Kimberley Family Violence Service
Responsible government
- Western Australia
Fourth Action Plan actions
- Support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and their children
- 8 Develop innovative and alternative models for victim and perpetrator support that contribute to safe healing and sustainable behaviour change.
What are we doing?
The Western Australian Government’s Path to Safety: Western Australia’s strategy to reduce family and domestic violence 2020-2030 includes a priority action to strengthen the role of Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations and communities to design and deliver culturally appropriate responses for Aboriginal people.
Following an announcement to extend the Kimberley Family Violence Service for two years, the Department of Communities (Communities) established the Addressing Family Violence in the Kimberley Grants Program (the Grants Program). Communities initiated a competitive grants process and invited proposals to develop place-based, locally informed and family led violence interventions that are flexible, culturally responsive, culturally secure, informed by local requirements and designed by or in partnership with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations.
What have we achieved so far?
The service model has been refined in partnership with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations and pathways established to promote collaboration towards outcomes-based, regionally informed investment, through the two Kimberley District Leadership Groups and the Family and Domestic Violence Priority Working Groups.
Two Kimberley based community service providers have partnered with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations to provide localised programs for family and domestic violence intervention and support. Broome-based Men’s Outreach Service Aboriginal Corporation (MOSAC), has adapted and is trialling their Change Em Ways program in three sites in partnership with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations. The project aims to develop and deliver a locally adapted, culturally secure, trauma informed, evidence-based men’s behaviour change program at Bidyadanga, Fitzroy Crossing and Balgo/Kutjungka.
Despite facing challenges recruiting staff with appropriate family and domestic violence, group facilitation and men’s behavioural change experience and knowledge, MOSAC has engaged with stakeholders and established referral pathways for the delivery of the Change Em Ways Kimberley Project in Fitzroy Crossing and Bidyadanga. Delivery of Change Em ways in Fitzroy Crossing has commenced.
Anglicare WA Inc has partnered with Emama Ngudu Aboriginal Corporation to provide the Derby Family Violence Service, an integrated support model to address family violence in Derby and Mowanjum Aboriginal Community. The Derby Family Violence Service has commenced community engagement activities in the region and to date has engaged with more than 200 individuals.
What is next?
Service activities under the grant agreements are progressing and Communities continues to work closely with these services.
What difference will we make?
Stronger services for Aboriginal people should be achieved through new approaches to procurement and capacity building with Aboriginal organisations. The Kimberley Family Violence Service pilot should be able to test a way of working for and with Aboriginal communities and organisations to deliver effective responses that support safety and healing.