Dear friends of VSS

 

Welcome to the June edition of Crime Victim e-news.

 

A new Home Detention Bill, introduced in to Parliament by the Attorney-General in September 2015, recently became law. The Bill amends the Criminal Law (Sentencing) Act 1988 and the Correctional Services Act 1982 such that:

 

 

The Bill also amends the Correctional Services Act 1982 to expand current home detention programs and removes the requirement for prisoners to serve 50 percent of a non-parole period (or total sentence where no non-parole period is fixed) before being eligible for release on home detention, as well as removing the limitation that prisoners can only spend a maximum period of 12 months on home detention. All other eligibility criteria for release on home detention remain in place, with life sentenced prisoners, sex offenders and terrorist offenders remaining ineligible.

 

Research suggests that victims are more open to the use of alternatives to custody than is widely supposed, but that they also have serious misgivings about their effectiveness. The new laws pose an age-old challenge to policy makers – to demonstrate to victims of crime that community sentences are robust and credible and to ensure their voices are heard. Unfortunately, experience to date suggests that victims shouldn’t expect increased participation in criminal proceedings to come hand-in-hand with the new laws.

 

 

Kind regards

 

Julian Roffe

Chief Executive

 

 

 

In partnership with South Australia Police, VSS are piloting the First Response program in Western Adelaide between March and June 2016.  First Response provides practical advice, information and emotional support to victims of property crime. Victims of property crime living in Port Adelaide Enfield, City of Charles Sturt, and City of West Torrens are eligible for First Response services. Find out more about First Response  and how you can get involved as a volunteer 

 

VSS Support Group
 An eight-week facilitated support group for male survivors of childhood sexual abuse commences in Adelaide on Tuesday 26 July 2016. Places are limited.  More information can be found here  Register here 

 

View the June edition of Victim Support Service’s quarterly newsletter “Victims Voice” here

 

 

 

Let’s talk about success: exploring factors behind positive change in Aboriginal communities
Janet Hunt, Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research, 2016
“This paper draws on interviews with leaders of successful Aboriginal organisations to understand the factors behind the successes that they are achieving in their communities.” (-CAEPR)
 

Indigenous survivors are reminded that registrations for private sessions close 30 September
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders survivors of institutional child sexual abuse are reminded that they must register with the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse by 30 September 2016 if they wish to have a private session.

 

 

 

Substantiation decision-making and risk prediction in child protection systems
Emily Keddell, Policy Quarterly, Institute for Governance and Policy Studies, 2016
This New Zealand article looks at predictive risk modelling and its suggested use in the child welfare environment and concludes that “the real problem is that we need ‘more resources and more interventions’ rather than better ways to identify risky individuals”. (-IGPS)
 

Child abuse and neglect: a socio-legal study of mandatory reporting in Australia (report prepared for the Tasmania Department of Health and Human Services)
B. Mathews, L. Bromfield, K. Walsh, G. Vimpani, Department of Social Services, 2016
Explores trends in the reporting of child abuse and neglect by different reporter groups in every Australian state and territory, in the context of their relevant jurisdictional legislation.

The expert panel project: towards better outcomes for families
Elly Robinson, Marian Esler, Family Matters, 2016
Outlines the different methods by which an expert panel will provide advice and support to the families and children's sector, activities undertaken in the first year of the project and future initiatives.

The cost of youth homelessness in Australia: research brief
D MacKenzie, P Flatau, A Steen, M Thielking, Swinburne Institute for Social Research, 2016
Examines the cost of youth homelessness in Australia and outlines the economic and social benefits that could be gained by adopting tailored early intervention strategies and policies.

 

 

Study in prison reduces recidivism and welfare dependence: a case study from Western Australia 2005–2010
Margaret Giles, Australian Institute of Criminology, 2016
Describes the effectiveness of correctional education in improving post-release outcomes.

 

 

Don’t send me that pic: Australian young women and girls report online abuse and harassment are endemic
Plan International, 2016
Reveals Australian teenage girls’ perceptions about uninvited sexually explicit images, pressure to take and send sexy photographs and cyber bullying.

Targeting scams: report of the ACCC on scams activity 2015
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, 2016
This report explains key trends in scam activity and highlights the impact of scams on the community.

 

Use and acceptance of biometric technologies among victims of identity crime and misuse in Australia
C Emami, R Brown, R G Smith, Australian Institute of Criminology, 2016
In 2014, the Australian Institute of Criminology conducted an online survey to gain a greater understanding of identity crime and misuse in Australia. This paper presents the results of the research, which indicate generally high levels of previous exposure to biometrics.

Australia's cyber security strategy: enabling innovation, growth and prosperity
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australia), 2016
Australia’s Cyber Security Strategy (2016) addresses how Australia can continue to protect itself and be more resilient to malicious cyber activity.

 

 

‘Support a Friend' campaign
1800RESPECT has launched the 'Support a Friend' campaign to help Australians recognise the signs someone may be experiencing domestic violence and how best to support them. The website features an informative video and infographic including a practical list of do's and don'ts when supporting someone.
1800RESPECT

 

Stop it at the start (National Campaign to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children)
This national campaign combines a suite of resources with strong messaging that violence begins with disrespectful attitudes that are promoted and accepted from early on in life. The campaign aims to help break the cycle of violence by encouraging adults to reflect on their attitudes, and have conversations about respect with young people.

 

Eleven ways to boost your work with news media: how you can help the media report prevention of violence against women
The Lookout, 2016
Provides strategies and information on working effectively with media to prevent violence against women and their children.

Submission to the Senate Finance and Public Administration Committee Inquiry into Domestic Violence and Gender Inequality: Australian Psychological Society
Australian Psychological Society, 2016

 

Improving outcomes through a shared understanding of family violence in Aboriginal communities: Towards an Aboriginal theory of family violence
V Hovane, InPsych, October 2015
“The Tjallara-Hovane Family Violence Theory uses the idea of distal and proximal factors to describe the onset, development and maintenance of family violence in Aboriginal communities.” (-V Hovane)

Increasing men’s awareness of the effects on children exposed to family and domestic violence: Family Violence Men’s Education Project final report
P Lucas [and 3 others], University of Tasmania, 2016
“The intention was to engage stakeholders to help solve the puzzle of ‘How can we increase men’s awareness that family and domestic violence has a harmful effect on their children?’” (-UTAS)

A platform for action: Report from the national roundtable on responding to violence against culturally and linguistically diverse women and their children
Australia, Department of Social Services, 2015
“The roundtable aimed to share insights and experiences, identify priority areas for action, and provide a pathway for all participants to walk together towards positive change.” (-DSS)
 

Out of character? Legal responses to intimate partner homicides by men in Victoria 2005-2014. Discussion paper
M McKenzie, D Kirkwood, Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria, 2016
“Research and death reviews in Australia and internationally over the last two decades have highlighted that systemic failures in legal responses to family violence contribute to these deaths.” (-DVRCV)

Rape trials, medical texts and the threat of female speech: The perverse female rape complainant
J Quilter IN Law Text Culture, 2015
This article looks at the historic origins of persistent “rape mythologies, attitudes and beliefs that confound progressive statutory reforms to criminal law and procedure” (-J Quilter)

 

 

Annual alcohol poll 2016: attitudes and behaviours
Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education, 2016
The majority of those who drink to get drunk expect to feel happy (56 per cent), and relaxed (54 per cent), with 31 per cent of drinkers expecting to feel a sense of social belonging.

Mexican drug cartels and dark-networks: an emerging threat to Australia's national security
Anthea McCarthy-Jones, Australian National University, 2016
Mexican drug cartels are now looking abroad in an attempt to extend their operations, and there is evidence that Australia has now become a target of several Mexican cartels.

 

 

 

A right to the night: Australian girls on their safety in public places
Plan International & Our Watch, 2016
This report recommends the need to “challenge the attitudes, common beliefs and behaviours, and practices which drive or condone gender-based violence, with particular focus on victim-blaming and damaging reporting on women’s safety.” (-Plan Int.)

We want men to stop honking their horn at women because they respect them, not for fear of punishment
Bianca Fileborn, The Conversation, 2016
“Given the widely acknowledged failures of the justice system in responding to sexual violence, victim/survivors' justice needs should form the starting point of responses to this violence” (-B Fileborn)

 

 

 

Facilitating equal access to justice: an intermediary/communication assistant scheme for Tasmania?

Tasmania Law Reform Institute, 2016
This paper proposes a service for people with complex communication needs involved in the Tasmanian criminal justice system to enhance their ability to gain equal access to justice.

Successes and unintended consequences of the Northern Territory’s smoke-free prisons policy: results from a process evaluation
M Hefler, R Hopkins, D P Thomas IN Public Health Research & Practice, 2016
In 2013, the Northern Territory was the first Australian jurisdiction to introduce a smoke-free policy for all correctional facilities. This paper identifies what worked well, key challenges and unintended consequences.

Establishment of a National Integrity Commission: interim report
Senate Select Committee on the Establishment of a National Integrity Commission, 2016
The Select Committee was established to inquire into whether a national integrity commission should be established to address institutional, organisational, political and electoral, and individual corruption and misconduct.

Independent National Security Legislation Monitor annual report 2014-2015
Roger Gyles, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australia), 2016
This is the first annual report from the current Independent National Security Legislation Monitor, Roger Gyles, who has been tasked with assessing the appropriateness and effectiveness of Australia's national security legislation.
 

 

Youth justice in Australia 2014–15
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2016
This bulletin examines the numbers and rates of young people who were under youth justice supervision in Australia during 2014-15 because of their involvement or alleged involvement in crime.

New South Wales recorded crime statistics 2015
Derek Goh, Stephanie Ramsey, NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2016
Presents data on crime reported to, or detected by, the NSW Police Force from January 1995 to December 2015, with a focus on the statistical trends for the 24 months ending December 2015.

An update of long-term trends in violent and property crime in New South Wales: 1990-2015
Derek Goh, Stephanie Ramsey, NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2016
Analyses the trends in the rates of annual recorded incidents of ten categories of property and violent crime for the period 1990 to 2015 in NSW.
 

 

 

Beyond Blue summarises key components of the Commonwealth reforms.

 

 

 

 

Indigenous survivors are reminded that registrations will close for private sessions
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders survivors of institutional child sexual abuse are reminded that they must register with the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse by 30 September 2016 if they wish to have a private session.

The Royal Commission’s Issues Paper 11: Catholic Church Final Hearing

Issues Paper 11: Catholic Church Final Hearing, has been  released, giving all interested parties the chance to provide input prior to a final public hearing into the Catholic Church in February 2017. Submissions are due by 1 July 2016

 

This study investigated the extent to which joint trials with cross-admissible tendency evidence infringed defendants’ rights, and the extent to which joint trials posed a risk of unfair prejudice to the defendant.

           

This study aimed “to identify aspects of information sharing frameworks that facilitate appropriate and timely information sharing between institutions and across jurisdictions to identify, prevent and respond to child sexual abuse in institutional contexts; or impede or limit such information sharing.“ (-The authors)

 

“The purpose of this review is to support the Royal Commission’s work in developing recommendations for both preventing institutional child sexual abuse and improving institutional responses to this type of abuse.” (-RCIRCSA)

           

The Royal Commission is holding a public hearing in Sydney from Tuesday, 21 June 2016 commencing at 10:00am AEST.   The public hearing will inquire into the experiences of men and women who were sexually abused as children in certain divisions of the defence forces.

 

The Royal Commission has published submissions from individual victims and survivors, service providers, statutory bodies, government agencies and peak bodies to its issues paper on advocacy and support and therapeutic treatment services.

 

 

 

Block, Stanley H, 2014.

This workbook utilizes the authors’ effective mind-body bridging technique. It includes easy-to-use self-help exercises that will help you to stop identifying with anxious thoughts and feelings while allowing your body to relax and let go of unconscious tension. 

 

Trauma and memory : Brain and Body in a Search for the Living Past: A Practical Guide for Understanding and Working with Traumatic Memory.  Levine, Peter. 2015.

Can we trust our memories? A groundbreaking look at how memory is constructed and how influential memories are on our present state of being.

 

These items are for loan from the VSS Resource Centre. Read more information here

 

 

 

A website to empower Australian women to take control of their online experiences. It includes resources to help women manage technology risks and abuse.

 

A South Australian guide and checklist to assist workers and individuals identify key organisations to be considered and contacted to assist in protecting an individual's privacy. These can help protect individuals experiencing family / domestic violence and/ or stalking.

 

Indigenous Justice Clearinghouse
A clearinghouse to promote discussion and disseminate relevant Indigenous justice information to government policy makers and those working in the Indigenous justice field.
Australian Institute of Criminology
 

Get to know anxiety
This Beyondblue campaign raises awareness of anxiety as 1 in 5 believe people with anxiety ‘put it on’ to avoid uncomfortable situations.

 

 

 

This is an Australian first smartphone app designed to help reduce suicide deaths.

The number of Australian men taking their lives is increasing, according to new Australian Bureau of Statistics data, and beyondblue hopes its new BeyondNow app will help reduce the suicide toll.

 

 

In the Media (unless otherwise indicated all are ABC reports)

 

 

Fact check: Have firearm homicides and suicides dropped since Port Arthur as a result of John Howard's reforms?  

 

 

 

 

Robes rally for fairer courts
Inside Story

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Victims of domestic violence remembered
Pirie Recorder

 

 

 

Young South Australian of the Year Arman Abrahimzadeh will be attending, and the event will be MCed by Amanda Blair. Tickets can be purchased here

4 June 2016. Adelaide, SA.

 

 

 

This conference will have an emphasis on aged care organisations working together to respond effectively and appropriately to elder abuse in order to ensure a positive outcome for older people experiencing abuse.

16 June 2016.  Adelaide, SA.

 

This conference will explore all aspects of the relationship between mental illness and violence, with emphasis on challenges, controversies, and complexities.  More information here

13-14 July 2016. Brisbane, QLD. 

 

The conference will bring together national and international researchers in the field of promoting student wellbeing, positive mental health, preventing violence and aggression, bullying and cyberbullying, and other related fields. More information here
For conference enquiries, contact Marja van Breda: email marja.vanbreda@flinders.edu.au

13-15 July 2016. Flinders University, SA.
Student Well-being and Prevention of Violence Research Centre, Flinders Educational Futures Research Institute, and others.

 

15-17 August, 2016. Sydney, NSW.
Association of Children’s Welfare Agencies

 

19th Australasian Conference on Traumatic Stress: Public issues, Private trauma
A world class forum on traumatic stress, the theme explores issues such as childhood sexual abuse, domestic violence, refugee and asylum seeker trauma, and the moral conflicts facing military personnel. More information here

8-10 September 2016. Gold Coast, QLD.

 

2016 Global Indigenous Women's Conference and 3^rd Indigenous Stop Domestic and Family Violence World Conference
More information here
12-14 September, 2016. Glenelg, SA.
The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Alliance 

 

For details contact Catherine at kwyevents@kwy.org.au or phone: 0437959504
Register here.

15-16 September, 2016. Adelaide, SA.

 

The AWAVA/ Our Watch International Conference On Violence Against Women

Marai Larasi and Prof Rashida Manjoo will be the keynote speakers.

Find out more and sign on for email updates here.

19-22 September, 2016. Adelaide, SA.

 

This important conference will inform local government, policy makers, police, criminologists, non-government community organisations and others about best practice in policy, evaluation and research. It will feature speakers on a range of crime prevention projects and programs. More information can be found here. 

3-4 November 2016. Brisbane, QLD.
Australian Institute of Criminology and the Queensland Police Service

 

 

Seminars

 

Click here for more information.
23 June 2016. Adelaide, SA.
Legalwise Seminars

 

A course for parents feeling overwhelmed, intimidated or overpowered by defiant behaviours or violence and abuse inflicted upon them by their child (8-18 years old). To register or for details, please contact Nicole Rawson at the City of Port Adelaide/Enfield on 8405 6867 or email nicole.rawson@portenf.sa.gov.au 

August 2016. Adelaide, SA.

 

This one day interactive training workshop provides the information and skills needed by workers in service settings, to assist people seeking help for their often trauma-related daily difficulties

15 August 2016. Adelaide, SA.

 

Presented by Sharon Freeman Clevenger. An intensive workshop designed to provide you with the information, knowledge, skills, and abilities to accurately identify and support personality disordered clients. 

8 September 2016. Adelaide, SA.