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Port Macquarie / Hastings Domestic Violence Support Project
Port Macquarie / Hastings Domestic Violence Support Project
North Coast Area Health Service
Abstract
The Port Macquarie/Hastings Domestic Violence Project provides a planned and collaborative approach to early intervention support through a formalised inter-agency service agreement to provide information, support and referral to victims of domestic violence.
Outcomes include a significant increase in the number of women seen for early intervention support and information; improved inter agency relationships with local police and increased referral to support services; contact with women who had not previously sought advice; and a significant reduction in the number of repeat events per victim of domestic violence compared to other locations in the Police Area Command.
Download the presentation given at the 2008 NSW Health Expo (567 KB).
Download the audio file of the presentation given at the 2008 NSW Health Expo (15 MB).
Presented by Lyn Magni & Brenda Gillingham
Aim
To provide a coordinated, interagency approach to domestic violence victim support and reduce the incidence of repeat victims.
Nature of the Problem
The Port Macquarie/Hastings Domestic Violence Committee identified that prior to 2005 many victims of Domestic Violence (DV) did not receive referrals and support and were more likely to be continued victims of violence.
In 2005 a DV Pass Scheme was introduced in Port Macquarie, whereby Police made referrals to the Hastings Domestic Violence Court Assistance Service, however, referrals were limited and there was generally a poor uptake of referrals. From July 2005 to June 2006 police made145 referrals to the Hastings Domestic Violence Court Assistance Scheme. Of108 women supported by the service only 38 accepted referrals to other services.
Extent of the Problem
NSW Health support services offered to individuals at risk of, or having experienced domestic violence are provided within a range of clinical practice settings as there is no specialist service stream for victims of domestic violence.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics in 1996 identified that women are much more likely to be victims of domestic violence. A study by Roberts et al (1998) found that women who reported domestic violence showed significantly more diagnoses of generalised anxiety, depression, phobias, current harmful alcohol consumption and psychoactive drug dependence than those who reported no abuse. More medical treatment is sought for injuries resulting from domestic violence than from any other cause (ABS 1996).
The Australian component of the International Violence Against Women Survey (IVAWS) 2002/2003 estimated that 84% of women who experienced intimate partner violence did not contact a specialised agency.
Strategic Importance
This project relates to all five NSW Health Strategic Directions for NCAHS but is most closely aligned to Strategic Direction 4: Build regional and other partnerships for health.
In this project government and non government agencies provide collaborative early intervention support and information when and where it is needed at first point of contact. Localised interagency health planning and project implementation resulted in increased referrals to local agencies and reduced domestic violence re-offence rates.
Integrated service provision means: co-ordinated, appropriate, consistent responses aimed at enhancing victim safety, reducing secondary victimisation and holding abusers accountable for their violence (Mulroney, 2003, p.2).
Planning and Implementation
Project planning and implementation included meetings between senior Police and Managers from Domestic Violence Committee partner agencies to ensure management project support.
The Steering Committee provided support and guidance for the Project whilst it evolved and overcame challenges.
An early intervention approach was identified as critical in reducing the number of repeat victims. This project offered support to female victims only.
A partnership agreement was signed between key agencies in August 2006 including:
- North Coast Area Health Service
- NSW Police
- Hastings Domestic Violence Court Assistance Scheme
- Hastings Women and Children’s Refuge
Port Macquarie Police provided a designated Domestic Violence Support Room at the Police Station and partnering agencies provided staff resources Monday to Thursday 1pm to 5pm. After the commencement of the project on 4th September 2006, women were offered face to face contacts at the Police Station, in addition to telephone support, following Police attendance at any domestic violence incident.
Initial project implementation barriers included the need to adequately resource the project room without funds. The Steering Committee approached local businesses and successfully sought donations of goods and equipment.
Initial Police reticence to utilise Domestic Violence Support Project services and conflict due to re-designation of the room were overcome by mutually respectful communication and joint commitment to ensuring project success. Within the first six months of the Project all identified barriers were resolved. Training was provided to staff involved in the project and to Police.
The Project provided women with emotional support, information and referrals to local agencies such as: Centrelink, Community Health, Kickstart, Refuge Outreach Support, Burnside Hastings Family Support, Interrelate and the Department of Housing.
Outcomes and Evaluation
- This project improved relationships with local police by implementing a collaborative interagency approach to addressing domestic violence in the Hastings resulting in 357% increase in referrals from the Police from 145 in 2005/2006 to 518 in 2006/2007.
- Information was provided to 412 women about options and local services, including long term support services in 2008 evidencing an increase of 381% from 2005/06, when 108 women were supported.
- Referrals to support services increased by 497% from 38 in 2005/2006 to 189 in 2007/2008.
- There was a sustained decrease in the Hastings cluster in the average number of events reported per repeat victim of domestic violence from 2005 -2008, in comparison to the Kempsey and Nambucca clusters, where no support project currently operates.
- The Project referred women to Centrelink, Community Health, Kickstart, Refuge Outreach Support, Burnside Hastings Family Support, Interrelate and Dept of Housing and other support services.
- The Project had contact with women experiencing domestic violence that previously had not sought assistance from any local support agencies.
- The Project supported women with their emotional needs, while providing information about the legal processes and preparing women to make statements to Police if required. Support Workers focused on women’s well being and acted as a conduit between women victims and police, thus improving women’s outcomes through the linking of safety and support.
- Locating the project at the police station facilitated referrals from police who had attended domestic violence incidents and referrals of women who came into the front counter for information and advice.
- A number of women who were supported by the Project over the past twelve months are self referring and seeking appointments with the Project for follow up support.
- Feedback from women using the service has been very positive.
Statistical Data from Hastings Domestic Violence Support Project
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Average number of events per repeat vitim Sept 2005-June 2008
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DV project Room July 2007-June 2008
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Sustaining Change
This project is relatively self supporting in its current form, however, funding is required to backfill workers who take leave or are unavailable due to primary agency workload. Funding is also required to support Hastings Domestic Violence Project growth. Project partners have committed to continue DV Support Project service provision.
Ongoing project support worker training is required to ensure quality of service and continued enhanced collaboration between Project Workers and Police.
The provision of regular reports and project evaluation will ensure the Project continues to develop in line with the agreed aims.
Future Scope
This innovative Project has successfully facilitated a valuable community partnership to address the issues in the Port Macquarie Hastings community of domestic violence, while at the same time supporting women and children victims. The project is a cost effective way of providing support to victims of domestic violence, improving service access, relationships with the Police and ensuring appropriate follow up of incidents attended by the Police. The project is to be rolled out in the Macleay Local Government Area (LGA) and is transferable in other LGA’s with adequate local agency support.
References
- Australian Bureau of Statistics (1996) Women's Safety Survey.
- Hastings Domestic Violence Committee (2007), Hastings Domestic Violence Support Project – Evaluation Report.
- NSW Health (2003), Policy and Procedures for Identifying and Responding to Domestic Violence.
- Roberts, et al (1998), The impact of domestic violence on women's mental health, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, vol.22, no.7.
- Mouzos, J & Makkai, T (2004), Women's experiences of Male Violence: findings from the Australian component of the International Violence Against Women Survey (IVAWS), Australian Institute of Criminology, Research and Public Policy Series, Vol.56.
- Mulroney, J (2003), Trends in Interagency Work, Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse Topic Paper.
Contact
Manager, Clinical Governance Unit
North Coast Area Health Service
Phone: 02 6620 7225
This project was entered in the 2008 NSW Health Awards, Build regional and other partnerships for health category.
