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Home > Community Solutions & Crime Prevention > Mt Druitt
Mt Druitt Family Violence Response and Support Strategy
One of the larger and most challenging initiatives under the banner of Mt Druitt Community Solutions is the Mt Druitt Comprehensive Family Violence Response & Support Strategy, which is a joint initiative between DoCS, Mt Druitt Police and Western Sydney Area Health.
Background
On 13 October 2002, the Premier announced a $13.95m package of initiatives for Mount Druitt under the Community Solutions and Crime Prevention Strategy. It is a partnership initiative between Mt Druitt Local Area Command Police, Western Sydney Area Health Service and DoCS – who is the funds holder - in collaboration with non-government and government agencies/services.
Mt Druitt Family Violence Response & Support Strategy
This project arose out of the need for a coordinated cross Government and community sector response to address the experience of family violence. The strategy provides services to families experiencing violence, including perpetrators, in the Mt Druitt community.
Intensive community consultation was the first key task in promoting and developing a FVRSS. The major consultation strategy with all relevant service providers and community representatives included a two-day Family Violence symposium held in March 2003. About 80 participants representing around 70 organisations attended this. Three pre-symposium forums were also held, with two specifically for representatives from the Aboriginal and Pacific Islander communities.
Work parallel to and following the forums and symposium included three significant information-gathering strategies:
- Gathering on other team models responding to family violence, including working with perpetrators, from NSW, Australia and overseas.
- A Mt Druitt service mapping exercise notified and contacted 96 organisations that led to the classification of 76 relevant services responding to family violence.
- Gathering statistical data from NGO and Government agencies profiling the dimensions of family violence within the Mt Druitt Area.
A well promoted and resourced briefing session to update all community partners on the progress of the FVRSS model was held on the 8th October 2004. 60 people representing close to 50 services and agencies attended the briefing session. Participants were walked through a detailed presentation of the background and development to the FVRSS proposal and emphasis was placed on cross agency partnerships to strengthen service delivery and coordination to families.
The proposal described a flexible strategy with some set parameters including:
- Family Violence service system Client Information and Referral Process.
- Establishing an Integrated Case Management Service/Team (ICM) and developing an intake, assessment and case management model.
Governance and Implementation of the FVRSS to July 2006
A governance and implementation framework was presented and broadly endorsed by participants from non-government community services, government agencies and community members at the Briefing Session on 8th October.
NGO and government service provider agencies are playing a key role in overseeing and assisting in the service models detailed design and implementation through a Service Development Implementation Group and Task Action Groups. Overall governance and budget decisions are the responsibility of the Auspice Group.
What’s happening now?
- Aboriginal Women’s Resource and Development Centre: This is a key project under the FVRSS, that has $173,587 over two years. The project has an Aboriginal Steering Group and is currently seeking an Auspice. The project worker will provide support to Aboriginal women and children experiencing family violence, as well as assistance and advocacy in accessing the Integrated Case Management Team and other relevant Aboriginal and mainstream services.
- ICMT Premises and Framework of Service Delivery: The Auspice Group is currently working on final negotiations with the Attorney General's Department for a premises for the ICM Team in Mt Druitt. This will be in the same site as the Video Court Link Up Project. The ICMT workers will conduct services in an outreach model. For example, home visits where appropriate, counselling services in agencies that have rooms and access clients, venues for group programs, childcare and community education activities. The ICMT will also have a budget to broker or purchase specialist services, which may include everything for client assessment from Clinical Psychologists, to specialist services, across to purchasing group programs for women, families and 'blokes' from relevant and skilled NGOs.
- The SDIG is meeting monthly with a broad group of representatives deciding implementation strategies for the FVRSS.
- Task Action Group 1: This TAG is currently working on the development of a preliminary draft Service User Information and Referral Form for a Trial between Mt Druitt Local Area Command and some Government and Non Government Agencies.
- Recruitment of a Manager for the FVRSS Integrated Case Management Team is currently under way, which will be followed by the recruitment of up to 8 caseworkers, 1 interagency coordinator and an administrative worker.
- Family Violence Service System Training: The FVRSS also has funding for a comprehensive training and skill development component for services covering relevant family violence subjects, as well as the ICMT Model and Protocols.
- Communication to Community: Discussions have already commenced regarding local ongoing information/communication strategies on the FVRSS to all community partners, representatives and the Mt Druitt community.
- An interim part time Project Officer is now working on the Strategy and recruitment for a 2-year position will commence soon.
For further information
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