Family Violence and Safety

Topics

Prevalence and Harm

• The Disappearing Age: A strategy to address violence against older women – Older Women’s Network NSW (2009). This report discusses the findings of the Project on Prevention of Violence Against Older Women and explores the challenge for the domestic and family violence sector of responding to the increased reporting of violence against older women.
• Mother and Infant Attachement Theory and Domestic Violence: Crossing the Divide, (2008) Fiona Buchanan, Stakeholder Paper No. 5, Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse. This paper explores how abuse by a father or father figure at the time of birth and during infancy can impact on early mother and infant attachment patterns, and considers the implications for practitioners working with women and infants. Source: AFRC
• Analysis of the 2005 Personal Safety Survey (2008), John Henstridge and others / Data Analysis Australia and Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.  Provides a detailed analysis of Australian Bureau of Statistics data and the Women's Safety Survey 2006 regarding violence in the community and in families. 
• Raped by a partner: a research report (2008), Debra Parkinson and others / Women's Health Goulburn North East. Partner rape is prevalent in our society. This research is based on over 70 interviews with women, police and health professionals and has implications for health professionals, GPs, ministers, community members and anyone who works with them.
• Family Violence: What’s in a name? by Lawrie Moloney/Journal of Family Studies (2008). This article, while reflecting on the author’s experience of institutionalised violence in school, explores how society defines violence, and our attitudes and assumptions in this difficult field.
• Domestic Violence Incident Peaks: Seasonal Factors, Calendar Events and Sporting Matches (2007), Braaf, Rochelle and Robyn Gilbert.
• Battle-scars: long-term effects of prior domestic violence (2007), Isla Evans, Melbourne: Centre for Women's Studies and Gender Research, Monash University

Family Law

• Family Violence – Some legal and practical issues, Michael Brown (2009). This presentation to the 9th annual Sydney Family Law Intensive discusses a short history of the family violence and the family law Act and outlines how legal practitioners recognise family violence in terms of the law and itemises preparation of a case for court, including interim hearings.
• Domestic Violence Laws in Australia Report, Australian Government Solicitor (AGS), 2009. This report provides an overview of legislation and will be used to develop the Rudd Government's National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women. The report also provides an analysis of overlaps and potential gaps between the Family Law Act 1975 and State and Territory domestic violence protection orders.
• Family Law Council report: Improving responses to family violence in the family law system: An advice on the intersection of family violence and family law issues. December 2009
• Family Law Act reform: the potential for screening and risk assessment for family violence (2007), Rochelle Braaf and Clare Sneddon, Australian Domestic & Family Violence Clearinghouse issues paper, No. 12.
• Behind closed doors: family dispute resolution and family violence(2007), by Debbie Kirkwood, Domestic Violence & Incest Resource Centre.
• Empirical insights into parental attitudes and children's insights in Family Court litigation (2007), Rae Kaspiew, The Sydney Law Review, Vol. 29, No. 1.
• Best Practice Principles for use in Parenting Disputes When Family Violence or Abuse is Alleged (2009), Family Court of Australia. The Family Violence Best Practice Principles have been developed to provide decision makers with practical guidance in dealing with matters in which a notice has been filled alleging family violence or the risk of family violence, or abuse or the risk of abuse.

Children & Young People

• WA Family Pathways Network Conference Proceedings - Family Violence - The Impact on Children: Working together to address complex needs 
• Knowing mothers - safe young children - resource manual (2001), Partnerships Against Domestic Violence. A manual documenting the Domestic Violence group and the Peer Support Training models used by the Kids 'n' you Family Support Program.
• The Savvy Schools kit - support for students affected by domestic violence/family violence yes!!! (2000), Partnerhsips Against Domestic Violence. A report that supports good practice and provides information and strategies to guide schools in raising awareness, in linking with local specialist services and in responding sensitively and effectively to students and their families.
• Feeling safe, being strong: helping children build safe, happy and healthy relationships (2008), Chris Storm, Bethany Community Support. Presented at the AIFS Conference 2008 this research discusses a family violence prevention and early intervention program that targets primary school students in years three and four. Source: Australian Policy Online.
• An Assault on Our Future: The impact of violence on young people an their relationships (2008).  This well structured and researched report, released for White Ribbon Day, is a chilling reminder that even observing violence creates victims who may perpetuate the cycle throughout their lives.  Focusing on the effects of men’s violence on children and young people it tackles difficult questions head-on and makes recommendations at national, state and local level for preventing violence and its impact on young and not so young children.

Men as Victims of Domestic Violence

• Men as victims of domestic violence: some issues to consider. DVIRC Discussion Paper no.2, 2002. The second in DVIRC's occasional Discussion Paper takes as it focus research purporting to show that women are as violent as men in relationships.  

Prevention

• Engaging Men in Men’s Violence Prevention: Exploring the Tensions, Dilemmas and Possibilities, Australian Domestic & Family Violence Clearinghouse Issues Paper 17 2008, by Bob Pease. A must-read article where Pease poses questions about amongst other things, privilege, collusion between men, the limitations of existing approaches, male positive approaches and ensuring men’s violence prevention work remains accountable to women.
• Issues Facing Men’s Behavioural Change Programs, Service Spotlight in the Australian Domestic & Family Violence Clearinghouse Newsletter 33 2008, by Danny Blay and Michele Wright. This article puts a spotlight on Victoria’s twenty year experience of men’s behavioural change programs (MBCPs) and contrasts progress there with achievement around the rest of the country. Crucial success factors include strong government support, a peak body for MBCPs, along with a self-regulatory framework and nationally accredited competency based training.
• Time for action: The National Council’s plan for Australia to reduce violence against women and their children, 2009-2021 (2009), National Council to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children. This report discusses the current situation in Australia and recommends sweeping changes between now and 2021. It focuses on strategies and actions for prevention, early intervention, improved service delivery, and justice and identifies six core areas for improvement.

Response

• Children and families experiencing domestic violence: Police and children’s social services’ responses, Stanley et al, UK (2009). This research examines the police notification system in the UK and the service pathways followed by families brought to the attention of children’s social services through this notification process.
• Domestic Violence in Regional Australia: a literature Review prepared by Women’s Services Network (2000).
• Responding to men who perpetrate domestic violence: controversies, interventions and challenges (2002), Lesley Laing, Western Australian family and domestic violence student kit.

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