WESNET Women’s Refuges, Shelters, Outreach and Support Services in Australia From Sydney Squat to complex Services Challenging Domestic and Family Violence 2004 Written by : Wendy Weeks Julie Oberin Commonwealth of Australia 2004 ISBN 1 877042 560 The work is copyright. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 (Commonwealth), no part may be reproduced by any process without permission from the Commonwealth of Australia. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to: Office for Women Department of Family and Community Services PO Box 7788 Canberra Mail Centre ACT 2610 Australia. Typesetting by: Kandream Digital Studios Dedication I Vale Wendy Weeks Associate Professor, Department of Social Work, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, and researcher and co-author for this research. Wendy passed away suddenly on 31st July 2004, shortly after completing the writing of this report. The news of Wendy’s death was sadly received by thousands across Australia and internationally. Wendy will be remembered for her wonderful work, especially around women’s studies, social policy and practice, social work theory and practice, women’s research, women’s services, the women’s refuge movement, issues around maternity leave and Indigenous issues. Many of us learned much from Wendy’s publications and long history of teaching. For many months Wendy was a constant figure in the lives of the WESNET women involved in this research. She participated in consultations around the States and Territories meeting with many women and workers as part of this vital research. She attended numerous conferences and visited services. Wendy also played a large role in the lives of workers in services assisting women who are affected by domestic/family violence and sexual assault. Wendy was well known for speaking out about these issues and her research, analysis and writing has helped us in many ways with the thinking and analysis needed for us to respond in better ways to the women we support. Her book Women Working with Women, was an important contribution, enabling workers to gain knowledge about what was happening around the country, and helping workers to have a sense of being part of a defined ‘grass-roots’ movement at a particular moment in time. Word of her sudden death, coming at a time when she was still so actively contributing to the knowledge and development of the violence against women sector, has left us with a great feeling of loss and sadness. Our hearts go out to those most affected by her death and we know that we were privileged to have had her in our lives. We miss her outspokenness, her continual contribution and dedication to the feminist project, her humour, and her kindness. The WESNET National Committee dedicates this research to Wendy. Pauline Woodbridge, WESNET National Chairperson and Julie Oberin, co-author and researcher. December 2004. Women’s Refuges, Shelters, Outreach and Support Services in Australia Dedication II Acknowlegments The response to the call for participation in this research from – Alison Edwards, former manager Dawn House, people across Australia has been overwhelming. In particular Darwin, currently executive officer Northern Territory we would like to acknowledge and thank the following. Shelter. • The women who work in services or for government • The members of the WESNET National Committee who agencies who took time out from their busy schedule to were not members of the project reference group: attend consultation meetings and/or complete surveys, Max Schulte, Alice Springs Women’s Shelter, NT, Lyn and spent time on our visits showing us and describing Mills, Northern Domestic Violence Service, Adelaide, SA, services. Anni Mather, Toora Women, ACT, Jill Ashton, Katherine Women’s Crisis Service, Katherine, NT, Monica Mazzone, • Rosie Fleming, Gracie, and Gina Wilson from the Immigrant Women’s Speakout Association of NSW. Yuendumu Community and the other 11 women who participated in our meeting. Jackie Antoun from the • Sira Nicholas, Secretariat Coordinator, WESNET, Department of Community Development NT for help with for administration support and in particular for her help organising the meeting with the Yuendumu Women’s Night with formatting and layout. Patrol. • Helen Leonard (Dec.) former National Executive Officer for • The many women who provided artwork, photographs, WESNET, for her ideas and support in the early pre-tender pamphlets and service material to contribute to the stage. research. • Sam Page for her work in the original tender. • Qasim Shah, National Data Collection Agency, Australian • The other research team members, in particular Therese Institute of Health and Welfare. McCarthy, researcher and consultant, for her advice, • The members of the research project reference group, contribution to Chapter 2, and consultations in NSW, WA, especially for their role in organising consultations: VIC and TAS; also Rhonda Cumberland, consultant, for her advice and help with the design of the services – Maria Hagias, Central Eastern Domestic Violence survey instrument. Service, Adelaide, SA, NESB and CALD adviser for the project. • Devaki Monani Ghansham for research assistance; and Nadine Cameron for research assistance with SPSS. – Pauline Woodbridge, North Queensland Domestic Violence Resource Service, Townsville, QLD. • Janine Bush from DVVic in Melbourne for her help in the organisation of the Victorian consultation. – Shirley Slann, North Queensland Domestic Violence Resource Service, Mt Isa, QLD, Indigenous adviser • NT Shelter for support with the Northern Territory for the project. consultations. – Terri Francis, Launceston Women’s Shelter, • Queensland Women’s Health Network for support with Launceston, TAS. the Mt Isa consultation. – Angela Nesci, NESB and CALD adviser for the project, • Vivienne Breen, Minna Donaldson and Jo Major from VIC. the former Office of the Status of Women, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Canberra, ACT. Special – Wendy Anders, former manager of Kempsey Women’s thanks to Vivienne and Minna for support, proof reading Children’s Service, Kempsey, NSW, Indigenous adviser and advice. for the project. • The University of Melbourne. – Cara Kirkwood, former acting executive officer and project officer at the NSW Women’s Refuge Resource • Annie North Inc. Women’s Refuge and Domestic Violence Service. Centre, Indigenous adviser for the project. • The Institute of Aboriginal Development, Alice Springs, – Kedy Kristal, The Patricia Giles Centre, Perth, WA. where Wendy Weeks was on study leave during part of – Penny Becker, former manager of the Central Eastern the period of research (July-December 2003). Domestic Violence Service, SA, currently a consultant based in the ACT. – Veronica Wensing, former executive officer of Wendy Weeks and Julie Oberin. WESNET, currently ACTCOSS, ACT. Also for her help February 2004. in preparing the tender for the project. Table of Contents III Dedication I Acknowledgments II Table of Contents III List of Charts, Figures and Tables 1 Executive Summary 2 Summary of Recommendations 5 1 The Challenge of Measuring Progress in Service Delivery 7 1.1 Introduction 8 1.2 The continuum of service delivery 8 1.3 The challenge of ‘measuring progress’ 8 1.4 Research purpose, aims and questions 9 1.5 Our approach to the research 9 1.5.1 The benefits of multi-method research design 10 1.5.2 Commitment to evidence-based research 10 1.5.3 Commitment to cultural inclusivity 10 1.5.4 Commitment to women-centred principles of safety, empowerment and confidentiality 10 1.6 Research design 10 1.7 Ethics approval 11 2 Australian Women’s Services Responses to Domestic and Family Violence 13 2.1 Introduction 14 2.2 Defining violence against women 14 2.3 Violence against women, domestic and family violence 15 2.4 Australian policy responses: safety, justice and women’s rights 16 2.5 The relationship between violence and homelessness 17 2.6 Feminist women’s services, refuges, shelters and outreach services 19 2.7 Practice with and for women 21 2.8 Conclusion 22 3 The Services – Crisis Accommodation and Outreach: What Do They Do? 23 3.1 Introduction 24 3.2 The initial audit 24 3.3 Measuring progress: services’ reports 24 3.3.1 Types of services provided 25 3.3.2 ‘Other’ services and programs provided 25 3.4 Expanding women’s options 29 Women’s Refuges, Shelters, Outreach and Support Services in Australia Table of Contents IV 3.5 Expanding access for women to the services 30 3.5.1 Access 30 3.5.2 Examples of expanding access across the States and Territories 31 3.6 Improving the situation of women: community development, policy advocacy and preventive initiatives 33 3.6.1 Efforts to make change 33 3.6.2 Prevention programs 34 3.6.3 Community Education 34 3.6.4 Community capacity building 35 3.6.5 Professional education 35 3.6.6 Preparation of educational resources 35 3.6.7 Involvement in government policy making 36 3.6.8 Research and recording women’s stories 36 3.6.9 ‘Other’ initiatives 36 3.7 Collaborative activities undertaken by the services 36 3.7.1 New South Wales 37 3.7.2 Victoria 38 3.7.3 Queensland 38 3.7.4 Western Australia 38 3.7.5 South Australia 38 3.7.6 Tasmania 38 3.7.7 Northern Territory 38 3.7.8 Australian Capital Territory 38 3.8 Ensuring safety for service users 39 3.9 Responding to unmet demand 39 3.9.1 Trends from AIHW 39 3.9.2 Services responses to unmet need 40 3.10 Conclusion 40 4 From a Simple House to Complex Service Delivery Organisations 43 4.1 Diversification of accommodation service