About Us
The Strategy
Key operating structures of the Strategy
Our approach
Partner Agencies
What is the Strategy doing to prevent violence against women?
What is the NSW Strategy to Reduce Violence Against Women?
The NSW Strategy to Reduce Violence Against Women was established in 1997. It is managed by the Violence Against Women Specialist Unit, Communities Division, NSW Department of Community Services.
The Strategy works to:
- develop prevention programs to reduce violence against women
- conduct community education and training
- enhance linkages within and between Government and non Government agencies
- develop strategic policy responses
- support strategies and programs programs with partnership agencies aimed at preventing violence against women
The Strategy is a state-wide, whole of government approach to reducing violence against women. The Strategy aims to prevent and respond to violence against women through:
- Raising awareness of, and understanding about, violence against women
- Developing and promoting effective prevention strategies
- Improving women’s access to services
- Improving interagency co-ordination and
- Improving the criminal justice response to violence
The Strategy is a partnership of seven Government agencies — NSW Department of Community Services (DoCS), Attorney General’s Department of NSW, NSW Health, NSW Police, Department for Women, Office for Women, NSW Premiers Department, the Department of Housing and Department of Education and Training. Key operating structures of the Strategy
The Strategy has three key structural elements:
- The Violence Against Women Specialist Unit
- A Regional Violence Prevention Specialist program
- A State Management Group
1. The Violence Against Women Specialist Unit
The central co-ordination and management of the Strategy’s work is conducted by the Violence Against Women Specialist Unit (VAWSU). It is located in the Communities Division of the NSW Department of Community Services. VAWSU works to:
- provide project management and support for the work of the Strategy’s regional program
- conduct strategic liaison with other government agencies, non-government organisations, peak bodies and communities
- deliver policy advice within the Department and across government on issues related to violence against women
- investigate particular issues around violence and advocate ways to address them
- implement and evaluate specific projects
2. Senior Regional Strategies Officers, Violence Prevention
The Strategy’s regional program encompasses much of its work which is undertaken by Senior Regional Strategies Officers, Violence Prevention.
At the regional level the Officers work to:
- identify violence against women issues in their region
- develop violence prevention plans with local agencies, organizations and communities
- develop and improve links within and between government and non-government agencies
- facilitate community education programs
- facilitate training of workers and specialist staff
- facilitate capacity building in communities
- and develop, implement and evaluate projects to reduce violence against women.
In consultation with Regional Reference Groups and Strategy partners the Strategy developed a vision ‘All women and their families in NSW are free from fear and violence inside and outside the home’ and identified four key areas of focus for these plans:
- the promotion of integrated responses to domestic violence
- working with Aboriginal communities to prevent family violence
- the prevention of sexual assault with a focus on criminal justice issues and service provision
- the development of awareness campaigns targeting young people and men
Senior Regional Strategies Officers, Violence Prevention will be working in partnership with other stakeholders and developing projects that focus on these priority areas.
Regional Reference Groups
Throughout the year Senior Regional Strategies Officers, Violence Prevention are supported and advised by representatives of local agencies, organisations, businesses and communities – often formally represented on a Regional Reference Group (RRG). The RRGs meet regularly to assist the Senior Regional Strategies Officers, Violence Prevention to identify issues plan and implement strategic prevention initiatives.
Some regions work through other Forums due to the geographic difficulties faced in rural and remote areas.
3. State Management Group
The State Management Group (SMG) is made up of representatives from Strategy partner agencies. Each Department is responsible for implementing the Strategy. Each promotes, markets and monitors the implementation of the Strategy within its organisation. The SMG considers inter-departmental policy and management issues associated with the
Strategy.Our approach
The NSW Strategy to Reduce Violence Against Women uses a prevention approach and its work spans a range of activities from community development and education, training of workers around violence against women issues, interagency co-ordination and development of integrated responses to violence, to development of policy advice and planning.
1. A partnership response to violence against women
The NSW Strategy to Reduce Violence Against Women uses a prevention approach and its work spans a range of activities from community development and education, training of workers around violence against women issues, interagency co-ordination and development of integrated responses to violence, to development of policy advice and planning.
The eighteen Senior Regional Strategies Officers, Violence Prevention form strategic regional partnerships when developing and implementing projects. Depending on the project, partners may include:
- Government agencies, including NSW Police, Area Health, DoCS, Department of Housing, Department of Education and Training and/or local councils
- Non-government agencies such as refuges, Women’s Health Centres, other women’s services, Community Legal Centres, Local Domestic Violence Committees (LDVCs), Family Support Services, Youth Services, Migrant and Multicultural Services, Older Women’s Services, Aboriginal Services, services for lesbians and/or
- Local community groups and networks and/or individual community members
Working in partnership helps to build capacity within local agencies and communities so they can address violence and promote safety.
2. A focus on prevention
Prevention is the key approach used in developing Strategy initiatives. Prevention initiatives operating on a number of levels have been implemented.
Some prevention initiatives focus on the causes of violence against women and work towards preventing the violence from occurring in the first instance. These initiatives include programs such as:
- Working with children and young people to promote healthy relationships
- Engaging non-traditional community partners (such as men or local businesses) and encouraging them to undertake activities that, in the long-term, will prevent violence against women.
Other prevention initiatives focus on providing an appropriate response when a woman reports violence. This is particularly important where the violence has occurred within an ongoing relationship. These initiatives aim to prevent further violence and examples include:
- Improving the response of service providers by providing training
- Developing effective interagency responses
- Expanding the range or type of services provided
- Monitoring legislation
- Making sure services are accessible to diverse communities and/or
- Working with men who perpetrate violence
Initiatives that educate and raise awareness are also very important in preventing violence against women. They can help to change inappropriate attitudes and make violence less acceptable. These initiatives can encourage people to speak out against violence. They can also encourage support for women experiencing violence. Examples of these initiatives include:
- Providing information in community workshops or forums
- Producing and distributing resources and/or
- Facilitating dialogue and expression of issues through community arts and theatre projects
The Strategy initiates research projects to identify and implement best practice. Research projects also ensure that progressive policy development around violence issues is accurately informed.
3. Recognition of the many forms of violence
The Strategy recognises that women experience many forms of violence. In response, it has adopted a broad definition of violence against women. This includes:
- Stalking and intimidation
- Hate-related violence
- Sexual, verbal, emotional and other forms of harassment
- Physical violence
- Sexual assault and
- Domestic violence, including emotional, social and financial abuse as well as sexual and physical violence.
4. Responses that recognise diverse needs
The Strategy recognises that different women have different experiences of violence and therefore may have different needs. Whilst seeking to address the needs of all women, the Strategy identifies and implements specific responses for:
- women with disabilities
- women living in rural and remote communities
- Aboriginal women and Torres Strait Islander women
- women from culturally and linguistically diverse communities
- lesbians
- older women and
- younger women
The Partner Agencies
The work of partner agencies to the Strategy — Attorney General’s Department, NSW Health, Department of Community Services, NSW Police, Department of Housing, Office for Women, NSW Premier’s Department and the Department of Education and Training — is outlined in the following agreed statement:
The NSW Government Strategy to Reduce Violence Against Women recognises that violence against women is a complex issue requiring a cross-agency approach. No single agency can provide an effective response to the complex needs of victims or tackle the task of preventing violence against women without the collaboration of other agencies.
Each Department is responsible for implementing the Strategy. The partner agencies each promote, market and monitor the implementation of the Strategy within their organisation.
Department of Community Services
The Department of Community Services (DoCS) promotes the safety and well being of children and young persons, primarily through its statutory role in child protection, and a program of prevention and early intervention provided by organisations through its funding program. Domestic violence is a significant component in the work of both DoCS and its funded services, and DoCS is working with its government and community partners to develop innovative solutions to reduce violence in families.
The Communities Division of DoCS is the host agency for the Strategy.
The Attorney General’s Department of NSW
The role of the NSW Attorney General’s Department is to provide a just and equitable legal system for the people of NSW. This includes providing a legal system that protects women from violence and enables women to have trust and confidence in the legal system.
NSW Health
A role of NSW Heath is to ensure better health for all women and enable equity of access to comprehensive health services. This includes providing appropriate medical intervention and appropriate counselling and referral services to women who have experienced acts of violence.
NSW Police
A role of the NSW Police is to protect life, ensure that property is preserved and work towards reducing crime. This includes protecting women and working towards reducing incidents of crime committed against women.
NSW Department of Housing
A role of the NSW Department of Housing is to work in partnership with the community to supply and sustain safe, decent and affordable housing for people on low incomes. This includes supporting an environment where women can live with dignity, find support and make sustainable futures.
NSW Department of Education and Training
The NSW Department of Education and Training delivers high quality education and training services from early childhood education through to post-compulsory education and training. The Department meets the learning needs of children, young people and adults, and addresses training needs in industry. In addition, the Department coordinates all public education and training services in New South Wales and strongly promotes lifelong learning.
The Office for Women, NSW Department of Premiers and Cabinets
The Office for Women, NSW Department of Premiers and Cabinets' vision is to achieve justice and equity for women in NSW in all aspects of life, including equal access to economic and social opportunities. These aims are achieved through innovative and inclusive programs and community and cross-agency partnerships and strategies in a range of areas, including violence prevention. |
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