Indigenous Family Violence Primary Prevention Framework

Page 7IndigenousFamilyViolenceLinking the Framework ContinuedVictorian and National strategy and policydocuments, both existing and future, providea further opportunity for linkages. Somerelevant existing documents include:VictorianŔ 8BOOJL &EVDBUJPO 4USBUFHZ GPS ,PPSJF TUVEFOUT %FQBSUNFOU PG &EVDBUJPO BOE &BSMZ IJMEIPPE %FWFMPQNFOUŔ 3FDPODJMJBUJPO "DUJPO 1MBO (Departments of Human Services and)FBMUIŔ 7JDUPSJBO "CPSJHJOBM 4VJDJEF 1SFWFOUJPO BOE Response Plan 2010 - 2015 (DepartmentsPG )VNBO 4FSWJDFT BOE )FBMUIŔ ,PPSJ "MDPIPM "DUJPO 1MBO %FQBSUNFOUT PG )VNBO 4FSWJDFT BOE )FBMUIŔ "CPSJHJOBM VTUJDF "HSFFNFOU %FQBSUNFOU PG VTUJDFNationalŔ /BUJPOBM 1MBO UP 3FEVDF 7JPMFODF "HBJOTU 8PNFO BOE 5IFJS IJMESFOŔ MPTJOH UIF (BQ /BUJPOBM 6SCBO BOE Regional Service Delivery Strategy forIndigenous AustraliansŔ /BUJPOBM 1BSUOFSTIJQ "HSFFNFOUT0QQPSUVOJUJFT TVDI BT SFGFSFODJOH UIF Framework and including actions that supportthe Framework into other business andstrategic planning documents will strengthenthe ability to achieve the goals of theFramework and will enable a more holisticapproach.A holistic approach means we need towork together./PSUI 8FTU .FUSPQPMJUBO DPOTVMUBUJPO participantCase Study: Reaching out to the communitythrough White Ribbon Day&BDI ZFBS JO /PWFNCFS NBOZ DPNNVOJUJFT BSF FOHBHFE JO BDUJWJUJFT DPOOFDUFE UP 8IJUF 3JCCPO %BZ .BOZ *OEJHFOPVT 'BNJMZ 7JPMFODF Regional Action Groups use the impetus of the8IJUF 3JCCPO BNQBJHO UP GPDVT PO JODSFBTJOH community awareness about family violence.These activities take many forms such as talkingXJUI BOE TVQQPSUJOH NFO UP CFDPNF 8IJUF 3JCCPO Ambassadors, family days and community walks.There is a lot of planning involved, particularlyBT LOPXMFEHF PG UIF 8IJUF 3JCCPO BNQBJHO IBT HSPXO SBQJEMZ JO UIF QBTU GFX ZFBST .BOZ Indigenous Family Violence Regional ActionGroups link up with other organisations such asAboriginal sporting clubs, mainstream communityorganisations, local justice and educationalagencies, and Victoria Police members to join inactivities, run concurrent activities and to shareresources.5IF 8IJUF 3JCCPO %BZ FWFOUT BSF HSFBU BDUJWJUJFT GPS SFBDIJOH PVU UP UIF XIPMF DPNNVOJUZ BOE the events take place across the community.Information packs, t-shirts and caps with messagesabout not tolerating family violence also feature in8IJUF 3JCCPO %BZ BDUJWJUJFT Photographs are often taken to record the eventsand feedback from participants about the activitiesis used in planning events for the following year.Indigenous Family Violence Regional Action Groupsalso share good ideas for planning events as wellas using the outcome of these activities to build onBOE MFBSO GSPN FBDI PUIFS 5IF 8IJUF 3JCCPO %BZ primary prevention activities often create momentumfor future partnerships and prevention activities.5IF 8IJUF 3JCCPO BNQBJHO JT B OBUJPOBM WJPMFODF QSFWFOUJPO campaign that aims to raise awareness among Australian menand boys about the roles they can play to prevent violence againstwomen. The campaign calls for men across Australia to speak outand take an oath swearing never to commit, excuse or remainsilent about violence against women. The campaign culminatesPO 8IJUF 3JCCPO %BZ /PWFNCFS FBDI ZFBS XIFO NFO BOE women across Australia are called to wear a white ribbon orwristband as a visual symbol of their commitment and oath.

Page 8IndigenousFamilyViolenceDEFINITIONSIt is important to understand andacknowledge the definitions of familyviolence and primary prevention agreed uponby the Aboriginal community. The followingdefinitions are taken from Strong Culture,Strong Peoples, Strong Families Towardsa safer future for Indigenous families andcommunities 10 Year Plan and the CPIFGuidelines respectively.Family violenceAboriginal definitions of the nature andforms of family violence are broader andmore encompassing that those used in themainstream.The Victorian Indigenous Family ViolenceTaskforce defined family violence as: an issuefocussed around a wide range of physical,emotional, sexual, social, spiritual, cultural,psychological and economic abuses thatoccur within families, intimate relationships,extended families, kinship networks andcommunities. It extends to one-on–onefighting, abuse of Indigenous communityworkers as well as self-harm, injury andsuicide. Aboriginal family violence encompassesa range of acts that are criminal, such asphysical and sexual assault, and non-criminalsuch as emotional and spiritual abuse.Community violence, or violence withinthe Indigenous community (often between"CPSJHJOBM GBNJMJFT JT BMTP BO FNFSHJOH concern for local areas in Victoria. Thisviolence contributes to overall levels ofviolence reported by Aboriginal people andthe trauma experienced within families andkinship networks.Family violence includes intergenerationalWJPMFODF BOE BCVTF BŢFDUT FYUFOEFE GBNJMJFT and kinship networks. An individual can beboth a perpetrator and a victim of familyviolence.7The Aboriginal definition is consistent with theFamily Violence Protection Act 2008 whichdefines family violence as behaviour that isphysically or sexually abusive, emotionallyor psychologically abusive, threatening orcoercive, or in any way controls or dominatesthe family member and that causes thatfamily member to fear for his or her safety,or well being or for the safety or well beingof another person.We can’t deal with family violence inAboriginal communities without dealingwith trauma and loss.#BSXPO 4PVUI 8FTUWe need to get to the underlying issues dealing with people who are generationallytraumatised, so when something goeswrong, they are re-traumatised.Gippsland Central 7JDUPSJBO *OEJHFOPVT 'BNJMZ 7JPMFODF 5BTL 'PSDF 'JOBM 3FQPSU Q 7 Strong Culture, Strong Peoples, Strong Families Towards a safer future for Indigenous families and communities, 2008, p.11

Page 9IndigenousFamilyViolenceDefinitions - Family Violence ContinuedPrimary preventionPrimary prevention should not be seenin isolation from a broader spectrum ofresponses to family violence. It is importantto recognise the interplay between responsesand the need for responses to occur at alllevels. These responses can reinforce andbuild on each other helping to create saferfamilies and communities.There are commonly three levels of responsethat together provide a comprehensiveapproach.Ŕ 1SJNBSZ QSFWFOUJPO Ŋ QSFWFOUJOH WJPMFODF before it occurs. This includes a broadrange of activities involving a range ofpopulation groups and conducted in arange of settings.Ŕ &BSMZ JOUFSWFOUJPO Ŋ UBLJOH BDUJPO PO UIF early signs of violence, sometimes calledsecondary prevention. This includesbehaviour change programs for thosedisplaying and using abusive behaviours.Ŕ SJTJT JOUFSWFOUJPO Ŋ JOUFSWFOJOH after theviolence has occurred, sometimes calleda tertiary response. This includes women’sresponses, men’s case management, timeout services, children’s responses.Primary preventionPreventing violence before it occursEarly InterventionIntervention targeted at the early signsof violenceCrisis InterventionIntervention after violencehas occurred

Page 10IndigenousFamilyViolenceDefinitions - Primary prevention ContinuedPrimary prevention strategies commonly focus on changing attitudes and behaviour, buildingknowledge and skills, and structural, cultural and societal contexts in which violence occurs.&ŢFDUJWF QSJNBSZ QSFWFOUJPO BDUJWJUJFT DBO JOWPMWF UIF XIPMF QPQVMBUJPO VOJWFSTBM BOE PS QBSUJDVMBS HSPVQT XIP BSF BU IJHIFS SJTL PG VTJOH BOE PS FYQFSJFODJOH WJPMFODF JO UIF GVUVSF UBSHFUFE TFMFDUJWF Targeted prevention activities focus on key population groups including:Ŕ .FOŔ :PVOH XPNFO BOE HJSMT Ŕ 8PNFO JODMVEJOH QSFHOBOU XPNFOŔ :PVOH NFO BOE CPZTŔ "EVMUT BOE DIJMESFO XJUI B EJTBCJMJUZ JOUFMMFDUVBM BOE QIZTJDBM Ŕ &MEFSTŔ ( BZ MFTCJBO CJTFYVBM USBOTHFOEFS intersexŔ 'BNJMJFTSettings XIFSF QSFWFOUJPO BDUJWJUJFT PDDVS JO PSEFS UP CF NPTU FŢFDUJWF JODMVEF Ŕ "DSPTT DPNNVOJUZŔ .FEJB BOE BSUTŔ 4DIPPMT 5"'&Ŕ "CPSJHJOBM XPNFOōT SFTQPOTF TFSWJDFT Ŕ )FBMJOH BOE UJNF PVU TFSWJDFTŔ " CPSJHJOBM BOE NBJOTUSFBN PSHBOJTBUJPOT e.g. integrated family violence services,Aboriginal men’s time out servicesŔ 1MBZHSPVQT PS QBSFOUJOH HSPVQTŔ 'BNJMZ FOUSFTŔ PNNVOJUZ PSHBOJTBUJPOT Ŕ 4QPSUJOH DMVCT1SJNBSZ QSFWFOUJPO QSPWJEFT BO PQQPSUVOJUZ UP EFTJHO BDUJWJUJFT UIBU PWFSMBQ CFUXFFO EJŢFSFOU population groups and settings.Case Study: Using camps as a powerful setting for primary preventionAn important setting for Aboriginal communities’ work in the primary prevention of familyviolence is the use of camps. Camps are used by Aboriginal communities in many diverseways to target specific groups within community and to focus on specific strategies. Campsfor young men or for young women might focus on confidence building and leadership skills.Family camps can be used to address issues of grief and trauma from past wrong doings.Camps for males can focus on cultural strengthening and addressing violent behaviour.Sometimes it can be challenging to provide follow up for camp participants. The communityconsultations used to inform this Framework identified how important it is to keepconnected with the camp participants and that messages of non violent behaviour needto be reinforced after the camp. In a number of regions, support groups have been formedfollowing a camp, allowing participants to continue to build connections and networks,receive mentoring and gain access to support services.The community consultations also stressed that it is important to ensure that camps caninvolve young people with challenging behaviour but must also allow opportunities for youngAboriginal men and women with strong leadership potential to build their skills and abilities.

Page 11IndigenousFamilyViolenceEVIDENCE OF PRIMARY PREVENTIONACTIVITIESLiterature about the types of interventionsin Aboriginal family violence that are mostMJLFMZ UP CF FŢFDUJWF JO QSFWFOUJOH WJPMFODF indicate the following best practice elementsBSF FTTFOUJBM GPS FŢFDUJWF QSJNBSZ QSFWFOUJPO activities. The activities must:Ŕ #F MFE CZ "CPSJHJOBM DPNNVOJUJFTŔ *ODMVEF B XIPMF PG DPNNVOJUZ BQQSPBDI and community strengtheningŔ #F HSPVOEFE JO DVMUVSBM SFTQFDU BOE cultural strengtheningŔ 1SPNPUF OPO WJPMFOU TPDJBM OPSNT and strengthen protective factors incommunitiesŔ *NQSPWF BDDFTT UP SFTPVSDFT BOE TZTUFNT of supportŔ *ODMVEF UJNFMJOFT BDDPVOUBCJMJUZ BOE evaluationThe consultations held across Victoriato inform this Framework revealed a vastamount of prevention activity underwaywithin local Aboriginal communities, much ofwhich is based on the best practice elementsBCPWF 8IJMF NBOZ PG UIFTF BDUJWJUJFT BSF OPU formally documented they provide evidenceof the capacity and ability of the VictorianAboriginal community to garner support forprevention activities.The range of activities also highlights thespectrum of responses to family violencefrom intervention to primary prevention,and that responses to family violence, oncethe violence has occurred, must happenalongside responses to prevent the firstinstance of violence.There is a lot of anecdotal evidence,but it’s really hard to get or do formalevaluation, so we have no evidenceto back up our good work. And if wedid, who and what would we feed theevaluations in to?Hume consultation participantCase Study: Aboriginal designed puppetsAboriginal designed puppets convey strong messages to children, young people andfamilies.6TJOH QVQQFUT JT B DSFBUJWF XBZ PG FOHBHJOH DIJMESFO BOE GBNJMJFT JO UBMLJOH BCPVU GBNJMZ violence and reinforcing strong messages about inappropriate touching, bullying andfamily violence. Puppets can also provide an opportunity for sharing personal storiesabout violence in a safe and non-threatening environment.Puppet shows and activities bring together children, young people, males and womenin a fun and non-threatening environment. The puppets are specifically designed forAboriginal communities so that children and families can relate to them. They allowfamilies to think about the issues of family violence and messages for healthy, respectfulrelationships together that can be reinforced at home.In Victoria, puppet shows and activities occur in a variety of settings including schools,Aboriginal sporting clubs and community organisations via the sponsorship and fundingof the Indigenous Family Violence Regional Action Groups.

Page 12IndigenousFamilyViolenceEvidence of Primary Prevention Activities ContinuedSome examples of Aboriginal primary prevention activities in VictoriaAcross Victoria, Indigenous Family Violence Regional Action Groups sponsor, coordinate, fundand conduct a range of primary prevention activities.Some target the whole community including:Community awarenessraising through communityXBMLT BOE 8IJUF 3JCCPO %BZ activitiesCommunity information andeducation through networks,information, positivemessages at sporting festivalsAddressing underlying issuesthrough programs at healingand time out services, healingcamps, and employmentopportunitiesSome target families including:Family strengthening andresilience building by holdingfamily days and camps,parenting programsSome target women, including:Cultural strengtheningthrough retreats and camps,cultural programsSelf esteem and resiliencebuilding by bringing womentogether to share and learn,holding treat and pamperingdaysParenting programs to sharepositive experiences andbuild positive relationships&EVDBUJPO DIBMMFOHJOH BOE changing behaviour throughmen’s group programsSelf esteem and resiliencebuilding though men’s campsand programs, leadership and8IJUF 3JCCPO "NCBTTBEPSTSome target men, including:Cultural strengtheningthrough men’s groupsconnecting men withtraditional cultural waysSome target children and young people, including:&EVDBUJPO BOE BXBSFOFTT raising through healthyrelationships programs,puppet shows like:BSSBNVOEJ ,JETCultural strengthening byholding programs that helpyoung people connect withtheir communities, campsand cultural dance groupsSelf esteem and resiliencebuilding through camps andsporting activities

Page 13IndigenousFamilyViolenceEvidence of Primary Prevention Activities ContinuedCommunity Prevention Initiative Fund projectsSouth West Victoria Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Men’s Coordinator ProgramThe program acts as a resource for A

definitions of the nature and forms of family violence are broader and more encompassing than those used in a mainstream context. The Task Force Report a!rmed the need to build on the strengths of Aboriginal families and communities and encompass Aboriginal DPODFQUT UP F bFDUJWFMZ BEESFTT GBNJMZ violence within Aboriginal communities.