CWAA Presentation at NRLJA 3rd National Conference Orange NSW 2015
Inclusionary Justice
Perspectives on dealing with the ripple effects of family violence and other injustices - with
reference to previous successful multi strategy national campaigns
Marion Dewar
The Country Women’s Association of Australia (CWAA)
Abstract
A peak women’s body has much to share about responding to disadvantage and diversity
around Australia. This paper references previous work in lobbying, publications and
awareness workshops on topics including gambling, family violence, disasters, health,
education, law and transport. It offers strategies to increase inclusion for women and their
families, to overcome disadvantage, especially for those living in rural areas and to respond
to diversity in the Australian context. Join the discussion and add to the knowledge by
offering personal insights into best practice inclusionary justice which will form the basis of a
conference response.
Introduction
For this presentation I will outline the scope of the paper, offer a definition and its antonym,
work through the subject by referencing the statements in the abstract and conclude with our
response.
After a definition of inclusionary justice I will mention some exclusions to justice access
experienced by people living in rural, remote and regional areas.
The main body of the presentation is in three parts:
(1) An outline of previous work of the Country Women’s Association (CWA), including
lobbying, publications and awareness workshops.
(2) Some examples of working collaboratively with other bodies.
(3) Some possible strategies to increase inclusion, overcome disadvantage and respond to
diversity, particularly in relation to family violence.
After that it is your turn.
Finally, I hope a response is formulated to bring to the whole of Conference.
Scope
I represent the National President of The Country Women’s Association of Australia
(CWAA) on the National Rural Law and Justice Alliance (NRLJA). I am a Council Member
of NRLJA. This paper deals with the work of The Country Women’s Association (CWA) at
Branch, Group, State/Territory and National level. It touches on the global scene through the
Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW). The paper gives emphasis to family
violence issues.
The Country Women’s Association of Australia was formed in 1945, 23 years after the
earliest State Associations began in 1922. As a grassroots volunteer organisation – in
Australia all members are volunteers - from the Branch President to the National President –
members of the Association donate their time and talents to work for improvements in the
lives of women and children.
CWAA Presentation for NRLJA 2015 1
For more information please refer to the CWAA Brochure1 or the website2.
The Ripple Effect
The ripple effects of family violence: perhaps you would keep in mind during this
presentation whether you look at this subject as the thrower of the stone, as the dropped stone
causing the ever widening ripples or as the calm pond water disturbed by the action of the
stone thrower and the dropped stone.
Inclusionary Justice
We all like to be included; no one wants to be left out. This should also be true of the justice
system for people living in rural and remote areas:
Inclusion seeks the full participation of all parties, and it is accomplished by (1) inviting all
interested parties to participate, (2) expecting the parties to pursue their own interests, and (3)
being flexible enough to accept new approaches relevant to the particular situation.3
Family violence survivors should be able to access information, be present in court, present
victim impact statements and have a right to pursue justice: ‘Methods of inclusion for the
victim: Information: Presence in Court: Victim Impact Statements: Legal Standing’.4
The National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children states: ‘Everyone
has a right to access and to participate in justice processes that enable them to achieve fair
and just outcomes’.5
Exclusions to Justice
Lack of access to justice may be suffered by anyone but it has now been documented that
people living in rural and remote areas have a higher possibility of being excluded from
aspects of the legal system, of not receiving a ‘fair go’ under the law.
Richard Coverdale confirms the finding of disadvantage for rural communities in the
Executive Summary of his research titled Postcode Justice Rural and Regional Disadvantage
in the Administration of the Law in Victoria.6
The Country Women’s Association of Australia, CWAA Brochure (The Country Women’s Association of
Australia, 2015) <http://www.cwaa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/CWAA-Brochure-3006151.pdf>.
2
The Country Women’s Association of Australia <http://www.cwaa.org.au/>.
3
Prison Fellowship International Centre for Justice and Reconciliation Restorative Justice Online Inclusion
<http://www.restorativejustice.org/university-classroom/01introduction/values-1/inclusion>.
4
Ibid.
5
Department of Social Services, Australian Government, The National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women
and their Children 2010 – 2022 (2014)
<https://www.dss.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/08_2014/national_plan1.pdf> 14.
6
‘Much of the hallmark Australian research undertaken over the past two decades around ‘Access to Justice’
has focussed on access to public and private legal services for socio-economic disadvantaged groups. However,
there has been little research that looks at equity in the administration of the law in regional communities,
through courts and tribunals and associated services.
Postcode Justice, a research project undertaken by Deakin University School of Law, responds to this
gap and asks the question: Are regional communities disadvantaged in the administration of the law, compared
with their metropolitan counterparts? Following 62 interviews and 117 survey responses drawing on the views
of regional services and organisations participating in the justice system, together with an examination of
relevant literature and research, the answer is strongly in the affirmative...
Despite improvements to technologies and transportation over the last half century, distance from
courts and related services continues to raise a ‘natural barrier’ for many justice system service users and
prospective users in Victoria, causing both financial cost and personal hardship. Government response has been
1
CWAA Presentation for NRLJA 2015 2
Angela Lavoipierre quoted Carolyn Howe, a lawyer from Warrnambool, in a recent Victorian
news item regarding the increased demand for legal aid overstretching the current
availability.7
inconsistent, creating a form of ‘postcode justice’, where outcomes are determined by the vagaries of where you
live, in conjunction with the level of justice system services and programs present in your location. This report
identifies issues relating to the physical amenity of regional courts which affects outcomes for users and the
likelihood of their attendance, particularly given security, video-conferencing facilities, waiting areas and
confidential interview areas are unavailable at many regional and ‘satellite’ courts.’ In:
Richard Coverdale, Postcode Justice: Rural and Regional Disadvantage in the Administration of the Law in
Victoria (Deakin University 2011) 9 <http://www.deakin.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/258164/pubs7.pdf>.
7
‘Community legal centres in Victoria are struggling to cope with an influx of domestic violence cases and the
state's response to the issue is "broken", the body representing the centres has told an inquiry.
In a submission to Victoria's Royal Commission into Family Violence, the Federation of Community Legal
Centres was concerned not only about the increased demand, but also whether women in rural areas were
missing out on help.
So far this year, 40 per cent of the new cases initiated by community legal centres across Victoria were related
to family violence in some way.
There has been an 85 per cent increase in domestic violence cases since 2009, the federation says.
Carolyn Howe is the only lawyer at the domestic violence service, Emma's House, which serves the Victorian
town of Warrnambool and the surrounding area.
She said had 98 open cases and was completely overwhelmed.
"I'm sitting on about 98 current open cases but that doesn't include the duty lawyer work that I do each Tuesday,
Wednesday and Friday," she said.
"You simply cannot do it in the work time that you're funded for so you have to do it after-hours, you have to do
it at home and you have to do it on weekends."
Dr Chris Atmore, a senior policy adviser at the Federation of Community Legal Centres, said Victoria's
domestic violence response was "broken but not irredeemable".
"In about 2005 the current system began with a lot of promise and quite a lot of injection of funds," she said.
"Now in 2015 we think it needs two things: One is it's time for more substantial investment especially as there's
a growing demand particularly for intervention orders.
"Two, the early promise and commitment for all the services involved in responding to family violence to
collaborate across government and community organisations has not really been achieved."
Women in rural areas missing out, federation says
The federation made more than 60 recommendations to the royal commission, in a comprehensive submission
which paints a picture of patchy support for victims.
Dr Atmore said the help that was available depended on who you are and where you are.
"Victims in the small rural parts of Victoria have, on balance, the worst experience," she said.
"So, for instance, safety and risk assessment in small courts in Victoria is virtually non-existent."
Ms Howe has first-hand experience with some of the problems common to rural courtrooms
"You can't protect a witness or a victim at Portland Court," she said.
"There is just simply, physically, the structure of the court, there is no way to do it."
She said many women refused to cooperate because they even refused to get close to a perpetrator.
"They were just too scared to do it and then that means that all the work the police have done to protect them,
just falls in a hole and we end up with nothing," Ms Howe said.
Dr Atmore recommended the Government fund the continued rollout of specialised domestic violence courts,
with fully integrated services.
"The most important aim of that work is really to provide consistency so that all women, regardless of where
they are in Victoria, can be confident that they'll get the same high level of response, the same high level of
protection," she said.
Public hearings for the inquiry are scheduled to begin next month.’ In:
Angela Lavoipierre, Domestic violence response in Victoria 'broken but not irredeemable', royal commission
submission says (Australian Broadcasting Corporation, ABC News 24, 25 June 2015)
<http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-25/domestic-violence-response-in-vic-broken-but-notirredeemable/6573314>.
CWAA Presentation for NRLJA 2015 3
Barry Fowler’s submission to a 2003 access to justice roundtable mentions the following
areas: Disempowered People; Telephone Access Visits by Tribunals; Literacy and Numeracy;
Internet Access; Confidentiality; Media Aggregration; Recruiting Personnel.8
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) made comments on data collection challenges but
there seems to be no reference to location.9
‘Around 9% of respondents had experienced a legal problem but did not seek legal advice for
financial reasons’, wrote the authors of a paper titled ‘Justice for all’. The authors continued:
‘In addition, this means that approximately one in eight respondents (12%) had legal needs in the
previous five years which were not met’.10
In Landscapes of Violence Part 3: Family violence in regional and rural Victoria, the authors
write:
Laws, legal processes, policies and resource allocations typically reflect the circumstances
associated with a metropolitan rather than a regional or rural environment. Those who live
outside metropolitan Victoria are disadvantaged by the limited range of resources, services
and programs available.11
The succeeding paragraphs name and describe barriers facing survivors: Geographic
isolation; Social isolation; Visibility; Gun ownership and homemade weapons; Limited
alternative and crisis accommodation; Less access to support services and legal services;
Complicated financial arrangements and pressures; After disaster.12
The authors also note the problems rural women may face attending court:
The court event: a place of risk for survivors and their children; The [under] use and
limitations of onsite, court-based video-link technology; Leaving court; Children at court;
Gendered judicial behaviour; Getting children on orders; Dealing with family court orders;
Undertakings; Cross-applications and mutual orders; Exclusion orders; Applicant and [lack
of] respondent workers; The expense and funding of legal advocacy.13
Anglicare Gippsland
An email request for assistance elicited the following response from Anglicare Gippsland:
Dear Marion
Thanks for contacting us through Sarah with a view to obtaining some stats to help inform
your paper.
The information we collect on clients doesn’t necessarily answer your question, I’m afraid.
Although I can say that our service covers the whole of Gippsland – some 18% of the
8
Barry Fowler, Access to Justice in Rural and Remote Areas, (Access to justice roundtable, 2003)
<http://www.lawfoundation.net.au/report/roundtable/0EA001DDC5B0EC7BCA2572730018E0CA.html>.
9
Australian Bureau of Statistics, Defining the Data Challenge for Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence
(Canberra, 2 July 2013) <http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4529.0main+features100062013>.
10
R Denniss, J Fear and E Milane, ‘Justice for all: giving Australians greater access to the legal system’,
Institute Paper No. 8 (The Australia Institute, Canberra, March 2012) <http://www.tai.org.au/node/1831>.
11
Amanda George and Bridget Harris, Landscapes of Violence: Women Surviving Family Violence in Regional
and Rural Victoria (Centre for Rural and Regional Law and Justice, Deakin 2014) 14
<http://www.deakin.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/287040/Landscapes-of-Violence-online-pdfversion.pdf>.
12
Ibid 46-61.
13
Ibid 81-120.
CWAA Presentation for NRLJA 2015 4
geography of the state – Commonwealth funding only supports four lawyers. Three full time
lawyers are in Morwell and one is in Bairnsdale but works four days per week.
During 2014 GCLS Provided advice on 933 occasions
Dealt with 749 matters (incidents of assistance)
Clients came from 86 postcodes, the vast majority of these being rural towns rather than
isolated areas
One of the lawyers here made the following comments:
‘I’ve seen a number of women clients in situations placing them at risk of family violence
who don’t want to pursue intervention order on the basis their geographical isolation would
prevent the police attending in time to enforce the order;
I have one longer term client who has great difficulty attending court, due to a combination of
health problems and his distance from court.’
I do hope this was of assistance. Please don’t hesitate to call if you would like to discuss
further.
Cheers, Julie.14
Professional comments
In conversation with Rowena Armstrong QC (Melbourne; Chancellor Diocese of Gippsland),
Mark Woods (Tyler Tipping & Woods Lawyers & Solicitors, Traralgon; who currently chairs
Access to Justice Committee of both LIV and LCA) and Viv Braham (one of the principals of
Sullivan Braham Barristers and Solicitors, Sale; Diocesan Solicitor) at Diocesan Synod in
Sale on Saturday 15 May 2015, the following comments were made:
Most people don’t reach the courts, before women reach us they have already missed out on
access to the legal system, they have already suffered injustice...It is too late by the time the
legal system is invoked – injustice has already been done.
A mother’s account
A request to a friend for a written account of some of the history of her daughter R from
Victoria was posted in a letter written on Friday 28 May 2015. Excerpts from the letter read:
We lived over 3 hours away...AVOs were taken out...but he just ignored them.
He had R pinned to the wall with a kitchen table...This was on the Friday...She was due into
the hospital on the Monday to be induced, on the Tuesday DHS turned up, took the new baby
and the other 3 children, put them into foster care, they said it was because R had failed to
protect the children from him.
She lost everything...he found and destroyed everything.
With all the court cases etc which were constantly being adjourned, mostly because he failed
to turn up...he doesn’t even pay maintenance...no follow-up to his total disregard for the laws
of the courts at B or M.
We must mention that DHS and the Salvos did everything to help her get the children back.
Our biggest concern was the reluctance of the police to do anything (local police had been
school mates with D), DHS taking too long to review the case...to exonerate R from any
blame.
She is now living...with us nearby...the kids are doing well at school and happy.15
Summary
14
Julie Parke, Team Leader Gippsland Community Legal Service, A program of Anglicare Victoria (Email 28
May 2015).
15
Letter from a friend about her daughter R, dated Friday 28 May 2015.
CWAA Presentation for NRLJA 2015 5
In summary, injustices and barriers to justice for people living in rural and remote areas
include: geographical isolation;16 social isolation;17 fewer support networks; fewer services;
lack of transport; lack of alternative accommodation; distance from services;18 lack of child
care; being self employed; being a carer; size of town; no nearby court; lack of public
transport; state of roads; low or no separate income; insufficient legal assistance; insufficient
specialist courts;19 possible invisibility in data collection; delays in the court system;
confidentiality; visibility; weapons as threats; education and job opportunities; and children’s
safety.
Work of the Country Women’s Association
Previous work in lobbying, publications and awareness workshops on topics including
gambling, family violence, disasters, health, education, law and transport, with reference to
previous successful multi strategy national campaigns.
National Survey 1988
When Miss Dorothy Ross was National President 1985-1988 and Bob Hawke Prime Minister
she ‘approached the Office of the Status of Women in July 1985 with the idea of conducting
this survey’. These words are from the Foreword to Life Has Never Been Easy: report of the
survey of women in rural Australia. The Prime Minister wrote the Foreword and signed it
‘RJL Hawke’. A quote from the findings reads:
‘Geographical and social isolation may compound problems of sexual assault and family violence. This is
mainly due to the reduction in access to support networks and services. Transport options are also limited and
alternative accommodation restricted with fewer safe-crisis accommodation options available in rural and
remote locations (Carmody, 2009).’ In:
Defining the Data Challenge, above n 9.
17
‘It also recognises that some victims may be more disadvantaged than others when seeking assistance. This
can be due to factors such as isolation...Children are particularly vulnerable and the Code acknowledges the
inter-relationship between family violence and child abuse.’ In:
Victoria Police, Code of Practice for the Investigation of Family Violence (Victoria Police, 2004) x
<http://www.police.vic.gov.au/files/documents/464_FV_COP.pdf>.
18
‘Many suggestions about having specialist ADVO courts - where magistrate, prosecutor and court staff are
trained and knowledgeable about DV. However, it was pointed out that this would not work in all areas - would
only work in city areas - not in rural areas because you would then have women travelling large distances to get
to specialists courts/Magistrates.’ In:
Denise Lynch and Lesley Laing, ‘Women get lost in the gaps’ – Service providers’ perspectives on women’s
access to legal protection from domestic violence, Faculty of Education and Social Work (University of Sydney,
2013) <http://ses.library.usyd.edu.au//bitstream/2123/9195/2/Women%20get%20lost%20in%20the%20gaps.pdf
16
>.
‘Although Victoria is in many respects leading the way with its specialist court programs, very limited family
violence specialist services have been implemented in regional and rural areas. Indeed, the only specialist family
court service available in rural and regional Victoria is in the major regional city of Ballarat. This is despite
evidence which suggests that family violence is particularly prevalent in rural and regional communities
(Council of Australian Governments, 2012; DOJ, 2012a; Eaton, 2001; Immigrant Women’s Domestic Violence
Service, 2006; State of Victoria, 2012). In particular, in the Greater Geelong region police attended 1177 family
violence incidents in the 2010 financial year (see DOJ, 2012b), which represented the seventh-highest incident
rate out of the 79 Victorian local government areas, and the highest incident rate in regional Victoria (see DOJ,
2012b). In 80 per cent of cases, the affected family member was female and in 34 per cent of incidents police
identified children as being present (DOJ, 2012b). Family violence was also the primary reason for which
clients sought assistance from the Barwon Community Legal Service in Geelong in 2012, with the service
assisting 1868 clients for family violence issues during the course of the year (Barwon Community Legal
Service, 2012).’ In:
Coverdale, above n 6.
19
CWAA Presentation for NRLJA 2015 6
Overriding priorities...cancer screening devices and domestic violence...Based on an
often-stated concern about the low numbers of rural women seeking cervical cancer
screening tests, the Government has decided to fund a program to encourage women
to have regular tests. A national feasibility study into screening services for breast
cancer will also be undertaken. In relation to domestic violence, a national education
campaign will be undertaken over the next three years to raise community awareness
of the issue and inform victims of sources of assistance and advice.
[Specific priorities]...Roads, health and medical services, better education and training
facilities and more community welfare services...public transport, child care, water
and telephone services.20
Year of the Family 199421
The interesting history of the declaration of the Year of the Family is summarised from The
Many Hats of Country Women. Following the relaxation of divorce laws in 1972, the 1973
CWAA National Conference featured discussion groups on Family Life Today. The
Association participated in the 1980 Federal Government Conference ‘Towards an Australian
Family Policy’. A suggestion was made in 1982 for a Year of the Family to follow the
Decade for Women. The approach to the UN, to support an International Year of the Family,
proceeded from one Branch right through each level of the Association and then to the world
body. ACWW Projects Officer Valerie Fisher AO OBE from Barnawartha VIC (CWAA
National President 1975-77, ACWW South Pacific Area President 1977-83 and ACWW
World President 1989-98) introduced the idea to the UN. In 1988 the UN voted in favour of
the suggestion and chose 1994 as The International Year of the Family.22
Poverty Survey 1995
In 1994, the national office conducted a survey into rural poverty around Australia. The title
of the survey was Rural Poverty and its Effects on Rural and Remote Communities.
Information about the survey is paraphrased from The Many Hats of Country Women. The
survey report, published in 1995, revealed an alarming picture of rural poverty.
Widely reported and sought after by politicians, the survey covered areas of income,
employment, services, health, schools, churches, the young, the family, stress, marriage,
suicide, professionals in small towns, farm safety, and the rural drift. The causes of poverty
across Australia included climate fluctuations, the perennial problems with water supply,
conservation of soil, fodder and unemployment.23
Rural Roads Congress 2000
Representing CWAA, Pam Moore presented a paper titled The Social Costs of Poor Roads to
the Rural Roads Congress held in Moree NSW in March 2000.24
Gambling Awareness Workshops 2005
20
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Life Has Never Been Easy: report of the survey of women in
rural Australia, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Canberra (Australian Government Publishing
Service, 1988) <http://www.womenaustralia.info/bib/AWP002885.htm> (Accessed and photocopied with
permission National Library of Australia 25 March, 2014).
21
United Nations
<http://undesadspd.org/Family/InternationalObservances/InternationalYearoftheFamily.aspx>.
22
Brenda Stevens-Chambers, The Many Hats of Country Women: The Jubilee History of the Country Women’s
Association of Australia (Country Women’s Association of Australia, 1997) 185-189.
23
Ibid 191-192.
24
Pam Moore, The Social Costs of Poor Roads (The Country Women’s Association of Australia, 2000).
CWAA Presentation for NRLJA 2015 7
During 2004/2005 The Country Women’s Association of Victoria conducted over 40
gambling awareness workshops throughout the state. Each Group organised its own event,
inviting members and the public to a session facilitated by an expert on the issue of problem
gambling and awareness of problem gambling. As a new Group President I organised one at
the Bena Public Hall, facilitated by Anglicare Victoria.
Influencing the ABS 2006
Jean Tom AO (National President 1988-1991) was a Keynote Speaker at the 1994 CWAA
National Conference. Her speech, titled The value of unpaid work, notes:
In 1984, while on the Victoria Women’s Consultative Council I had an interview with the
number crunchers from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The Council was asking that a
question should appear on the census asking about hours spent on unpaid work...There were
so many reasons why another question could not be added to the census.25
The ABS was loquacious on that score:
Unpaid work and the 2001 Census
The nature of unpaid work is very complex. It covers a variety of activities such as domestic
work, caring for children, disabled people and the elderly, household repairs and maintenance
and voluntary work.
The ABS has found that reliable information on this topic is best obtained by specially
designed sample surveys using trained interviewers. In this way far more detailed information
can be gathered about the nature of unpaid work and its valuable contribution to the
community, than could be obtained by a small number of questions on a Census Form. The
results of these surveys are published in a range of publications including How Australians
Use their Time (cat. no. 4153.0), Voluntary Work (cat. no. 4441.0), Unpaid Work and the
Australian Economy (cat. no. 5240.0) and Focus on Families: Family Life (4425.0). The July
2001 issue of Australian Economic Indicators (1350.0) contains an article on estimating the
value of unpaid work.
The ABS also expects to include topics on voluntary work and community participation at
regular intervals in the new multipurpose household survey which will run two years in three,
commencing in 2003.
Representations were made to the ABS for the inclusion of unpaid work questions in the 2001
Census.
For the 2006 Census the ABS will, at Government request, in response to community
representations, develop a question on unpaid work for inclusion in that Census.26
Public Toilet Survey 200927
A survey by members, conducted by the Social Issues Committee of the Country Women’s
Association of Victoria Inc. during 2008 and published in 2009, of public toilets in their
neighbourhood.
Getting Things Done (1984-2014)28
Jean Tom, The Value of Unpaid Work (The Country Women’s Association of Australia, 1994).
Australian Bureau of Statistics, Unpaid Work and the 2001 Census (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2001)
<http://www.abs.gov.au/websitedbs/censushome.nsf/home/2001unpaidwork?opendocument&navpos=320>.
27
The Country Women’s Association of Victoria Inc. The Toilet Survey (The Country Women’s Association of
Australia, Blogspot, 2015) <http://cwaofa.blogspot.com.au/2015/06/toilet-survey-cwa-of-vic.html>.
28
The Country Women’s Association of Australia, Getting Things Done: Resolutions from the States and
Territory 1984-2014 (The Country Women’s Association of Australia, 2014) <http://www.cwaa.org.au/aboutus/charter/>.
25
26
CWAA Presentation for NRLJA 2015 8
Women make great advocates and CWA members make great lobbyists. Members have been
lobbying government at all levels, local, state/territory, federal since 1922. Resolutions are
presented at conferences at all levels of the association – branch, group, state, national, south
pacific area, world – resulting in lobbying governments at all levels (ACWW has over 460
member societies active in over 70 countries). Getting Things Done is the name of a
document that contains all State/Territory and National Resolutions from 1984 – prepared
and kept up to date by the current National President. The numbers following the general
headings are the numbers of resolutions passed and therefore the subject to lobbying to
government. The general headings include: Gambling 1; Disasters (drought, water
conservation, flood, general) 27; Health 38; Education 98; Law 184; Transport 124; Family
violence 8. The resolutions concerning family violence span the years 1990-2012 (and there
will be one brought forward at the 2015 National Conference):
QLD 1990 That QCWA approach the relevant government body for a public awareness
programme on the need for and availability of assistance aimed at preventing the
increasing incidents of violence against women and children.
TAS 1992 That CWA in TAS request the Television Standards Board to have in-depth news
reporting, with its frequent disturbing and violent segments, reserved for the late
news at 9.00pm and after.
VIC 1992 That the appropriate authorities exercise more control over incidences of terror,
rape and violence as shown on television screens.
VIC 1993 That the CWA of VIC INC encourage all members to take urgent action by
constantly making representations to politicians at all levels of government to cut the
increasing level of bodily violence against individuals in our community, particularly
women and children and the elderly.
NSW 1994 That CWA of NSW request the NSW Attorney-General to investigate the
feasibility of using artificial hormone modification treatment for violent repeat sex
offenders.
QLD 1996 That the QCWA make strong recommendations to the relevant Government
Departments that violence on television and videos and virtual reality games be
banned because of the bad influence they have on the behaviour of the population,
particularly the young.
VIC 2012 That the Country Women’s Association of Victoria Inc urges the State
Government to roll out the Bsafe Program in more areas of the State.
VIC 2012 That the Country Women’s Association of Victoria Inc commends all levels of
government – Federal, State and Local – and Victoria Police for their efforts to put
into place programs to combat family violence and urges them to continue
highlighting the importance of this issue.
Summary
The Country Women’s Association throughout Australia has lobbied, highlighted and
campaigned; in particular for rural issues, Year of the Family, poverty, roads, gambling
awareness, valuing unpaid work, state of toilets; and in general for many issues through
resolutions to governments; and we continue to do so.
Working with other bodies
The Country Women’s Association works in various ways with other bodies. As a Director,
member of Council, member or supporter of other organisations, its national executive and
members attend meetings; take part in surveys; assist in preparing submissions; publicise
events and projects; and join in campaigns. Some specific examples are included.
CWAA Presentation for NRLJA 2015 9
NRWC29 (rural women’s issues)
Attendance at Conference, Summit, roundtables on various subjects including family
violence.
NRHA30 (rural health issues)
Input into Submission on skin cancer in Australia and appearance before House of
Representatives Standing Committee on Health (25 March 2014) by three staff from NRHA
and Marion Dewar.31
Farmsafe32 / Safe Work Australia33 / Sydney University34
Supporting legislation for roll over protection (ROP) for tractors and crush protection devices
(CPD) for quad bikes.
University of NSW35
A paper titled Addressing Violence against Women in a Rural Context by Cath Hastings and
Karen MacLean included CWA members and other community groups in discussions.
Rural Dental Action Group Dental Health Survey NSW 200636
Inquiry into Health Care Complaints and Complaints Handling in NSW 201237
Mental Health Forum Leongatha VIC 2014
The CWA of VIC Social Issues Focus for the year was suicide awareness and a new branch
organised a mental health community awareness forum with input from other local branches,
churches, council, regional hospital, state government, mental health organisations and local
government workers. Free Mental Health First Aid courses were one result. The event was
nominated for an Australia Day Award.38 At 2015 CWA State Conference a workshop was
conducted by the branch on how to organise a similar event.
Published Examples
National Rural Women’s Coalition <http://nrwc.com.au/>.
National Rural Health Alliance <http://www.ruralhealth.org.au/>.
31
Commonwealth, House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health: Skin Cancer in Australia
(Commonwealth, Hansard 2014)
<http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/committees/commrep/7b3e7515-2122-4d64-b290bdfab5f947f5/toc_pdf/Standing%20Committee%20on%20Health_2014_03_25_2345_Official.pdf;fileType=app
lication%2Fpdf#search=%22committees/commrep/7b3e7515-2122-4d64-b290-bdfab5f947f5/0000%22>.
32
Farmsafe Australia <http://www.farmsafe.org.au/>.
33
Safe Work Australia <http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/SWA>.
34
Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety, Moree, School of Public Health, The University of
Sydney <http://sydney.edu.au/medicine/research/units/agric.php>.
35
Cath Hastings and Karen MacLean, Addressing Violence against Women in a Rural Context: Working with
Rural Community Groups (University of NSW, 2002)
<http://www.adfvc.unsw.edu.au/Conference%20papers/Exp-horiz/Hastings_MacLean.pdf>.
36
Rural Dental Action Group, Dental Health Survey 2006 (Council of Social Service of New South Wales,
2006) <http://www.ncoss.org.au/bookshelf/health/submissions/RDAG%20summary%202006.pdf>
37
Erin Casey, Inquiry into Health Care Complaints and Complaints Handling in NSW 2012, Country Women's
Association of NSW (Parliament of New South Wales, 2012)
<http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/committee.nsf/0/eb877b937927a60aca2579ab00027654/$FI
LE/submission%20no%202.pdf>.
38
South Gippsland Shire Council <http://www.southgippsland.vic.gov.au/Files/Profiles-of-Community-Eventnominees.pdf>
29
30
CWAA Presentation for NRLJA 2015 10
I brought a number of examples of published documents to illustrate the input of the CWA
and other organisations in seeking to increase awareness of family violence in society and to
build resilience in the community.
What Can I Do?
Six family violence awareness workshops, attended by 250 people, were held across the state
by The Country Women’s Association of Victoria Inc.39 in conjunction with Women’s Health
Goulburn North East40 and Domestic Violence Victoria41 between May and July 2013 using a
Workbook titled Family Violence Awareness.42 A final report of the project was written by
Social Issues Committee Chairman Marie Vassallo.43
NCE Roundtable44
National Centre of Excellence to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children (NCE)
held a Stakeholder roundtable discussion on research areas, topics and issues for inclusion in
the National Research Agenda, facilitated by the Australian Housing and Urban Research
Institute (AHURI) (Melbourne 15 October 2013). A background paper45 was the basis of
discussion. The findings were synthesized into seven topics: primary prevention; efficacy
(‘gold standard’ intervention); intersection (eg with law, unintended consequences);
prevalence & (unmet) demand; causes and dynamics; pathways over life course; systems.
Some information from the roundtable was circularised to attendees.46
Stopping Violence Toolkit47
Stopping violence against women before it happens: A practical toolkit for communities,
prepared by the National Rural Women’s Network and NRWC in 2012.
One Size Does Not Fit All48
A report on the 2013 National Rural Women’s Summit.
What do Rural Women Want To Know?49
The Country Women’s Association of Victoria Inc. <http://cwaofvic.org.au/>.
Women’s Health Goulburn North East <http://www.whealth.com.au/>.
41
Domestic Violence Victoria <http://www.dvvic.org.au/>.
42
Women’s Health Goulburn North East and Gippsland Women’s Health Service, Family Violence Awareness
(Women’s Health Goulburn North East, 2013).
43
Marie Vassallo, What Can I Do? Project Report (The Country Women’s Association of Australia, 2015)
<http://www.cwaa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/What-can-I-do-Project-Report.pdf>.
44
The Country Women’s Association of Australia <http://www.cwaa.org.au/uncategorized/family-violenceresearch-information/>.
45
Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute, Key Findings of Research into Sexual Assault, Domestic
and Family Violence: Stakeholder Consultation Background Paper (Australian Housing and Urban Research
Institute, 2013) <http://www.cwaa.org.au/wpcontent/uploads/2015/06/NCE_stakeholder_consultation_background_paper.pdf>.
46
The Country Women’s Association of Australia <http://www.cwaa.org.au/wpcontent/uploads/2015/06/NCE_roundtable_ppt.pdf>, <http://www.cwaa.org.au/wpcontent/uploads/2015/06/NCE_Reference_list.pdf>.
47
National Rural Women’s Coalition, Stopping Violence Against Women Before it Happens: A Practical Toolkit
for Communities (National Rural Women’s Coalition, 2012)
<http://www.nrwc.com.au/Portals/43/Documents/WAV%20Tool%20Kit/NRWN-Family-Violence-ToolkitWeb.pdf>.
48
National Rural Women’s Coalition, One Size Does Not Fit All (National Rural Women’s Coalition, 2013)
<http://www.nrwc.com.au/Portals/43/Documents/One%20Size%20Does%20Not%20Fit%20All%20%202013%20Rural%20Women's%20Summit%20Report%20v2.pdf>.
39
40
CWAA Presentation for NRLJA 2015 11
A 2013 Report into RRR Women’s Information Needs
A Strategic Framework for Victoria50
Working With News and Social Media to Prevent Violence Against Women and their
Children, prepared by Domestic Violence Victoria in 2015
Conference Paper51
A Conference Paper describing a family violence project was presented to the recent NRHA
Conference by two CWA members from Monbulk VIC, Carmel and Nerrida Mitchell.
Summary
CWA organisations and members have worked collaboratively with many different bodies
including NRWC, NRHA, Farmsafe, Women’s Health Network, and Domestic Violence
Victoria on various topics including family violence, skin cancer, crush protection for
vehicles, dental health, mental health, and general rural issues.
Possible Strategies
Strategies to increase inclusion for women and their families, to overcome disadvantage,
especially for those living in rural areas and to respond to diversity in the Australian
context, particularly in relation to family violence.
Education Workshops and Forums
Participants in Landscapes of Violence (Deakin University, 2014) called for public discussion
of the nature of family violence, available assistance and education campaigns:
In overcoming and preventing violence, many women called for greater discussion of the
nature of family violence and the assistance available to women in the public sphere, and for
education and campaigns around challenging subjugation and society’s acceptance of abuse.52
At a domestic violence forum hosted by Archbishop Philip Freier on 22 April this year,
reported in the May edition of The Melbourne Anglican, the following subjects for education
were aired: gender inequality (making gender specific references about, for example, a task),
cultural circumstances, perpetrators to be held for account (rather than women being
responsible for keeping themselves safe), early intervention, safe accommodation, resources,
media (a role shaping public attitudes but needed to always provide support information
using 1800 RESPECT), school programs.53
National Rural Women’s Coalition, What do Rural Women Want To Know? (National Rural Women’s
Coalition, 2014)
<http://www.nrwc.com.au/Portals/43/Documents/What%20Do%20Rural%20Women%20Want%20To%20Kno
w.docx%20Jan%202014.pdf>.
50
Domestic Violence Victoria, Working with News and Social Media to Prevent Violence Against Women and
their Children: A Strategic Framework for Victoria (Domestic Violence Victoria, 2015)
<http://www.dvvic.org.au/images/Working_with_News_and_Social_Media_A_Strategic_Framework_for_Vict
oria.pdf>.
51
Carmel Mitchell and Nerrida Mitchell, Family Violence - Primary Prevention: A Community Involvement
Approach (National Rural Health Alliance, 2015)
<http://www.ruralhealth.org.au/13nrhc/images/abs_Mitchell%2C%20Nerrida_0.pdf>.
52
George and Harris, above n 11, 169.
53
Chris Shearer, ‘Gender Stereotyping Fuelling Increase in Domestic Violence’, The Melbourne Anglican
(Melbourne), May 2015, 3,6
<http://www.melbourneanglican.org.au/NewsAndViews/TMA/Pages/default.aspx>.
49
CWAA Presentation for NRLJA 2015 12
Workforce Considerations
In Conceptualising the prevention of sexual assault and the role of education (2009), Moira
Carmody maintains workers in the family violence sphere need upskilling, proper
remuneration, theoretical education and job security:
If we are to take seriously the challenge of the primary prevention of sexual violence then we
need a skilled and adequately remunerated workforce that not only understand the content of
the programs they are delivering, but have a clearly articulated theoretical stance to the work
they do and understand why they do it. They need to have opportunities for ethical reflection
and to consider the moral-ethicality of prevention work they are doing (Evans, 2008).
Without this, there is a strong likelihood that they may unwittingly create resistance to the
prevention messages and alienate potential allies. They also need job security, promotional
opportunities and ongoing access to training to increase their skills, as well as supervision and
mentoring. This is a challenge for the human services generally but the current lack of a
workforce strategy in prevention education results in rapid staff turnover, education programs
disappearing, a lack of continuity of prevention education and loss of valuable data that can
inform future practice.54
Innovative Programs
Loddon Mallee Specialist Services Network staff members have developed individual service
packages by separating resources and worker support. They write:
When we looked at what women want and what they get in Loddon Campaspe, we felt
concerned that from a women’s point of view the current service system is fragmented,
unresponsive to their needs and difficult to access. The model we have developed for the
Loddon Campaspe region is based on the concept of a continuum of care. This means a
service system that has the capacity to tailor resources and responses to meet the expressed
needs of an individual or family. In order to do this we have separated worker support from
resources.55
CWA of VIC has been involved with Women’s Health Goulburn North East (WHGNE) and
the Bsafe program since 2011. The program is described as follows:
Bsafe is a personal alarm system for women and children escaping family violence. Bsafe
prevents further violence and enables women and children to live safely in their own homes
and communities. Despite three comprehensive evaluations and assistance given to over 250
women and their children, WHGNE has been unsuccessful in securing government funding
for Bsafe. As of 2014, WHGNE continues to seek action from the Victorian Government to
adopt, fund and administer this vital program for women and children.56
Recommendations to government
54
Moira Carmody, ‘Conceptualising the Prevention of Sexual Assault and the Role of Education’, Australian
Centre for the Study of Sexual Assault ACSSA Issues (2009) 10
<http://www3.aifs.gov.au/acssa/pubs/issue/acssa_issues10.pdf>.
55
Joanne Sheehan, Carla Meurs and Judy Flanagan ‘Doing It Differently’: Bringing Sexual Assault & Domestic
Violence Together In Rural Victoria, Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Conference (University of New
South Wales) <http://www.adfvc.unsw.edu.au/Conference%20papers/Seeksoln/Flanagan,J.Sheehan,J.Meurs.pdf>.
56
Women’s Health Goulburn North East, Bsafeprogram (Women’s Health Goulburn North East)
<http://www.whealth.com.au/work_bsafe.html>.
CWAA Presentation for NRLJA 2015 13
In a research report, A Powerful Journey: A Research Report: Women reflect on what helped them
leave, Women’s Health Goulburn North East (WHGNE) calls for equitable funding and
various legal measures to increase protection of women and children:
3. Effect culture change within service provision
3.5 Recommend to the Victorian Government that equitable funding be made available to
resource support groups for women and children, particularly in rural areas.
4. Redress injustice
4.1 Recommend to the Victorian Government that the review of the Crimes (Family
Violence) Act 1987 consider legislation to keep women and children in their homes.
4.2 Recommend to federal and state governments to improve resources for rural services to
meet the demand for accessible and ongoing counselling:
4.2.1 for children who have witnessed and experienced family violence.
4.2.2 for people affected by family violence.
4.5 Recommend to federal and state governments to resource personal protective measures to
safeguard the lives of women and children in the 48 hours following a life threatening family
violence event.57
The Law Institute of Victoria (LIV) calls for ‘the government to provide greater detail
regarding the allocation of government legal work to firms in RRR areas’ and ‘greater detail
regarding increased resources and court facilities being rolled out in RRR areas’.58
Summary
For women and children in rural Australia dealing with family violence inclusion,
disadvantage and diversity must be addressed in a variety of ways. These include:
workshops and forums covering information, awareness, discussion and recommendations to
appropriate bodies; reiterating the importance of training and salary for workers in the field;
sourcing and resourcing innovative programs on awareness and protection; obtaining funding
and resources for support groups; changing the law to grant more protection to the
vulnerable; increased legal assistance; and improved court facilities.
To return to the ripple effect
Do you look at this subject as the thrower of the stone, as the dropped stone causing the ever
widening ripples or as the calm pond water disturbed by the action of the stone thrower and
the dropped stone?
Conclusion
Like CWA members, you may think of yourself as the unsettled water that disturbs
complacent society and politicians, as the comforting silt around the dropped stone and also
as the calm water of the healthy community pond.
Discussion
Join the discussion and add to the knowledge by offering personal insights into best
practice inclusionary justice which will form the basis of a conference response.
Women’s Health Goulburn North East, A Powerful Journey A Research Report Women reflect on what helped
them leave (Women’s Health Goulburn North East, 2004) 8-9
<http://www.whealth.com.au/documents/publications/whp-apj_report.pdf>.
58
Law Institute of Victoria, Improving Access to Justice in Rural, Regional and Remote (RRR) Areas (Law
Institute of Victoria) <http://www.liv.asn.au/For-Lawyers/Submissions-and-LIV-projects/Call-to-theParties/Improving-Access-to-Justice-in-RRR-areas>.
57
CWAA Presentation for NRLJA 2015 14
Response to Conference
Bibliography
A Articles/Books/Reports
Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute, Key Findings of Research into Sexual
Assault, Domestic and Family Violence: Stakeholder Consultation Background Paper
(Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute, 2015) <http://www.cwaa.org.au/wpcontent/uploads/2015/06/NCE_stakeholder_consultation_background_paper.pdf>.
Carmody, Moira, ‘Conceptualising the Prevention of Sexual Assault and the Role of
Education’, Australian Centre for the Study of Sexual Assault ACSSA Issues (2009) 10
<http://www3.aifs.gov.au/acssa/pubs/issue/acssa_issues10.pdf>.
Casey, Erin, Inquiry into Health Care Complaints and Complaints Handling in NSW 2012,
Country Women's Association of NSW (Parliament of New South Wales, 2012)
<http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/committee.nsf/0/eb877b937927a60aca25
79ab00027654/$FILE/submission%20no%202.pdf>.
The Country Women’s Association of Victoria Inc. The Toilet Survey (The Country
Women’s Association of Australia, Blogspot, 2015)
<http://cwaofa.blogspot.com.au/2015/06/toilet-survey-cwa-of-vic.html>.
Coverdale, Richard, Postcode Justice: Rural and Regional Disadvantage in the
Administration of the Law in Victoria (Deakin University 2011) 9
<http://www.deakin.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/258164/pubs-7.pdf>.
Denniss, R, J Fear and E Milane, ‘Justice for all: giving Australians greater access to the legal
system’, Institute Paper No. 8 (The Australia Institute, Canberra, March 2012)
<http://www.tai.org.au/node/1831>.
Department of Social Services, Australian Government, The National Plan to Reduce
Violence against Women and their Children 2010 – 2022 (2014) 14
<https://www.dss.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/08_2014/national_plan1.pdf>.
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Life Has Never Been Easy: report of the
survey of women in rural Australia, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Canberra
(Australian Government Publishing Service, 1988)
<http://www.womenaustralia.info/bib/AWP002885.htm> (Accessed and photocopied with
permission National Library of Australia 25 March, 2014).
Domestic Violence Victoria, Working with News and Social Media to Prevent Violence
Against Women and their Children: A Strategic Framework for Victoria (Domestic Violence
Victoria, 2015)
<http://www.dvvic.org.au/images/Working_with_News_and_Social_Media_A_Strategic_Fra
mework_for_Victoria.pdf>.
Fowler, Barry, Access to Justice in Rural and Remote Areas, (Access to justice roundtable,
2003)
CWAA Presentation for NRLJA 2015 15
<http://www.lawfoundation.net.au/report/roundtable/0EA001DDC5B0EC7BCA2572730018
E0CA.html>.
George, Amanda, and Bridget Harris, Landscapes of Violence: Women Surviving Family
Violence in Regional and Rural Victoria (Centre for Rural and Regional Law and Justice,
Deakin 2014) 14
<http://www.deakin.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/287040/Landscapes-of-Violenceonline-pdf-version.pdf>.
Hastings, Cath, and Karen MacLean, Addressing Violence against Women in a Rural
Context: Working with rural community groups (University of NSW, 2002)
<http://www.adfvc.unsw.edu.au/Conference%20papers/Exp-horiz/Hastings_MacLean.pdf>.
Lynch, Denise, and Lesley Laing, ‘Women get lost in the gaps’ – Service providers’
perspectives on women’s access to legal protection from domestic violence, Faculty of
Education and Social Work (University of Sydney, 2013)
<http://ses.library.usyd.edu.au//bitstream/2123/9195/2/Women%20get%20lost%20in%20the
%20gaps.pdf >.
Mitchell, Carmel, and Nerrida Mitchell, Family Violence - Primary Prevention: A
Community Involvement Approach (National Rural Health Alliance, 2015)
<http://www.ruralhealth.org.au/13nrhc/images/abs_Mitchell%2C%20Nerrida_0.pdf>.
Moore, Pam, The Social Costs of Poor Roads (The Country Women’s Association of
Australia, 2000).
National Rural Women’s Coalition, One Size Does Not Fit All (National Rural Women’s
Coalition, 2013)
<http://www.nrwc.com.au/Portals/43/Documents/One%20Size%20Does%20Not%20Fit%20
All%20-%202013%20Rural%20Women's%20Summit%20Report%20v2.pdf>.
National Rural Women’s Coalition, Stopping Violence Against Women Before it Happens: A
Practical Toolkit for Communities, (National Rural Women’s Coalition, 2012)
<http://www.nrwc.com.au/Portals/43/Documents/WAV%20Tool%20Kit/NRWN-FamilyViolence-Toolkit-Web.pdf>.
National Rural Women’s Coalition, What do Rural Women Want To Know? (National Rural
Women’s Coalition, 2014)
<http://www.nrwc.com.au/Portals/43/Documents/What%20Do%20Rural%20Women%20Wa
nt%20To%20Know.docx%20Jan%202014.pdf>.
Rural Dental Action Group, Dental Health Survey 2006 (Council of Social Service of New
South Wales, 2006)
<http://www.ncoss.org.au/bookshelf/health/submissions/RDAG%20summary%202006.pdf>
Sheehan, Joanne, Carla Meurs and Judy Flanagan, ‘Doing It Differently’: Bringing Sexual
Assault & Domestic Violence Together In Rural Victoria, Domestic Violence and Sexual
Assault Conference (University of New South Wales)
<http://www.adfvc.unsw.edu.au/Conference%20papers/Seeksoln/Flanagan,J.Sheehan,J.Meurs.pdf>.
CWAA Presentation for NRLJA 2015 16
Stevens-Chambers, Brenda, The Many Hats of Country Women: The Jubilee History of the
Country Women’s Association of Australia (Country Women’s Association of Australia,
1997) 185-189.
Tom, Jean, The Value of Unpaid Work (The Country Women’s Association of Australia,
1994).
Vassallo, Marie, What Can I Do? Project Report (The Country Women’s Association of
Australia, 2015) <http://www.cwaa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/What-can-I-doProject-Report.pdf>.
Victoria Police, Code of Practice for the Investigation of Family Violence, (Victoria Police,
2004) x <http://www.police.vic.gov.au/files/documents/464_FV_COP.pdf>.
Women’s Health Goulburn North East, A Powerful Journey A Research Report Women
reflect on what helped them leave (Women’s Health Goulburn North East, 2004) 8-9
<http://www.whealth.com.au/documents/publications/whp-apj_report.pdf>.
E Other
Australian Bureau of Statistics, Defining the Data Challenge for Family, Domestic and
Sexual Violence (Canberra 2 July 2013)
<http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4529.0main+features100062013>.
Australian Bureau of Statistics, Unpaid Work and the 2001 Census (Australian Bureau of
Statistics, 2001)
<http://www.abs.gov.au/websitedbs/censushome.nsf/home/2001unpaidwork?opendocument
&navpos=320>.
Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety, Moree, School of Public Health, The
University of Sydney <http://sydney.edu.au/medicine/research/units/agric.php>.
Commonwealth, House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health: Skin Cancer in
Australia, (Commonwealth, Hansard, 2014)
<http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/committees/commrep/7b3e7515-2122-4d64b290bdfab5f947f5/toc_pdf/Standing%20Committee%20on%20Health_2014_03_25_2345_Officia
l.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf#search=%22committees/commrep/7b3e7515-2122-4d64b290-bdfab5f947f5/0000%22>.
The Country Women’s Association of Australia <http://www.cwaa.org.au/>.
The Country Women’s Association of Australia, CWAA Brochure (The Country Women’s
Association of Australia, 2015) <http://www.cwaa.org.au/wpcontent/uploads/2011/07/CWAA-Brochure-3006151.pdf>.
The Country Women’s Association of Australia, Getting Things Done: Resolutions from the
States and Territory 1984-2014, (The Country Women’s Association of Australia, 2014)
<http://www.cwaa.org.au/about-us/charter/>.
CWAA Presentation for NRLJA 2015 17
The Country Women’s Association of Australia
<http://www.cwaa.org.au/uncategorized/family-violence-research-information/>.
The Country Women’s Association of Australia <http://www.cwaa.org.au/wpcontent/uploads/2015/06/NCE_roundtable_ppt.pdf>, <http://www.cwaa.org.au/wpcontent/uploads/2015/06/NCE_Reference_list.pdf>.
The Country Women’s Association of Victoria Inc. <http://cwaofvic.org.au/>.
Domestic Violence Victoria<http://www.dvvic.org.au/>.
Farmsafe Australia <http://www.farmsafe.org.au/>.
Lavoipierre, Angela, Domestic violence response in Victoria 'broken but not irredeemable',
royal commission submission says (Australian Broadcasting Corporation, ABC News 24, 25
June 2015) <http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-25/domestic-violence-response-in-vicbroken-but-not-irredeemable/6573314>.
Law Institute of Victoria, Improving Access to Justice in Rural, Regional and Remote (RRR)
Areas (Law Institute of Victoria) <http://www.liv.asn.au/For-Lawyers/Submissions-and-LIVprojects/Call-to-the-Parties/Improving-Access-to-Justice-in-RRR-areas>.
Letter from a friend about her daughter R, dated Friday 28 May 2015.
National Rural Health Alliance <http://www.ruralhealth.org.au/>.
National Rural Women’s Coalition <http://nrwc.com.au/>.
Parke, Julie, Team Leader Gippsland Community Legal Service, A program of Anglicare
Victoria (Email 28 May 2015).
Prison Fellowship International Centre for Justice and Reconciliation Restorative Justice
Online Inclusion <http://www.restorativejustice.org/universityclassroom/01introduction/values-1/inclusion>.
Safe Work Australia <http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/SWA>.
Shearer, Chris, ‘Gender Stereotyping Fuelling Increase in Domestic Violence’, The
Melbourne Anglican (Melbourne), May 2015, 3,6
<http://www.melbourneanglican.org.au/NewsAndViews/TMA/Pages/default.aspx>.
South Gippsland Shire Council <http://www.southgippsland.vic.gov.au/Files/Profiles-ofCommunity-Event-nominees.pdf>
United Nations
<http://undesadspd.org/Family/InternationalObservances/InternationalYearoftheFamily.aspx
>.
CWAA Presentation for NRLJA 2015 18
Women’s Health Goulburn North East <http://www.whealth.com.au/>.
Women’s Health Goulburn North East and Gippsland Women’s Health Service Family
Violence Awareness (Women’s Health Goulburn North East, 2013).
Women’s Health Goulburn North East, Bsafeprogram (Women’s Health Goulburn North
East) <http://www.whealth.com.au/work_bsafe.html>.
Biography
Marion Dewar has lived and worked in country Victoria all her life. From birth, her home
was a South Gippsland dairy or beef farm and this lifestyle continued until her husband
retired. She now lives in a town of c5,500 people. Marion holds degrees in music,
librarianship and theology. She was a private teacher of music and also held positions in state
music education.
Marion is a member of voluntary and community organisations, including Red Cross. Within
the Country Women’s Association (CWA) she has accepted office at Branch, Group, State
and National level. She is currently National Secretary of the Country Women’s Association
of Australia (CWAA). Understanding the needs of both country and city women, Marion is
passionate about the ability of committed women to make a difference in the lives of women
and children.
Marion is a Past Editor of Victorian Country Woman (CWA). While Chairman of the
Victorian State Social Issues Committee (CWA) she led the state focus on the issue of family
violence. She is a past Victorian State Council (CWA) member and a current member of the
Victorian Advisory Board (CWA).
Marion is organist in her local church and a member of Bishop-in-Council of the Anglican
Diocese of Gippsland.
Marion brings knowledge of life in rural Victoria and across Australia, skills in leadership of
voluntary organisations, appreciation of the legal needs and impediments to legal assistance
of rural people from the point of view of those at the grassroots level, and an understanding
of justice, or the lack of it, that people in rural regions experience in many areas of their lives.
CWAA Presentation for NRLJA 2015 19