compared with one in 19 Australian men. One in four Australian women has experienced emotional abuse in an intimate relationship compared with one in seven men. Domestic and family violence is recognised in the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children as one of the two main forms of violence against women in Australia, the other being sexual assault. Understanding the gendered nature of domestic and family violence and the factors that contribute to increased vulnerability is in designing and delivering effective responses and reforms. There are other particular groups and individuals that are more vulnerable to domestic and family violence than others in the community. We know these individuals and groups may experience domestic and family violence in a different way to other Queenslanders, or face additional challenges when attempting to get the protection and support they need. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women experience domestic violence and family violence more often than other Queensland women and are more likely to be seriously injured. They are also more likely to experience family violence from a broader range of extended family relationships. The impact of past trauma is a contributing factor for violence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Other situational factors that contribute to violence, include poverty, unemployment, drug and alcohol use, and poor health. In addition, other significant factors impact including language barriers, the availability of culturally responsive services in all locations, and limited knowledge and understanding of Queensland’s laws regarding domestic and family violence.
People from culturally and linguistically diverse communities who experience domestic and family violence also face additional barriers to service and support, such as English language proficiency, knowledge or understanding of Queensland’s laws against domestic and family violence, dependence on a violent spouse for their visa status, and distrust of police and government authorities based on past trauma. Victims with few connections outside their cultural community are particularly vulnerable to social isolation. People who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex (LGBTI) may also experience violence in their relationships. In addition to the types of violence and abuse experienced within relationships in the broader community, abusive partners or family members may threaten to ‘out’ victims as a method of control. Unfortunately people identifying as LGBTI may also be deterred from seeking help due to past experience of discrimination or other unhelpful service responses. While older people also experience violence within couple relationships, they are more vulnerable to abuse from other family members and from carers. The World Health Organisation defines elder abuse as behaviour that causes harm or distress to an older person within a relationship where there is an expectation of trust. This may involve physical violence, psychological abuse, financial abuse, social isolation, sexual abuse or neglect. Older people face particular barriers to seeking help for elder abuse, including physical disability, diminished cognitive functioning, lack of awareness that their experiences amount to abuse, and social isolation. People with disabilities are also highly vulnerable to domestic and family violence. Both men and women with disabilities are victims of domestic and family violence at much higher rates than men and women without impairments and women with disabilities experience higher levels of sexual abuse. People with disabilities can also experience ‘disability-related’ abuse such as withholding of care, denial of access to disability aids and threats of institutionalisation. They can face additional barriers to seeking help for domestic and family violence such as dependence on the perpetrator for basic needs such as access to food and medication, lack of ability to earn income, and inability to communicate with support services. COMMUNITY INITIATIVE COMMUNITY ACTION Domestic and family violence is already recognised across Queensland as unacceptable. Many dedicated and passionate people and communities have already made elimination of domestic and family violence a priority. It is not possible in these pages to highlight them all, but throughout this strategy some outstanding examples of community action are provided to acknowledge the achievements and inspire others to act.
Why is there a need for a strategy? Domestic and family violence is not a new There has been a great deal of action and commitment over many decades. Despite this effort, the reported rates and severity of domestic and family violence continue to rise. The Queensland Government is committed to taking action to eliminate domestic and family violence. However, we recognise that domestic and family violence must be everyone’s concern and both government and the community have a responsibility to work together. Together we must stop the behaviour and attitudes that trivialise, excuse or perpetuate domestic and family violence. Men play an important role in leading and supporting the community in the prevention of domestic and family violence. Men and women must unite to end this form of violence in our society. This strategy will be successful as a result of working in partnership with well-established service providers. It will not only build on current successful practices, but also develop new responses and initiatives where required. The Queensland Government is also developing a complementary plan that will address the elimination of violence against women including domestic and family violence and sexual assault. COMMUNITY INITIATIVE SAKINA INC. Sakina Inc. is a domestic and family violence shelter for Muslim women in the Brisbane and Logan regions. It provides support to Muslim women needing shelter from domestic violence, and has assisted more than 23 women in the past 12 months. Funded by the Muslim community, many involved with Sakina do so on a voluntary basis, including providing voluntary social work support to victims fleeing abuse. Brisbane/ Logan Muslim community LOCATION INTEREST GROUP
How Queenslanders shaped the strategy From 18 August 16 November 2015 the government engaged with the community to seek input and insights from all Queenslanders on the draft strategy and its ability to realise the vision of a Queensland free from domestic and family violence. This vision was recommended by the Special Taskforce on Domestic and Family Violence in the report Not Now, Not Ever: Putting an End to Domestic and Family Violence in Queensland. Feedback from service sector providers, community leaders and the general public was achieved through a variety of methods. About 1300 individuals provided feedback on the draft strategy. This feedback was achieved via the ‘End Domestic and Family Violence’ website with an online survey and option to upload submissions; a series of roundtables across the state with service providers and community leaders plus two additional roundtables with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men; and a series of public information hubs in key centres across the state. outcomes of the community collaboration process showed there was broad support for the vision and purpose of the strategy. There was also broad endorsement of the three foundational elements—i.e. community attitudes and behaviours; integrating service responses; and strengthening justice system responses. General themes that emerged from the roundtables and online survey included: the need for the general community to understand that domestic and family violence consists of a broad range of behaviours, not just physical abuse questioning the use of the terms victim, survivor and perpetrator calling for a greater focus on perpetrators through tougher domestic and family violence laws and provision of services to assist perpetrators to reform the need for educational initiatives from an early age available in all educational settings ensuring the strategy is inclusive of all genders
How will the strategy operate? This strategy sets the direction for ending domestic and family violence in Queensland. It outlines a shared vision for Queensland and a set of principles to action across the community. Our vision The vision of the Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Strategy is: a Queensland free from domestic and family violence. Key outcome The primary longterm outcome of the strategy is: all Queenslanders feel safe in their own homes and children can grow and develop in safe and secure environments. The Taskforce report set the vision and key outcome for the strategy. Community feedback demonstrated strong support for these visionary statements for Queensland. Foundational elements The three foundational elements underpinning the strategy are: A significant shift in community attitudes and behaviours An integrated response system that delivers the services and support that victims and perpetrators need, and A stronger justice system response that will prioritise victim safety and hold perpetrators to account. These foundational elements reflect the themes which shaped the Taskforce report. The taskforce themes are well recognised by the Queensland community and will continue to shape the longterm strategy to end domestic and family violence. At the centre of the strategy are foundational elements. The reforms that will be put in place will aim to recognise the victim’s perspective, prioritise their safety and reduce the onus on them to take action or to leave. Effort will be focused on educating professionals to help recognise and respond to prevent domestic and family violence, creating safe communities and workplaces that support victims, providing effective services that efficiently wrap around the victim, and ensuring our legal system supports victims and holds perpetrators to account. The strategy recognises the need to build support around those who are particularly vulnerable or have specific and complex needs and are therefore at greater risk of domestic and family violence than others or face greater challenges in accessing support services. There will be targeted strategies to meet the specific needs of these vulnerable groups including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Further work will also be undertaken to improve the responsiveness of the service system to support culturally and linguistically diverse communities. The success of the strategy is dependent on the creation of effective working relationships between the government, the community, business and professional sectors, service providers and the legal sector. The supporting outcomes of the strategy will be delivered through four action plans over a ten-year period. The strategy and its action plans are designed in a chronological order, recognising the need to continually build on our achievements.
Respectful relationships and the right for every person to live free from violence, is modelled and expected everywhere people live, learn, work and play. Perpetrators are provided the education and tools for dealing with problems without resorting to violence. Perpetrators who use violence are held to account, receive appropriate sanctions and access to culturally appropriate supports to stop using violence. Supports are available for both victims and perpetrators to remove themselves from situations of potential violence. The justice system deals effectively with domestic and family violence The system is safe, fair, supportive, efficient and coordinated. Victims are kept safe leading up to, during and after court and justice system journeys. Victims are heard and their views respected. Courts understand the trauma victims endure and the impact on their confidence and ability to communicate this experience. Perpetrators are assisted to understand that their behaviour is unacceptable. Perpetrators are provided with the supports and assistance needed to choose a non-violent path and learn how to foster healthy, respectful relationships. COMMUNITY INITIATIVE IT ALL BEGINS WITH LOVE A powerful play on real Queensland stories of domestic violence and survival entitled ‘It All Begins with Love’, was created in the hope that it would start conversations to increase awareness of and tackle the stereotypes surrounding domestic and family violence. Creative Regions, a Bundaberg arts production company, created the play to demonstrate how performing arts could be used as an intervention strategy around domestic violence issues. Bundaberg All LOCATION INTEREST GROUP COMMUNITY INITIATIVE MALE CHAMPIONS OF CHANGE The Male Champions of Change initiative is evolving into a global coalition of men advocating for gender equality. The heart of The Male Champions of Change strategy involves men of power and influence forming a high profile coalition to achieve change on gender equality issues in organisations and communities. Queensland Men LOCATION INTEREST GROUP
DOMESTIC AND FAMILY VIOLENCE BEST PRACTICE GUIDELINES In response to Recommendation 107 in the Not Now, Not Ever report, the Queensland Law Society has developed best practice guidelines for lawyers working with people who have experienced domestic and family violence. The guidelines encourage legal practitioners to keep their knowledge of domestic and family violence up to date and includes contact details for useful services. Queensland Legal profession LOCATION INTEREST GROUP How will we deliver action? Governments and the community have come a long way in addressing domestic and family violence. There have been great improvements in raising awareness, refining responses and focusing more on prevention. Yet, despite this tireless action, Queenslanders continue to be unsafe in their homes. New and different approaches will be needed, particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and culturally and linguistically diverse communities. Domestic and family violence has devastating impacts for those directly involved. However, the impact extends well beyond the victim, with the financial and human costs being shouldered by the Queensland economy. The ethical and human as well as the economic imperatives to act are great. For these reasons, each and every Queenslander has a role to play in addressing domestic and family violence. To complement its own commitment and effort, the Queensland Government is calling on individuals and communities, businesses, industry groups, faiths and all frontline service providers, to be part of the solution and to lead the charge using their profiles, influence and numbers to help reduce the incidence of domestic and family violence in our community. COMMUNITY INITIATIVE LOGAN FOOTBALL CLUBS AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE Ten Logan based football clubs have agreed to make all senior players who sign on to play next year undertake a domestic violence education and prevention course. The two-hour Anti-Domestic Violence Program is a joint initiative by Minister Fentiman, Beenleigh PCYC, Logan City Council, businessman Michael Rose and the clubs. The course will be provided by Beenleigh and Logan PCYC’s and the Queensland Police Service. Some of the clubs involved include Beenleigh Junior Rugby League, South East Suns AFL, Beenleigh Buffaloes AFL, Beenleigh Pride Senior Rugby League and the Eagleby Giants Rugby League. Football players LOCATION INTEREST GROUP Action plans
Structured review A structure review of the strategy will be conducted to measure which actions are being implemented successfully, and which require adjustment to achieve our outcomes. of focus will include: the effectiveness and efficiency of governance mechanisms relied on to drive the response and resolve issues as they arise the resources allocated to implementation (including how, where, and how much) the processes and practices underpinning implementation, such as the approach to communicating the goals and objectives of the activity, data collection, evaluation, and the timing of implementation. Flagship evaluations A number of flagship evaluations of specific initiatives will be progressed to measure effectiveness and efficiency, and to provide recommendations as to how promising initiatives might be improved. It is expected that the evaluation framework will guide current and future decision making regarding initiatives aimed at reducing domestic and family violence. The Child Protection and Domestic and Family Violence Inter Departmental CEO Committee will be responsible for identifying flagship evaluations, giving consideration to the following criteria: the potential to conduct a rigorous, timely and meaningful evaluation contextual limitations on being able to demonstrate whether an initiative is associated with observed changes over time whether the initiative is new and innovative or a continuation of an established program the of investment in the initiative financial and human resources required to conduct the evaluation. The flagship evaluations will also include analysis of the longterm outcomes and impacts that have resulted from that program.