PowerPoint Fiona Mort, A Right to Safety

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