Working Group on Domestic Violence

Domestic violence training in NSW

Attorney-General’s Department (Cth)

The department is developing a multidisciplinary training package for use by a range of professionals working in the family law system including psychologists, social workers, the judiciary and legal officers. They are also developing a common screening and assessment framework.

Education Centre Against Violence (ECAV)

http://www.ecav.health.nsw.gov.au/
ECAV provides education on domestic and Aboriginal family violence, sexual assault, and abuse and neglect of children. ECAV has a regular four day course in ‘Practical skills in responding to people who experience domestic violence’. They also run training in responding to domestic violence among Aboriginal communities, CALD communities and older people; DV screening; and interpreting in domestic violence cases. ECAV will also provide tailored training.

Strong Aboriginal women & improving legal access project

http://www.ecav.health.nsw.gov.au/ecav/Aboriginal/newprograms.htm
These programs aim to improve access to services for assistance with domestic, family and sexual violence and to encourage women to engage with the legal process.

Immigrant Women’s Speakout

http://www.speakout.org.au/dvtr.html

Cross cultural domestic violence training

This one day training explores the multitude of issues and barriers confronting migrant and refugee women of non-English speaking background (NESB) in experiencing and escaping domestic violence, and accessing services. The training will also look at the impact of immigration issues as well as strategies for improving access to services for NESB women.

Family Violence Provision (FVP) in Immigration Law

This one day training is suitable for community workers working with migrant women experiencing domestic violence by a sponsoring partner (an Australian citizen or permanent resident). The training will outline the FVP, how it operates and its impact on migrant women, eligibility criteria, proof of violence, support services, and how community workers can assist.

Intersectoral Domestic & Family Violence Education and Training Project

This project, being coordinated by NSW Health, aims to coordinate training and promote consistency among agencies that provide services to people affected by domestic violence. It includes an audit of current training and a needs analysis. Around 10 cross-sectoral regional focus groups, to which legal service providers will be invited, will be held by the end of 2009. The project is guided by a reference group including Legal Aid NSW, Justice and Attorney General and NSW Police.

Legal Aid NSW

Legal Aid NSW runs training for private practitioners on defending ADVO and domestic violence related criminal charge matters. Legal Aid NSW also does presentations for community workers on a range of domestic violence related issues including ADVOs and the criminal process. Community legal education sessions are run for both victims and defendants.

Wirringa Baiya

http://wirringabaiya.org.au
Wirringa Baiya provides workshops to Aboriginal community members and community workers about domestic violence, victims compensation, family law and sexual assault, as well as cultural awareness training to DV workers. The Centre also works with Women’s Legal Services to provide state wide training on DV issues.

Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Program (WDVCAP)

WDVCAP provides three day training for Women’s Domestic Violence Court Assistance Services staff. This training provides an overview of the WDVCAP program, the legal and procedural framework of the criminal justice system, information about ADVOs and court advocacy, working in partnership, record management, client and worker safety, and legal referrals. It is compulsory for WDVCAS workers to attend this training.

WDVCAP also provides a one day training program for seconded workers (community workers who are rostered to attend court on a regular basis as part of the WDVCAS program).

Women’s Legal Services NSW

http://www.womenslegalnsw.asn.au/domestic-violence-advocacy-service-dvas.htm
WLS provides training in a range of areas including:

Sessions are usually a few hours long. They have provided training to LawAccess NSW, NSW Police Domestic Violence Liaison Officers, Family relationship centres, DVICM workers and other community workers.

NLAF October 2009