Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697631389338.pdf (Australia)
Submission to the Finance and Public Administration References Committee Inquiry into Domestic Violence in Australia This submission was prepared by the CSSU Wadeye Safe House and refers specifically to the experience of family and domestic violence in Wadeye.

The CSSU Wadeye Safe House appreciates the opportunity to make a submission to the Inquiry into Domestic Violence in Australia.

This submission directly addresses the Terms of Reference of the inquiry and makes corresponding recommendations.
The submission is set out as follows: 1.

Background information – Wadeye Safe House 2.

Prevalence, impact and causes of family violence in Wadeye (Terms of Reference a and b) 3.

Adequacy and effects of policy and community responses (Terms of Reference c and d) 4.

How the Australian Government can support measures to address family and domestic violence in Wadeye (Terms of Reference e) Recommendations: 1.
Medium term accommodation options in remote communities could offer opportunities for intensive family support and respite from perpetrators.

2.

Policy responses must recognise the distinct situation facing women, men and children who live in remote Aboriginal communities and how this affects family and domestic violence.

3.

Policy responses must recognise that for women in a remote community, leaving the community to escape the perpetrator is a difficult and punitive option.
Interventions and support should be available in the home community.

Specialist support services should also be offered in urban centres that provide culturally appropriate support.

4.

Provision of education and prevention programs through the support of the Australian Government are crucial in remote communities where there are limited options for women to escape a long term family and domestic violence situation.

These programs should be offered to both women and men.

5.
5.

Support for remote Aboriginal communities to develop their own solutions to family violence is required.

1 Domestic violence in AustraliaSubmission 107 Background – Wadeye Safe House Wadeye is a remote community in the Northern Territory, located approximately 400 kilometres south west of Darwin.

Wadeye Safe House, is managed by Children Services Support Unit (CSSU) Incorporated, is the only safe house in the area and it provides 24 hour service, 365 days a year.
The Safe House provides emergency accommodation and support for women and children who are experiencing family or domestic violence.

Since opening in 2011, Wadeye Safe House has steadily grown from providing crisis accommodation and support services for eight women per month to 92 women and children per month from more than 20 clan groups.
The Safe House relies strongly on community support to ensure quality service delivery and works closely with the Police, Wadeye Health Clinic, Night Patrol and a local advisory group.

Wadeye Safe House works with the Northern Territory Government (NTG) and a range of stakeholders to support women and children who have been identified as at risk of homelessness due to unsafe circumstances at home.
We provide follow-up consultations with clients who may need additional support and welfare visits can be arranged in conjunction with the NT Department of Children and Families.

We work with the North Australian Aboriginal Family Violence Legal Service (NAAFVLS), the North Australia Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA) and the Police to ensure appropriate legal actions are taken in regards to Domestic Violence Orders and Trespass Orders to improve living arrangements.
Prevalence, impact and causes of family violence in Wadeye (Terms of Reference a and b) Family and domestic violence in Wadeye is widespread and has a long-term impact on women, children, families and the community.

There are many factors that influence family violence in Wadeye, and much of the work to address the causes is beyond the scope of the Safe House.

Due to the complex nature of family and domestic violence in Wadeye, an interagency and collective impact approach is required.
The causes of family and domestic violence in Aboriginal communities are complex.

Research has shown that the history of colonisation in Australia and extreme social disadvantage can result in Aboriginal communities being particularly vulnerable to family violence1.

A Catholic Mission was established at Wadeye in 1935.

The Mission was overseen by the Australia Government until 1978, when the Northern Territory government handed over control to the local council.
Ivory and Taylor note that up until 1978, residents of Wadeye and the surrounding region ‘were effectively wards of the state under the supervision of respective Mission superintendents.

They were effectively subject to their theology and policy.’2 Wadeye is now home to 22 clan groups from the region, with at least five languages and four dialects spoken.
1 Gordon, S Hallahan, K Henry, D (2002) Putting the Picture Together: Inquiry into Response by Government Agencies to Complaints of Family Violence and Child Abuse in Aboriginal Communities, Department of Premier and Cabinet, Western Australia, Memmott et al.

(2001) Violence in Indigenous Communities, Attorney General’s Department, Canberra.
2 Ivory, B and Taylor, J (2013) Back on TRAAC: Community-led Social Change in the Thamarrurr Region, Thamarrurr Regional Authority Aboriginal Corporation, < http://www.bowden-mccormack.com.au>.

2 Domestic violence in AustraliaSubmission 107 Adequacy and effects of policy and community responses (Terms of Reference c and d) Recommendations: 1.

Medium term accommodation options in remote communities could offer opportunities for intensive family support and respite from perpetrators.

2.
2.

Policy responses must recognise the distinct situation facing women, men and children who live in remote Aboriginal communities and how this affects family and domestic violence.

3.

Policy responses must recognise that for women in a remote community, leaving the community to escape the perpetrator is a difficult and punitive option.

Interventions and support should be available in the home community.
Specialist support services should also be offered in urban centres that provide culturally appropriate support.

Under the Australian Government’s Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory legislation, CSSU have an agreement with the Northern Territory Department of Children and Families to provide crisis support to women and children affected by or at risk of domestic and family violence through the Wadeye Safe House.
As a provider of crisis accommodation, the Wadeye Safe House only provides accommodation for up to three nights.

While this level of support provides temporary relief from the home situation, it does little to support women wanting to make committed change.

From January to June 2014, the Wadeye Safe House accommodated 14 extended stays (stays longer than three nights).

To support an extended stay, staff at the safe house must conduct a client risk assessment.
Accommodation for longer than three nights can only be approved where there is a high risk of serious harm or fatality (including suicide, self-harm and assault).

The Wadeye Safe House encourages women to find family based housing solutions for family and domestic violence.

Extended stays at temporary accommodation can provide an opportunity for the intensive family support and education needed to make long term changes which cannot be provided through crisis accommodation.
Wadeye does not have any medium term temporary accommodation facilities and crisis accommodation is the only option.

At times women must leave crisis accommodation and return to a potentially violent situation because there are no other housing options.

Beyond crisis accommodation provided by the Wadeye Safe House, there are limited options for women to remove themselves from a long term family violence situation in Wadeye.
There is a significant problem with overcrowding and a shortage of housing in Wadeye; however, even if housing was available it would be difficult for women to escape the perpetrator due to the remoteness and small size of the town.

Leaving the community is a punitive option for the victim and this requires the victim to leave their culture, family and country.

Removing the victim from the community also positions the victim as the problem.
For many women refuge in Darwin is not an option due to the unfamiliarity, lack of appropriate support and lack of family network.

For some women in Wadeye the only reprieve they may experience in a long term family violence situation may come when their husband is in jail.

3 Domestic violence in AustraliaSubmission 107 How the Australian Government can support measures to address family violence in Wadeye (Terms of Reference e) Recommendation: 4.
Provision of education and prevention programs through the support of the Australian Government are crucial in remote communities where there are limited or no options for women to escape a long term family and domestic violence situation.

These programs should be offered to both women and men.

5.

Support for remote Aboriginal communities to develop their own solutions to family violence is required.
Education and prevention programs that target both women and men are crucial to addressing family violence in Wadeye.

Safe houses can play an important role in helping women to recognise the triggers for violence and therefore seek assistance before the violence occurs.

This is particularly important in remote communities where there are limited options beyond crisis accommodation once the violence has occurred.
Education and prevention programs must also be offered to the perpetrators of violence as they are ultimately responsible for their actions and for making changes to their behaviour.

Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory have supported the notion of enabling communities to tackle community safety through their own cultural approaches3.

Solutions to family and domestic violence in Wadeye must be developed and driven by the local community.
Governments must consult with the community and support culturally appropriate responses to family and domestic violence.

The Wadeye Safe House supports a community driven approach and employs local women to provide a culturally appropriate service and empower the community.

Two local employees have commenced a Certificate II in Leadership Development with a view to expanding this training program in the future.
3 Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (2011) Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory: report on consultations, Australian Government, Canberra.

4 Domestic violence in AustraliaSubmission 107