Section be staffed by legal
practitioners so that domestic violence restraining orders
can be properly presented before magistrates;
3. all domestic violence calls to the SAPOL call centre are
handled by sworn police officers with particular training in
domestic violence risk assessment;
4. domestic violence training that cadets receive at the Police
Academy from external domestic violence agencies occupy
at least one day, rather than the half day that it has been
reduced to;
5. domestic violence safe houses be flagged with police
communications in order to ensure consistency of approach
when a response to an incident or report is made;
6. prosecutors appearing in domestic violence matters must, as
a matter of course, seek out all available information about
the longitudinal history of the domestic violence
offending, particularly from Family Court documents if those
exist;
7. prosecutors appearing in domestic violence matters must, as
a matter of course, establish the outcome of the offence
PIRs underlying the application;
8. that police officers do not ask domestic violence
complainants whether they still wish to proceed unless
there is some communication from the complainant that
justifies such an enquiry;
9. when a domestic violence victim makes a report at a police
station, they are afforded an opportunity of privacy in an
interview room;
10. Priority A taskings should remain higher in priority than
later, lower priority taskings.
Prevention
2012 Violence against
Gender Equity
Women Collaborations
Leadership
Women’s participation in Government Boards and Committees
Members
Chairs
1 April 2004
33.68%
23.83%
1 July 2014
48.08%
40.22%
Women’s participation as Executives in the South Australian Public Service
Public Sector
Executives
2004
33.6
29.4%
June 2013
67.3
43.8%
2012 Violence against
Gender Equity
Women Collaborations
Web community through
the stem australia website www.stemaustralia.org.au
specifically for women.
Focuses on how to attract
and retain women in STEM
employment and includes
information on mentoring
and support networks for
women, access to
programs for young women
and how to address
stereotypes and the myth
that women are not
interested in STEM.
Economic Independence
Prevention
2012 Violence against
Women Collaborations
Western Adelaide Violence Against Women
Collaboration White Ribbon events in 2012
and 2013
Developed a relationship with Adelaide
United Football Club and will work in
partnership to deliver White Ribbon
activities throughout 2014.
The first activity was at the Adelaide United
final home game on 4 April 2014. The
game had a theme for White Ribbon and
Collaboration members attended and
provided White Ribbon promotional
materials and were available to talk to
people attending the game
Multi-agency partnerships working to
create cultural and attitudinal change
within the community that addresses
the underlying causes of this violence
The Limestone Coast Collaboration
has developed advertisements which
focus on local men promoting safe
and respectful relationships with
women.
The Port Augusta Collaboration
advertisements focus on the diversity
of people experiencing
homelessness, including a woman
escaping a violent relationship. Both
advertisements provide contact
numbers for people seeking
assistance
2014 Foundation to
Prevent
2012 Violence
Violenceagainst
against
Women
Women
Collaborations
and their
Children
Premier announced South
Australia’s membership of
the Foundation on 8
August 2014
$320,000 committed over
4 years
Part of the next suite of
commitments to end
violence against women
New Initiatives
• Domestic Violence Serial Offender
Database
• Domestic Violence Intervention
Program Perpetrator Pays System
• Domestic Violence Coronial Database
• Multi Agency Protection Service
• Single Consistent Risk Assessment
Form
• Ongoing review of reforms
For more information
SA Office for Women website
http://www.officeforwomen.sa.gov.au/
http://www.officeforwomen.sa.gov.au/wome
ns-policy/womens-safety
SA Coroners Court findings
http://www.courts.sa.gov.au/CoronersFindin
gs/Pages/default.aspx