Familyviolence

womenwithdisabilities

Anintensivecasemanagementapproach

ENDVIOLENCEAGAINST WOMEN

January2013

©Women’sHealthWestInc.2013thesupportoftheVictorianGovernment

Contents

Acknowledgements...... 4

Executive summary...... 5

Background...... 7

About Women'sHealth West and thewestern region...... 7

Whytheprojectwas initiated...... 8

Aims and objectives...... 9

Overviewofproject activities...... 9

The context...... 11

Familyviolence againstwomenwithdisabilities...... 11

Elevated risk of familyviolence...... 13

Servicesystem responsestofamilyviolence...... 14

Thework oftheproject...... 19

Earlychoices...... 19

Capacitybuilding...... 20

Secondaryconsultations...... 22

Communication tools...... 22

Direct casework...... 24

Findings...... 29

Workingacrosssectors...... 29

Reachingwomen...... 29

Complexity...... 30

Achievingsystemic change...... 32

Staffing intensivecase management...... 33

Conclusion...... 34

References...... 36

Endnotes...... 37

Acknowledgements

Wegreatlyappreciatetheinputandguidanceofrepresentativesfromthefollowingorganisationsduringthisproject:

  • Annecto (Victoria-wide disability support agency working from several sites in the western metropolitan region)
  • Western Region Disability Network
  • Victoria Police
  • West CASA
  • Molly’s House (Western metropolitan region family violence refuge with specialist expertise and facilities for providing services to women with disabilities now known as Kate’s Place)
  • Department of Human Services Disability Client Services
  • Mambourin Enterprises (Disability support agency working exclusively in the western metropolitan region)
  • Women With Disabilities Victoria (formerly Victorian Women with Disabilities Network)
  • Women’s Domestic Violence Crisis Service
  • Housing Resource and Support Service

Acronyms

WHWWomen’sHealthWest

CASACentre Against Sexual Assault

DVRCVDomestic Violence Resource CentreVictoria

DVVicDomesticViolenceVictoria

DHSDepartmentofHumanServices

WDVCSWomen’sDomesticViolenceCrisis Service

LGALocal government area

HRSS Housing Resource and Support Service

Executive summary

Women’sHealthWest(WHW)providesfamilyviolenceservicesforwomeninMelbourne’swesternmetropolitanregion.In2010,wesecuredfundingtodevelopamodel forintensive case management forwomen withdisabilities whoexperience familyviolence.Theaimoftheprojectwastoincreaseaccesstofamilyviolenceservicesintheregionforwomenwithdisabilities.

Theintensivecasemanagementapproachwasproposedbecausewomenwithdisabilitiesexperiencehigherratesoffamilyviolencethanwomenwithoutdisabilities,and services are not well equipped to recognise and respond to their needs.Theservicesystemisalsodifferentforthesewomen–requiringinputfromboththedisabilityandfamilyviolencesectors.

Whileprofessionalsinthedisabilityandfamilyviolencesectorshaveacommoncommitmenttothesafety andwellbeingofwomen,thereareconsiderabledifferencesintheirphilosophiesandpractices.Thelackofagreedprotocols,frameworks,andevencommondefinitionsoffamilyviolence,indicatedthatsignificantprofessionaldevelopmentandorganisationalcapacitybuildingwouldberequiredfortheprojecttosucceed.

Initiallyconceptualisedasaprojecttoexploreoptionsfordirectservicedeliverytowomenacrossthewesternmetropolitanregion,itsoonbecameapparentthatamoretargetedapproachwaswarranted.Wedecidedtofocusonworkwiththreeoftheregion’sdisabilityserviceproviders,as eachhaddemonstratedtheirinterestintheprojectviatheadvisorygroup.Inaddition,weworkedcloselywiththeWomen’sDomesticViolenceCrisisService(WDVCS)andDomesticViolenceResourceCentreVictoria(DVRCV).

TheparttimeprojectworkerspenttwoyearsundertakingactivitiestobuildthecapacityofWHWandthethreedisabilityservices.Theworkeralsoprovidedsecondaryconsultationsfordisabilityprofessionalsworkingwithwomenwhosecircumstances(suchashighdependenceontheperpetratorofviolence)precludeddirectcontactwithafamilyviolenceservice.

Theworkeralsoprovidedtenwomen withintensivecasemanagementservices.Thisincludedassessment,planning,casemanagementandcaseconferencing,casereviewsanddirectsupport.Mostwomenwhowerecasemanagedhadatleastoneotherprofessionalinvolvedintheircareandsupport.

Findingsofthereportincludethat:

  • Thereisaneedforongoingdialoguebetweenworkersinthedisabilityandfamilyviolencesectorstodevelopasharedunderstandingofroles,responsibilitiesandproblemsthatariseforclientswhoseneedsoverlapbothsectors
  • Thereareconsiderablecomplexitieswhenrespondingtowomenwithdisabilitieswhoexperiencefamilyviolenceincludingthelimitedoptionsavailabletothem,securingtheirconsenttobecontactedbyafamilyviolenceservice,thelimitedavailabilityofcrisisservicesrelevanttotheirsituation,andtheircontinuedrelianceonperpetratorsforday-to-daycare
  • Managementsupportfordevelopingnewwaystorespondtofamilyviolenceinthedisabilitysectoriscriticaltoimprovedserviceresponses

Theprojectwasinstrumentalinofferingdisabilityserviceworkersopportunitiestoenhancetheirresponsestowomenwithdisabilitieswhoexperiencefamilyviolence.WealsomadeimportantchangestoourownpracticetoimproveWHW’saccessibilityandrelevancetowomenwithdisabilities.The followingsummaryofrecommendationshighlightsactionsthatwouldcontributetofurtherprogress:

Recommendation1

Developaprotocolto assist disability workers with concerns about family violence; particularly reciprocal secondaryconsultationsbetweendisabilityandfamilyviolence services

Recommendation2

Usecasediscussionsasawayofachievingcross-sectorunderstandingandintegration

Recommendation3

Trainalldisabilityworkerstousethefamilyviolenceriskassessmentandriskmanagementframework

Recommendation4

Focusfuturedisabilityintensivecasemanagementeffortstowardssupportingwomenwhohavediversedisabilitysupportneedswhoengageinabroadrangeofservices

Recommendation5

Inpartnershipwithdisabilityservices,developalternative and flexible waysofrespondingtofamilyviolencethatrecognisetheuniquecircumstancesofwomenwhohavehighdisabilitysupportneeds

Recommendation6

Advocate for the development of statewide protocol to instruct disability and family violence workers on possible actions when women at immediate risk of family violence are subject to a guardianship order

Recommendation7

PromoteawarenessamongdisabilityworkersabouttheOffice ofthePublicAdvocate’scapacitytoprovideadviceanddirectionwhenthere are family violenceconcerns for a womanwhocannotadvocateforherself

Recommendation 8

Advocacy for individual women’s rights and systemic change is an important component of intensive case management; WHW recommend that this program be funded appropriately

Recommendation9

Implementandsupportthedevelopmentofregionaldisabilityandfamilyviolenceservicenetworksattachedtoregionalintegratedfamilyviolencecommitteesthatfosterencourageinnovativeandcollaborativepractice

Recommendation10

Ensureintensivecasemanagementforwomen with disabilities positions are adequatelyresourcedinrecognitionof thebreadthoftherole

Background

AboutWomen’sHealthWestandthewesternregion

Since1988WHWhasactivelycontributedtothehealth,safetyandwellbeingofwomeninthewesternregionofMelbournethroughacombinationofdirectservicedelivery,research,healthpromotion,communitydevelopment,capacitybuilding,groupworkandadvocacy.Wehaveadiversestaffwhosecompositionmirrorsthedemographicsoftheregion.

Since1994WHWhasdeliveredawiderangeofeffective,highquality,familyviolenceservicesforwomenandtheirchildrenincludingcrisisoutreach,courtsupport,housingsupport,crisisaccommodation,counsellingandgroupworkprograms.WHWhasbeenanactiveandstrongsupporteroffamilyviolencereformataregionalandstatewidelevel,integratingandcoordinatingfamilyviolenceservicesinourregion,andensuringtheintegrationofthoseserviceswitharangeofrelatedsectors,includingthehousingsector.

WHWalsohasahealthpromotion,researchanddevelopmentarm,whichoffersprogramsandpreventionprojectstoimproveoutcomesforwomen’shealth,safetyandwellbeing.AmajorachievementoftheWHWOrganisationalHealthPromotionPlan(2009−2012)isthedevelopmentofPreventingViolenceTogether:WesternRegionActionPlantoPreventViolenceAgainstWomen,acoordinated,action-basedcollaborationbetweenlocalgovernment,communityandwomen’shealthservices,designedtobuildsustainableenvironmentsthroughlocalinitiativesfortheprimarypreventionofviolenceagainstwomen.

WHW’sworkis informedbythevisionofequityandjusticeforwomeninthewest, this vision isguidedbythefollowingfivestrategicgoals:

  • Deliveringandadvocatingforaccessibleandculturallyappropriateservicesandresourcesforwomenacrosstheregion
  • Improvingtheconditionsinwhichwomenlive,workandplayinthewesternregionofMelbourne
  • Puttingwomen’shealth,safetyandwellbeingonthepoliticalagendatoimprovethestatusofwomen
  • Recognisingthatgoodhealth,safetyandwellbeingbeginsinourworkplace
  • Workingwithotherstoachieveourgoals

ThewesternmetropolitanregionofMelbourneis comprised ofthesevenlocalgovernmentareas(LGAs)ofBrimbank,HobsonsBay,Maribyrnong,Melbourne,Melton,MooneeValleyandWyndham.Theregionischaracterisedbyacomplexmixofdisadvantageanddiversity.ForinstanceitishometofourofthetoptenmostdisadvantagedLGAsinmetropolitanMelbourne1andtwoofthefiveidentifiedmetropolitangrowthcorridorsaresituatedinthewest—WyndhamandMelton.TheAustralianBureauofStatistics(ABS)reportedinJune2011populationdatathatWyndhamcontinuestobethefastestgrowingareainthecountry,withgrowth forecastsof161,000peopleby2031.

Residentsoftheregionspeakmorethan100languagesandithaslongbeenasettlementareaforrefugees.TheregionisalsohometoanincreasingnumberofIndigenousAustraliansandhasalargerthanstate-averagepopulationofwomenlivingwithadisability.In2010−11,WHWprovidedgeneralistcasemanagementsupportto314women,ofwhom21percent(66)hadadisability;thisisasignificantincreasefromthepreviousyearwhenonly12percentofclientsidentifiedashavingadisability.

RegionalneedsanalysesundertakenbyWHWidentifywomeninthewesternregionasexperiencingsignificantinequityinrelationtomultipleandcompoundingdiscrimination,familyviolence,andaccesstosocialandeconomicresources(includingincome,housing,socialparticipationandemploymentoptions).EvidencealsoatteststoagrowingproblemoffamilyviolencewithreportedcrimedatashowingwomeninthewesternregionofMelbourneatparticularriskoffamilyviolence,witharateof6.23reportedincidentsper1,000—higherthanthestateaverage.2

Whytheprojectwasinitiated

WHWhasastronghistoryofworkingwithhard-to-reachortraditionallymarginalisedcommunitiesofwomen.In2010,WHWsecuredfundingtoprovideintensivecasemanagementforwomenwithdisabilitieswhoexperiencefamilyviolence,inrecognitionoftheircomplexneedsaswellasthehighlevelsofviolenceperpetratedagainstthem.

TheVictorianDepartmentofHumanServices(DHS)hadpreviouslyacknowledgedthatserviceprovisionforwomenwithdisabilitieswhoexperiencefamilyviolencerequiredintegrationandimprovement.3However,workhadbeenlimitedandatthetimethisprojectcommencedtherewasnoagreedmodelforprovidingfamilyviolenceservicestowomenwithdisabilities.

WHW’sdecisiontoinitiateintensivecasemanagementwasinformedbytherecommendationsoftheVictorianWomenwithDisabilitiesNetwork(nowWomenWithDisabilitiesVictoria)reportonpolicyandserviceresponsestowomenwithdisabilitieswhoexperiencefamilyviolence.4

Aimsandobjectives

Aims

Theprojectaimstoincreasewomenwithdisabilities’ accesstofamilyviolenceservicesinthewesternmetropolitanregionofMelbourne.

Objectives

  • Supportthedevelopmentofafamilyviolenceintensivecasemanagementprogramthatrespondstotheneedsofwomenwithdisabilities
  • Increasethecapacityofgeneralistfamilyviolenceanddisabilitysupportworkerstorespondeffectivelytowomenwithdisabilitieswhoexperiencefamilyviolence
  • Exploreinteragencycollaborativeframeworksthatbringtogetherdisabilityandfamilyviolenceserviceresponsestosupportwomenwithdisabilitiestoremainintheirownhome,withlinkstothecommunity.
  • Developinter-servicelinkagesandreferralpathwaystoimprovewomenwithdisabilities’accesstofamilyviolenceservices

Overviewofprojectactivities

Overa22-monthperiodtheprojectworkercoordinatedarangeofactivitiesincluding:

  • RedevelopmentofWHW’sintakeandassessmentprocessesforwomenwithdisabilities
  • Trainingfordisabilityandfamilyviolenceworkers
  • Acase-discussiongroupfordisabilityandfamilyviolenceworkers
  • Secondaryconsultationsfordisabilityworkerswhohadfamilyviolence-relatedconcernsforclients

Atthesametime,theprojectworkerprovidedintensivecasemanagementtotenwomenwhohadexperiencedsignificantfamilyviolencefromanintimatepartner.Thisworkincluded:

  • Riskassessmentandmanagement
  • Assessingneedsofwomenandtheirchildrenincollaborationwithwomenandothersupportagenciesincludingtheirdisabilitysupportworkers
  • Providingdirectsupporttowomentomanagepractical,emotionalandpsychologicalconcernsarisingfromfamilyviolence
  • Advocatingforwomeninthedisabilityandfamilyviolencesystems,andalsointhebroaderlegalandhumanservicesystems
  • Assistingwomentoidentifyandworktowardstheirgoals
  • Liaisingwithotherprofessionalsforthepurposesofcaseplanningandcasemanagement
  • Activelyreferringwomentoappropriateservices
  • Managingexitprocessesincludingensuringclientsarelinkedtocommunitysupports

Theprojectadvisorygroup was comprised ofrepresentativesfromthefollowingdisabilityandfamilyviolenceserviceprovidersandadvocacygroups:

  • Annecto(Victoria-widedisabilitysupportagencyworkingfromseveralsitesinthewesternmetropolitanregion)
  • WesternRegionDisabilityNetwork
  • VictoriaPolice
  • WestCASA
  • Molly’sHouse(Westernmetropolitanregionfamilyviolencerefugewithspecialistexpertiseandfacilities for providingservicestowomenwithdisabilities now known as Kate’s Place)
  • DepartmentofHumanServices (DHS) DisabilityClientServices
  • MambourinEnterprises(Disabilitysupportagencyworkingexclusivelyinthewesternmetropolitanregion)
  • WomenWithDisabilitiesVictoria (formerly Victorian Women with Disabilities Network)
  • Women’sDomesticViolenceCrisisService
  • Housing Resource and Support Service

Theadvisorygroupmetmonthlyinthefirstyearoftheprojectandbimonthlythereafter.

Thecontext

Familyviolenceagainstwomenwithdisabilities

TheVictoriangovernment’sfamilyviolenceriskassessmentandriskmanagementframeworknotesthat,

‘Peoplewithdisabilities(includingfrailadults)experienceformsofviolencethatareuniquetolivingwithdisabilityandthatmaybeperpetratednotonlybyapartner,[butby]arelative,paidorunpaidcaregiver,co-patient,co-resident,residentialorinstitutionalstaff,orserviceprovider’.5

Someformsoffamilyviolencearespecifictothecontextofthevictimhavingadisability;otherformsofviolencearethesamebutmightbeexperienceddifferentlybywomenwithdisabilities.

Emotionalorpsychologicalviolenceincludes:

  • Denyingthatthewomanhasadisability
  • Threateningtowithholdoralteraidsorequipment
  • Threateningtowithdrawcareand/orservices
  • Ignoringrequestsforassistance
  • Threateningtopunishorabandonthewoman
  • Threateningtoinstitutionalisethewoman
  • Threateningtohavethewoman’schildrenremovedortodeny
    heraccesstothem
  • Denyingawoman’srightto herownsexualchoicese.g.choose
    sexualpartners,contraception,marry,havechildrenorchoicesnottohavesex,marryorhavechildren.
  • Violatingthewoman’sprivacy
  • Restrictingthewoman’saccesstoothers(includingservices)

Physicalviolenceincludes:

  • Administeringpoisonoussubstancesorinappropriatedrugs
  • Deprivingapersonoffood,waterorheat
  • Handlingthewomanininappropriateways(forexample,in
    personalormedicalcare)
  • Withholdingand/orcontrollingthewoman’suseofequipment,medications,ortransportation
  • Refusingtoprovideassistancewithessentialneeds
  • Usinginappropriatebehaviourmodificationsuchasphysicalor/andchemicalrestraints
  • Undertakingexperimentaltreatmentwithoutpermission/informedconsent

Sexualviolenceincludes:

  • Demandingorexpectingsexualactivityinreturnforhelp
  • Takingadvantageofphysicalweaknessandinaccessible
    environmenttoforcesexualactivity
  • Beingroughwithintimatebodyparts
  • Beingsexuallyabusiveunderthepretenceof'sexeducation'
  • Leavingawomannakedorexposed
  • Denyingawomanopportunitiesforsexeducationandinformation
  • Denyingawomanappropriatereproductivehealthcare
  • Sterilisingawomanwithoutherinformedconsent
  • Performingfemalegenitalcuttingonawomanwithoutherinformedconsent
  • Soliciting,authorisingorperforminganabortiononawoman
    withoutherinformedconsent
  • Suppressingawoman’smenstrualcyclewithoutherinformed
    consent

VictorianWomenWithDisabilitiesNetwork’sreportBuildingtheEvidencedescribessignificantmethodologicalchallengeswhenascertainingthelevelofviolenceagainstwomenwithdisabilities.6However,asubstantialbodyofliteratureindicatesthatwomenwithdisabilitiesareatmuchgreaterriskoffamilyviolenceandsexualassaultthanwomenwithoutadisability.Women with disabilitiesare also morelikely to experiencetoinstitutionalisedformsofviolence.7In2006,Brownridge’sstudyof7,027womeninCanadafoundthatwomenwithdisabilitieswere40percentmorelikelytohaveexperiencedpartnerviolence,particularlysevereviolence,comparedtowomenwithoutdisabilities.8

Brownridgefoundthatmalepartnersofwomenwithdisabilitieswere2.5timesmorelikelytobehaveinapatriarchaldominatingmanner.They are1.5timesmorelikelytobehaveinsexuallyproprietarywaysthanwerepartnersofwomenwithoutdisabilities.9 Thissuggeststhat,forwomenwithadisability,thesystemicgenderedoppressionthatcreatesandmaintainsconditionsunderwhichfamilyviolenceoccursarelikelytobecompoundedbytheirdisability.Strachanobservedthat‘womenandgirlswithadisabilityliveattheintersectionsofgenderanddisabilitybias’.10Advocatesandserviceprovidersneedtobeadditionallyvigilantwhenidentifyingandrespondingtofamilyviolenceamongwomenandgirlswithadisability.

Elevated risk of familyviolence

TheliteraturereviewconductedforBuildingtheevidenceconcludedthatwomenwithdisabilities:

  • Experienceviolenceinsimilarwaystootherwomenandalsoexperienceviolencespecificallyrelatedtotheirdisability
  • Areatgreaterriskofexperiencingviolence
  • Experienceviolenceatsimilarorhigherprevalenceratesthanwomenwithoutdisabilities
  • Experienceprolonged,severeandfrequentviolence
  • Experienceviolenceatthehandsofagreaternumberofperpetrators
  • Arenotbelievedwhentheyreportexperiencesofviolence
  • Thinktheywillnotbebelievedandsodonotreportexperiencesofviolence11

Ofcourse,notallwomenwithdisabilitieshavethesamelevelofrisk of familyviolence.Thecontextofawoman’slife–herfamily,socio-economicsituation,cultureandsoon–isimportant,asisthedegreetowhichherdisabilityaffectsherdailylife.Manywomenwithdisabilitiescanliveindependently,requiringlittleornosupportfortheirdailyactivities.Othersneedmoresupport,includingwomenwithsignificantdisabilities,forwhomintensivesupportfromparentsorapartnerisoftencriticalandevenlife-sustaining.Thislattergroupofwomenisparticularlyat risk ofcontinuedfamilyviolence,astheyrarelyhaveotheroptionsforaccommodationorcare.

Othersystemicfactorsthatinfluencewomen’srisk ofcontinuedviolenceincludelackofindependentincome,housing,employmentandtransport.

Accesstotheservicesystemisalsoasignificantfactorinshapingwomen’soptionsandrisk ofcontinuedviolence,withwomenoftenencounteringsystemicbarrierssuchas:

  • Lackofinformationinaccessibleformats(suchassigninterpreters,Braille,audio,plainEnglish,theuseofemailandtelephoneaccessrelayservices)
  • Poorphysicalaccessibilitytotransportand/orpremises
  • Workersinthefamilyviolencesectorlackingconfidenceandexpertisetorespondtotheneedsofwomenwithdisabilities
  • Workersinthedisabilitysectornotadequatelyunderstandingfamilyviolenceandlackingthecapacitytoidentifyorrespondtoabuse
  • Discriminatoryattitudesandpracticesonthepartofserviceproviders
  • Lackofsupport,information,andresourcesavailabletoorganisationstoassistthemtobemoreaccessibleandresponsivetotheneedsofwomenwithadisability
  • Lackofoptionsforcareandsupport,leadingtorelianceonfamily-basedcareandsupport12

Therearealsoindividualfactorsinfluencingwomen’s risk of familyviolence–althoughtheseareoftenmediatedbysystemicfactors.Forexample,womenwithdisabilitiesoftendonotunderstandthatwhattheyareexperiencingisviolenceandthattheyshouldnothavetoendureit.Whilethisiscommontomanywomen,notjustthosewithdisabilities,experiencingdisabilitydiscriminationand/orbeingdependentonothersforassistancecanreinforcebothwomen’sandperpetrators’minimisations,justificationsanddenialsofviolence.

Women’sconcernsaboutbeingabletofulfiltheirmotheringrolesalsohaveasignificantimpactontheirdecisiontoidentifyorreportviolenceintheirhome.Theseconcernscanbereinforcedbyaperpetratorandsometimesbywomen’sexperiencesintheservicesystemorcourts.

Servicesystemresponsestofamilyviolence

Specialist family violence service responses

Familyviolenceservices need to take action to support all Victorian women experiencing family violence.Theseservicesprovideriskassessment,safetyplanning,informationandreferrals.Dependingontheirnatureandrole,specialistfamilyviolenceservicessometimesalsoprovidelegal/courtsupport,counselling,accommodation,financialassistance,materialaidandcasemanagement.

Womenwithdisabilitiesmightrequireanyoftheseformsofassistance.Theirdisabilitywillbeoneaspectoftheirlives–otheraspectsmightincludetheirparentingstatus,culturalbackground,socialconnectednessandresources,immigrationstatus,sexualorientation,financialcircumstances,andspiritualbeliefs.Allofthesefactorswillcombinetoshapeeachwoman’sexperienceandinturnwillinfluencewhatservicesshewillneed,overwhatperiodandinwhatform.

Thetableoppositeidentifiesspecificindicatorsforfamilyviolenceservicesavailabletowomenwithdisabilities.

Disability services

Types of disability services offered across Victoria vary. TheyincludeDHS,communityserviceorganisationsworkingunderDHScontracts,localgovernment,andprivatesectorproviders.Theyprovideintake,assessment,caseplanning,casemanagement,employmentservices,accommodation,respitecare,supportforindependentlivingandarangeofotherservices.

Thewaysthatwomenwithdisabilitiesengagewithservicesalsovariesgreatly.Reasonsforthisvariationinclude:

  • Thedegreetowhichthedisabilityimpactsontheirdailylife
  • Theoriginsoftheirdisabilityandtheireligibilityforfinancialorotherformsofassistance
  • Theinformation,supportandadvocacyavailabletothem

Asnotedabove,systemicfactorsarealsoheavilyimplicatedinserviceusage.

Support serviceIndicators
type / Services that might be
provided via a specialist family violence service
Casual / Client might have a variety of support needs but requests one-off service
Client does not require disability supports; requires family violence support only / Support by service intake in the form of telephone-based support information, and/or a face-to-face meeting and referral
Low level / Client requires minimal, time- limited support to achieve safety from further violence and remain in, or move to, safe independent housing / Generalist family violence case management
Moderate level / Client has multiple needs and is at an elevated risk of continued violence
Client can make informed decisions (perhaps with support)
Client has skills and capacity to move into a safe, independent living arrangement (perhaps with support of disability services) in the short term
Client requires coordination of services / Intensive case management support and/or generalist family violence case management support focusing on multi-agency and integrated response and the development of an integrated case plan regarding immediate and future safety
High level / Client has complex needs related to the family violence and is at a high level of risk
Client requires intensive support to achieve and maintain independence and live free from further violence / Intensive family violence case management including development of a multi agency/integrated case plan regarding client’s immediate and future safety. Case conferences likely to be used to ensure consistency across family violence and disability services, police, child protection, or other specialist community based services

Table 1: Levels of service forwomenwith disabilitieswho experience familyviolence

Contextual factors in service responses to women with disabilities who experience family violence

Womenwithdisabilitieswhoexperiencefamilyviolence may requiresupportfromtwoverydifferentsectors:disabilityandfamilyviolence.

Specialistfamilyviolenceservicesunderstandfamilyviolencethroughthelensofgender,takingapredominantlyrights-basedapproach.AgenderedunderstandingofviolenceagainstwomenisatthecoreofallpoliciesshapingthefamilyviolenceservicesystemandunderpinsVictoria’sfamilyviolenceriskassessmentandriskmanagementframework.Thisunderstandingiscomplementedbyrecognitionofthemanywaysthatfamilyviolenceinteractswithotheraspectsofwomen’slivessuchastheirculture,theirrefugeeormigrantexperience,beingIndigenousorhavingadisability.

Howthisunderstandingisreflectedinpracticevarieswithinandbetweenservices.Inthecourseofthisprojectforexample,WHWnotedareasofourpracticethatcouldbeimprovedtoincreaseaccessforwomenwithdisabilities.Wehavealsocometorecognisethatwecurrentlyhaveaverylimitedcapacitytoreachouttowomenwithsignificantdisabilitieswhoareheavilyreliantontheirfamilyforcare.

Workersindisabilityservicesoftenhavesignificantandongoingprofessionalrelationshipswithallthefamilymembersofwomenwithdisabilities,notsimplytheclientherself.Theyaredeeplyawareofwaysthataclientmightrelyonherpartner,parentsorotherfamilymembersforcare.

Historically,therehasbeennoformalframeworktoinformthedisabilitysector’sunderstandingoffamilyviolence,orhowtorespond.Disabilityworkershavegenerallytendedtoattributefamilyviolencetotheperpetratorsoftheviolencebeing‘overburdened’andinneedofsupport,frustratedwiththeclient’sbehaviour,orsimplynotcoping.Sometimes,violencewasperceivedasawell-intendedmeasureto‘protect’theclientfromdangerbycontrollinghermoney,relationships,sexualityordailyactivities.

Whileinsomecases,theclosenessofrelationshipswithotherfamilymembersmightaffectworkers’willingnesstorecognisefamilyviolence,inmosttheirreluctanceisduetoadeepappreciationofthelimitedoptionsopentowomen–especiallythosewithhighsupportneeds.Thestakesarehighwhentalkingaboutviolenceandworkersareoftenreluctanttotakestepsthatmightdisrupttheirrelationshipswithwholefamiliesorpotentiallyleavewomenmoreat riskandisolated.Asonedisabilityworkercommentedduringourproject:

I haveaclientwhoisnotallowedtohaveherownmoneyandisnotabletoparticipate in recreational activities. If we approach theircarer to give her money to do this they may withdraw her fromthe service whichleaves hermoreisolatedthanever.

Thisleadstoasituationwheredisabilityworkersarelesslikelytoidentifyandrespondtoviolenceintheirdiscussionswithwomenandtheirfamilies.Instead,acommonresponseofdisabilityservicestofamilyviolencehasbeentoofferthefamilyincreasedrespiteoraddedsupportsto‘takesomepressureoff’andminimisestressors,inthehopethatthiswillultimatelypromotesafety.

Workersgenerallydonotreportconcernsaboutfamilyviolencetopoliceortheombudsmanunlesstheviolenceisofanextreme,lifethreateningnature.

Therearesignificantstrengthsthatthefamilyviolenceanddisabilitysectorsbringtoenhancingserviceresponsestowomenwithdisabilitieswhoexperiencefamilyviolence;buttherearealsochallenges.Thematrixbelowoutlinessomeofthesecontextualfactors.

Theme / Strengths / Challenges and difficulties
Starting points / Each sector is committed to eliminating violence against women and enhancing the lives of those most at risk / Each sector has its own ways of responding to family violence
Validating women’s experiences / Each sector is committed to supporting women who have experienced violence and abuse / Each sector has a different frameworks and theories for practice and therefore different engagement and responses to women
Recognising and assessing family violence / The family violence sector (including police) uses the CRAF
Some cross sector work has been initiated as part of statewide family violence service system reforms
The intensive case management project provides a basis for commencing conversations between the family violence and disability sectors / There are different understandings of family violence and criteria for responses to family violence between the sectors
The two sectors do not have common intake or screening processes
Disability services do not have a common tool for identifying and assessing family violence – the only aspect of violence routinely addressed in assessment is the client's potential for violence against others
Building partnerships / There are efforts at various levels to develop partnerships
The family violence system has achieved a significant level of integration
Disability issues have been represented on statewide family violence governance structures / There are few local linkages between disability services
There are virtually no existing linkages between family violence outreach or case management services and disability services
Few workers are aware of the services the other sector can provide
Disability representation on family violence governance structures must be maintained
Education and training / Staff in each sector have specialist expertise and knowledge
Family violence and some generalist workers are being trainedto use the CRAF / Training is not a formalised and organised process
Training is dependent on ‘champions’/ particular interest of individuals
Frameworks / Some established cross sector work commenced by statewide family violence service system reforms / While the family violence sector uses the CRAF, there has not yet been widespread uptake of this in the disability sector
Evaluation and data collection / Each organisation collects data Statewide family violence
benchmark reports / There is no co-ordination of data collection between the sectors
There is little data available about family violence against women with disabilities
Unlike the previous SAAP system the new national homelessness database, Specialist Homelessness Information Platform, does not record disability status. This omission requires attention from FaHCSIA

Table 2:Contextual factors in thefamilyviolence and disabilitysectors

The work of the project

Earlychoices

A broad view of intensive case management

Weheldaforumforstafffrombothsectorsearlyintheprojecttoidentifythecurrentandhistoriccontextforintensivecasemanagement,andfactorsthatmightinfluencehowwe provide intensivecasemanagement.Ourunderstanding deepened throughtrainingactivitiesandongoingdiscussionswithworkersand theadvisorygroup.

Itbecameclearthroughourearlyconsultationsthatcaseworkalonewouldbeunlikelytoachievesignificantlyimprovedoutcomesforwomen.Intensivecasemanagementrequiresawell-integratedservicesystemthatisclient-focused,buildsrelationshipsbetweenagenciesbasedoncommonassessmentincludingriskassessmentandagreedpathwaysforchange.13Significantdifferencesbetweenthesectorsrequiredconsiderableworktobuildasharedunderstandingandlanguage,increaseawarenessofeachother’sroles,andacommonapproachtopractice.

Werecognisedthatintensivecasemanagementwouldnotonlyneedtoincorporatecasemanagementactivitiesdirectlywithwomen,butalsoworktowardintegrationbetweenthesectors.The scope of thelatterworkwasmodestbutbecameincreasinglyimportantwhendirectservicedeliverycommenced.

Partnerships for intensive case management

Earlyintheproject,weenvisagedreachingouttoallservicesinthewesternmetropolitanregion;however,itbecameclearthatourworkshouldfocusondevelopingdeeperrelationshipswithasmallernumberofagencies.Annecto,MambourinEnterprisesandDHSDisabilityClientServiceshaddemonstratedtheirwillingnesstotakealeadershiproleinrespondingtofamilyviolenceandso–withtheagreementofthoseagencies’managementteams–wedecidedtofocusmainlyonthoseservicesforthedurationoftheproject.

Whilethefocusoftheprojectwastodevelopthesepartnershipsintheregion,werecognisedthatitwasalsocriticaltocontinuetoliaisewithstatewidebodies.Womenwho requirecrisisaccommodationareoftenreferredoutsidetheirregionforrefuge,so weworkedcloselywithWDVCStopromoteinclusionofwomenwithdisabilitiesintherefugesystem.

Similarly,atthetimeoftheproject,thestatewideagencyDVRCVwasdevelopingandconductingtrainingforthedisabilitysectorinapplicationsoftheCRAF.Theprojectworkerdrewontheexperiencesofthewomenshewassupporting to providesignificantinputtothecourse content.

AcoregroupofstafffromtheDHSStaffTrainingandDevelopmentUnitwaskeentoinvestigateandrectifygapsinstafftraining,familyviolenceeducationandpolicydevelopment.Theywereinvolvedintheearlystagesoftheproject until DisabilityClientServiceswasdelegatedresponsibilityforrepresentingDHSinprojectactivities.

Capacitybuilding

StrengtheningWHW’s capacity

Casemanagersdonotworkinisolation;womenwithdisabilitieswhoexperiencefamilyviolencealsorequireresponsesfromarangeofotherprofessionals.Giventhatfamilyviolencetrainingdoesnotusuallyincludewaystorespondtowomen'sdisability-relatedneeds,anddisabilitytrainingrarelyincludesspecificresponsestofamilyviolence,weneededtoassiststaffinbothsectorstodeveloptheirorganisations’capacityaswellastheirownprofessionalskills.

AtWHWtheintensivecasemanagerworkedwithmembersofthefamilyviolenceteamtorefineourprocessesforidentifyingwomen withdisabilitiesandprovidingamoreholisticresponse.Ourintentionwastoaddadisabilitylenstoourwork,tocomplementexistinggenderedandculturaldiversitylenses.Thefirstelementofthisshiftwasassistingtheteamtomovetowardsunderstandingdisabilityasasocialconstruct,andtorecognisethatwomenwithdisabilitieswhoexperiencefamilyviolenceare oftendeniedaccesstothesamerightsasnon-disabledwomen.

Asecondchangearosefromareviewofteammembers’experiencesofworkingwithwomenwithdisabilities.Workersreportedmoredifficultyinbuildingrapportwiththesewomen whowereoftenfarmorereluctanttodiscloseinformation.Workerswereunsureabouthowtoassessdisability-associatedrisk,suchasawoman’sself-agencyandrelianceonaperpetrator,orthesignificanceofformsofviolencespecificallylinkedtoawoman’sdisability(suchastheirpartnerwithholdingadisabilityaid).Furthermore,theywereconcernedthattheCRAF(andby extensionWHW’sassessmenttemplates)didnotadequatelyassessthesupportneedsofwomenwithdisabilities.

TheprojectworkerandWHWintakecoordinatorrevisedtheriskassessment(seeAppendix1).Therevisedassessmentincludesquestionsaboutwomen'sself-agencyanddependenceondisabilitysupports.In situations where a woman’s self-agencyis low,wenowofferaface-to-faceappointmentratherthanundertakeriskassessmentviatelephone.Thischangeinpracticehasmaximisedopportunitiestobuildrapportandmadeiteasiertoadaptcommunicationstylesortools.Ithasalsoresultedinanincreaseinthenumberofclientswithadisabilitywhoareallocatedafamilyviolencecasemanager.

Strengthening cross-sector responses

Theabsenceofanagreedmodelfordeliveringfamilyviolenceservicestowomenwithdisabilitiesmeantthatwomenoftenreceivedpoorlyintegratedornoservices.Oneofthemostimportantelementsofthisworkwastoconsiderpositiveapproachestoinclusionasaprecursortoidentifyingamodelofpractice.Wedidthisviaacase-discussiongroupinvolvingrepresentativesfromDomesticViolenceResourceCentreVictoria,WomenwithDisabilitiesVictoria,HousingResourceandSupportService, Annecto andWomen’sDomesticViolenceCrisisService.

Thegroupmetmonthlywithdisabilityagencies topresentde-identifiedcasestudiesofcurrentclientsforwhomstaffheldsafetyconcerns.Manyofthecaseswerehighlycomplexandfamilydynamicsprecludedinvolvementbyourprojectworker.Thesesituationshighlightedthechallengeofupholdingawoman'srighttoalifewithoutviolenceincircumstanceswheresheisheavilyreliantonthecontinuedsupportofherpartner,parentsoranotherfamilymemberforactivitiesofdailylife.

Afterpresentingeachcasestudy,thegroupdiscussedthewoman’srisks,supportneeds,possiblereferralpathwaysandoptionsavailabletoher.Thesewerehonestandopendiscussions,withallmembersdemonstratingagenuinecuriosityaboutwaystoimproveserviceresponses.Memberstookthefindings–aboutpractices,pathwaysandreferraloptions–backtotheiragencies;somealsousedtheworkinggrouptoinfluencechangesinorganisationalpractice.

Evaluationfeedbackfromtheworkinggroupindicatesthatthiswasapowerfulandengagingwaytoapproachservicere-orientation.Participantsalsoappreciatedthesupportiveenvironmentinwhichtodiscussoftendifficultandchallengingsituations.

Developing skills and capacities in the disability and domestic violence sectors

Thereisasignificantneedfordisabilityworkerstobebetterabletoidentifyfamilyviolenceandtorespondwhentheysuspectorknowitisoccurring.Withsuchalargeanddisparateworkforceintheregion,wefocusedonprovidingtrainingtostaffinorganisationsmostcloselyinvolvedintheproject.

MambourinEnterprises’board ofmanagement endorsed the trainingof55disabilitysupportstaffandseniormanagersintheirAltona,SunshineandWerribeebranches.

WealsoprovidedtrainingtoeightstaffatWDVCS whoparticularlyappreciatedtheopportunitytolearnmoreabouttheserviceoptionsforwomenwithdisabilitiesexperiencingfamilyviolence.Theprevalenceoffamilyviolenceagainstwomenwithdisabilitieswasnewandsurprising tosomeworkers.

Wetrained25casemanagersfromDHSDisabilityClientServicesinpartnershipwithDVRCV andtailoredthefamilyviolenceriskassessmentandriskmanagementframeworktotheneedsofdisabilityworkersusingdisability-specificscenariosthatfocusedonworkingwithwomenwithdecision-makingdifficulties.Wereceivedpositivefeedbackfromparticipantswhoreportedthattheyfelttheywouldbemoreawareoffamilyviolenceandbetterabletorespondinthefuture.

Overall,crosssectortrainingwasverysuccessful.Onoccasion,though,particularparticipantswereresistantanddefensive.Thiswasmorelikelyamongthosewhohadbeenworkinginthedisabilityorfamilyviolencesectorformanyyears and demonstrates that recognising and responding to family violence has not been part of traditional disability practice, and highlights the level of capacity building that is required.

Itisimportantthattrainersaremindfulofthewaytheyraiseawarenessoftheproblemsfacedbywomenwithadisabilitywhoexperiencefamilyviolence.Workerswhofeelblamedorfeelthattheirprofessionalismisinquestionarelesslikelytoberesponsivetotraining.

Secondaryconsultations

Asdiscussedintheintroductionofthisreport,workersoftenfinditdifficulttoprovidesupportforwomenwhoareveryreliantonfamilyfortheirdailyactivities.Whenthesewomenexperienceviolence,theyoftendonothavethecapacityormeanstoseekfamilyviolencesupportindependentlyandthereisariskthatdirectinterventionwilljeopardisetheircontinuedfamilysupport.Theprojectworkerprovidedsecondaryconsultationsforworkerstryingtodecideonacourseofactioninthesecircumstances.ShealsoprovidedsecondaryconsultationsforWDVCSstaffseekingsafeandappropriateaccommodationoptionsforwomenwithdisabilities.StaffatDHSandMolly'sHousealsousedthisservice.

OtherworkersatWHWregularlyconsultedwiththeprojectworkeraboutwhatcourseofactiontotakeandappropriatereferralservices.Forexample,aWHWoutreachworkerwassupportingayoungwomanwithanintellectualdisabilitywhoseformerpartnerhademotionally,physicallyandfinanciallyabusedher.Theyoungwomanwashighlyexcitedabouther‘newboyfriend’andtheworkeraskedwhenandwhereshehadmethim.Theyoungwomansaidshemethimonthestreetacoupleofdayspreviously.Thefamilyviolenceworkerwasextremelyconcernedthattheyoungwomanwasplacingherselfatriskandaskedthedisabilityworkerhowshecouldtalkwiththeyoungwomanaboutthis.

Recommendation 1

Develop a protocol to assist women in situations where a disability worker has concerns about family violence and would benefit from reciprocal secondary consultations between disability and family violence services

Communicationtools

Womenwithanintellectualorcognitivedisabilitysometimeshaddifficultyprocessingauditoryinformation,especiallyiftheideaswerenewtothem.Itwascommonforthosewomentoremainatacontemplativestage,andtoremainuncertainaboutdecisionsforsignificantlylongerperiodsthanotherwomen.Forthisreason,visualaidsweredevelopedasawayofassistingwomentounderstandnewconceptssuchas‘refuge.’

Forexampletheprojectworkerdevelopedasetofphotographsoftheinsideofalocalrefugeandexplainedthesewereanexampleofwhatarefugemaylooklikeiftheychosetogothere.

TheprojectworkeralsocreatedcolourfulposterswithinformationforworkersaboutfamilyviolencefortheDisabilityClientServicesFootscrayoffice(seebelow).

Directcasework

Aims of direct case work in intensive case management

Ourintensivecasemanagementprovidedongoingsupportandassistancetowomenwithadisabilitywhohadexperiencedfamilyviolenceto:

  • Achievelongtermsafetyoutcomes
  • Accessappropriatedisabilityandotherservicestoincreasethelikelihoodoflivingindependentlyiftheywished
  • Increasethechancestoretainprimarycarerstatusfortheirchildrenorbecomeprimarycareriftheywished
  • Developoraccessappropriatesocialnetworks
  • Overcomebarrierstousingservices
  • Overcomethetrauma ofchronicandextremeviolenceandabuse

Intensive case management clients

Inthecontextofthisproject,womenwereeligibleforintensivecasemanagementif:

  • Theyhadcomplexandmultipleneeds
  • Thethreattotheirsafetywassuchthatproblemscouldnotbemanagedthroughregularcasemanagement
  • Theyhadanintellectual,sensoryorphysicaldisability
  • Theywereassessedatahighlevelofrisk
  • Theyhadlimitedothersupports(formaland/orinformal)
  • Multipleagencieswerelikelytobeinvolvedduetothecomplexityoftheirsituation

Theprojectprovidedsupporttotenwomen. Allhadexperiencedfamilyviolencefromtheirmalepartner.

Cultural background

Ofthetenclients:

  • EightwerefromCALDcommunities
  • OnewasAboriginal
  • OneidentifiedherselfasAustralian
  • OnewomancommunicatedviaanAuslaninterpreter

Types of disability

  • Threewomenhadphysicaldisabilities
  • Fourhadintellectualdisabilities
  • Threehadsensorydisabilities
  • OnewomanusedanAuslaninterpreter

Levels of support required

Thewomen’slevelofdisabilitywascategorisedaccordingtotheirabilitytoliveindependently.

  • Twowomenrequiredongoingdisabilitycasemanagementbutdidnotneedsupportwithactivitiesofdailylife
  • Theothereightwomenhadlowlevelsupportneedsandwereabletoliveindependentlywithsomeassistance
  • Onewomanwasdependentontheperpetratoroftheviolence

Family situation

  • Sevenofthesewomenhadchildren
  • Twofamilies were involved with theVictorianChildProtectionServiceandoneofthosechildrenwasplacedinfostercare

Relationship duration

  • Sixwomenhadbeenintheirrelationshipforlongerthanfiveyears
  • Thelengthofrelationshipfortheremainingfourwomenwasunderfiveyearsonelessthansixmonths

Type of abuse

  • Alltenwomenwereemotionallyandverbally abusedby their partnersandninehadexperiencedphysicallyviolence
  • Sevenmenhadsexuallyassaultedtheirpartner
  • Sevenhadthreatenedtokillher
  • Sevenmenwerefinanciallyabusive
  • Eightwomenreportedbeingsociallyisolatedby theirpartner’ssociallycontrollingbehaviourorasanindirectresultoftheviolence

Somewomenhadalreadyaccessedthefamilyviolencesystem withmixed experiences:thepoliceandthecourt response was supportive of one woman butseveralothersexperiencedverynegativeencounters.

AllwomenhadreferredthemselvestoWHW.

Intensive case management processes

Whatisapparentfromtheclientswhoparticipatedinourproject is thatwomenwithdisabilitiesarenotahomogenousgroupandoneresponsewillnotsuitall.

Projectparticipantsvariedaccordingto:

  • Theiridentity
  • Theirfamilysituation
  • Theirleveloffamilyviolence-relatedrisk
  • Theirdisabilitysupportneeds
  • Thelevelofresourcingandservicesthatwereavailabletothem

Theintensivecasemanagerprovidedatailoredfamilyviolenceresponsetoeachwoman,takingintoaccountallaspectsofheruniquesituation throughassessment,caseplanning,casemanagementandcaseconferences.Ourexperienceofeachoftheseprocessesisdescribedbelow.

Ingeneralterms,theprojectworker’sdirectcaseworkfollowedtheDVVicCodeofPractice:forspecialistfamilyviolenceservicesforwomenandchildren.

Family violence assessment

Asdescribedabove,WHWamendedourfamilyviolenceintakeprocedurestoofferface-to-faceassessmenttowomenwithdisabilitiesratherthanthecurrentinitialphoneassessment.

Accordingly,theintensivecasemanagementassessmentprocess involved:

  • Providing womenwithdisabilitysupports(suchasanAuslaninterpreter)requiredforthesuccessfulconductoftheassessment
  • Encouraging womentobringasupportworkerorfriend
  • Assessing women’sdisability-relatedneedsoninformationprovidedbywomenthemselves,theobservationsoftheassessorand,onoccasion,inputbyotheragencyworkers(withwomen’spermission)

Thefamilyviolencecomprehensiveriskassessmentframeworkedition2(April2012)includesanupdatedandexpandedwomenwithadisabilitysectiononfactorsthatimpactonwomen’s,children’sandyoungpeople’soptionsandoutcomes.

Inadditiontostandardfamilyviolenceriskandneedsassessment,assessmentofawomanwithcognitivedisabilitiesneedstoconsiderthesupportsheneedstocommunicate,makeinformedchoicesandlivesafelyinthefuture.

Family violence case planning

Of the ten women, ninedevelopedatleastonecaseplan.Theprojectworkerworkedwitheachwomantoidentifyhergoalsand–drawingontheassessmentfindings–developaplan.Plansalsoidentifiedthewoman’sstrengthsandexistingresources.Giventhatsystemicdiscriminationregularlyresultsinwomenwithadisabilityexperiencingalossofcontroloverdecision-making,an experience that iscompoundedinsituationsoffamilyviolence,itwasvitalthatcaseplansfocusontheclient’sstrengthsandworkedwithhertodeterminehergoals.

Allplanscontainedgoalsaboutlivingfreefromviolence; othergoalsincluded:

  • Gettingaccesstoservices,suchassupport groupsandcounselling(sixwomen)
  • Gainingcontroloflivingarrangementsandincreasingindependence(fivewomen)
  • Commencingemploymentoraneducationalcourse(threewomen)
  • Puttingnecessarydisabilitysupportsinplace(threewomen)
  • Gaininginsightintohealthyversusunhealthyrelationships(twowomen)
  • Managingmentalhealthdifficultiessuchasdepressionandanxiety(twowomen)
  • Buildingsocialnetworksandgainingskillsandconfidencetoparticipateinthecommunity(twowomen)
  • Reachingadecisionaboutwhethertoreturntorelationship(onewoman)
  • Increasingconfidenceto accessafamilyviolencerefuge(onewoman)
  • Obtainingdriver’slicense(onewoman)
  • Havingcoordinatedservicesandsupport(onewoman)
  • Obtaininggeneralhealthreferralsforselfandchildren(onewoman)

Family violence case management

Eachwomanhadauniquesetofcircumstances andsometimesrequiredcreativeapproachestorespondtospecificrisks.Forexample,theprojectworkerliaisedcloselywithpolice,WDVCSandanAuslaninterpretertodevelopaprocessinwhichadeafwoman–whocouldnotreadorwriteandhadlimitedAuslan–couldachieveanimmediateresponsethat was appropriatetoherneedsatanytime.

Theprojectworkeralsoassistedwomenby:

  • Providingcourtsupport(mostlytoobtain,maintainorvaryinterventionorders,howevertheprojectworkeralsosupportedonewomantoobtainaresidencyorder)
  • Safetyplanningwhenawomanhadcomplexcommunicationneeds
  • Supporttoliveindependently,suchashomeandcommunitycare(HACC)andtransportservices
  • Advocatingforwomentoseek,orincrease,disabilitysupportsviaDHSDisabilityClientServicesorTransportAccidentCommission
  • Advocatingandsupportingawomantohaveherchildreturnedfollowing removalbytheVictorianChildProtectionService
  • Completingformsandapplications(forexample,OfficeofHousingapplication,VictimsofCrimeAssistanceTribunalapplication)
  • Providing assistancetoseekbrokeragefunds
  • Identifyingalternativeapproachestomeetingdailyneedswhen women werereliantontheirpartner

TheprojectworkerandWHW’sfamilyviolencesupportworkers sharedresponsibilitiesforreferralandsupport.

Family violence case conferences

Acaseconferenceisameetingofserviceprovidersandtheclienttocoordinatecasemanagement.Theclient(and/orguardianwhensafetodoso)mustagreetosharethisinformationwithotherservicesbeforearranging acaseconference.Caseconferenceswereusedtogatherinformationtoassistassessmentandplanning,forinteragencyplanningandcoordination,reviews,andcaseplanmonitoring.

Allwomenwereinvolvedincaseplanningandcaseconferences.Fiveparticipatedincaseplanningmeetingswiththeprojectworkerandprofessionalsfromotherservices.Theseotherprofessionalsincludedchildprotectionpractitioners,ahousingsupportworker,ageneralpractitioner,ahealthservicesupportworker(LivingWellProgram–WesternRegionHealthCentre),aVicdeafcasemanager,theWDVCScoordinator,asupportworkerfromVictorianAdvocacyLeagueforIndividualswithDisabilities,andafamilyviolencerefugeworker.Theclient’ssupportperson(notfromanagencyororganisation)participatedinthreecasesandoneclienthadtheirlegalguardianpresent.

Theprojectworkerinitiatedmostcaseconferencesbutchildprotectionworkers initiated someas well.

Whenotherprofessionalswereunabletoattendcaseconferencesinformationwassharedwiththemtoensuretheywereawareofthecaseplanandthesupportneedsofclientsandtheirchildren.

Reviews and case closures

Reviewsofcaseplansdependedonwomen’sindividualcircumstances.Asinglecaseplanwassufficientforsomewomen, otherwomenwereinvolvedinanumberofcaseplanningsessionsorreviews.Onewoman’ssituationwasquitecomplexsowedevelopedthreecaseplansandheldfivemeetingswithotherserviceproviderstoreviewtheplansandcontinueofferingsupport.

Womengenerallyaccessedcasemanagementforuptosixmonths,althoughthewomanwiththreeplansreceivedcasemanagementfortwelvemonths.

Fourwomenhadtheircasesformallyclosed.Ofthese:

  • Onedeclinedfurtherservicesafterreceivingassistancetoobtainaninterventionorder
  • Onemovedoutoftheareaandwasreferredtoalternativefamilyviolenceandhousingservicesinhernewlocation
  • Onewaslivingsafelywithherparents
  • Onewaslivingsafelyintransitionalhousingandlinkedwithadisabilityservice

WHW informed all involved agenciesthatcaseswere closed.

Findings

Workingacrosssectors

Asdiscussedintheintroduction,therearesignificantdifferencesinthewaysthatspecialistfamilyviolenceservicesanddisabilityservicesrespondtofamilyviolenceagainstwomenwithdisabilities.Thisprojectenabledustodeepenourunderstandingofthecomplexdecisionsfacedbydisabilityworkerswhentheysuspectorknowthatfamilyviolenceisoccurring.Conversely,disabilityworkersinvolvedintheprojectorsupportedbytheprojectworkerhadopportunitiestoconsiderhowtheymightworktoextendthehumanrightsoftheirfemaleclients.

Inourexperience,case-baseddiscussionswerethemostusefulapproachtodevelopingsharedunderstanding byenablingreal-worldapplicationofwhatmightotherwisebeabstractideas.

Recommendation 2

Use case discussions to achieve cross-sector understanding and integration

Weobservedthatdisabilityserviceworkersencounteringwomenwithlimitedcommunicationorcognitivecapacitiesrarelyquestionedthemabouttheirsafety.Thelackofaconsistentreferenceframeworklimitssystematicthinkingandpracticefordisabilityworkers.Thefamilyviolenceriskassessmentandriskmanagementframeworkhasthepotentialtoassistinthisregard.Thereisasignificantneedtoprovidedisabilityserviceworkerswithtrainingonthisaspectoftheirpractice.

Recommendation 3

Train all disability workers to use the family violence risk assessment and risk management framework

Reachingwomen

Oneofthestrengthsofthisprojectwasthatitprovidedopportunitiesforcontinuedconversationsbetweenworkersinthetwosectors.Alimitation,however,wasthatourfocuswasonworkingwithagenciesprovidingservicestowomenwithveryhighdisabilitysupportneeds.

Whilethesewomenwereeligibleforfamilyviolencecasemanagement,nonewerereferredtointensivecasemanagementbydisabilityworkersforcasemanagementsupport;althoughanumberofdisabilityworkersdidcontacttheprojectworkerforsecondaryconsultations.Itwasbeyondthescopeofthisprojecttoanalysethereasonswomenwerenotreferred.Itislikelythatwomenrequiringhighdisabilitysupportdemanddifferentresponsesthanthoseofferedthroughtheproject.Therefore,womenpresentingatcommunity-baseddisabilitysupportprogramsmaybemoresuitedtothe traditionalmodelofintensivecasemanagement.Infuture,wewoulddeveloprelationshipswithabroaderrangeofserviceswho are regularlyincontactwithwomenwithadisabilityandworkwiththemtoidentifythebestways to provide familyviolenceinformationandsupport.Thiscouldincludedevelopingpostersandotherinformationmaterialsspecifictoindividualservicesorprograms.

Recommendation 4

Focus future disability intensive case management efforts towards supporting women with diverse disability support needs who engage in a range of services

Recommendation 5

In partnership with disability services, develop alternative and flexible way of responding to family violence that recognize the unique circumstances of women who have high disability support needs

Complexity

Women who are unable to report violence

Whenworkersrelyonawoman'spartnerforcommunicationorwhenawomancannotreporttheabuseforherself,itisverydifficulttoknowwhetherfamilyviolence is occurring.Disabilityworkersreportedsuspicionsaboutabuseinthefamilyhome,butifawomancannotcommunicateabouthersituationandthereisnootherevidence,workershavefewoptions.Theystruggledwiththecomplexityoftaking action inthesesituations.

TheOfficeofthePublicAdvocatecanprovidedisabilityworkers with advice,butitmaybenecessarytoapplytotheVictorianandCivilAdministrativeTribunal(VCAT)foranurgenthearingtorevokeaguardianshiporderuntilaninvestigationtakesplaceorapplyforatemporaryguardianshiporder.Inthemeantime,thedisabilityserviceproviderneedstobeabletodevelopandimplementariskmanagementandanalternativecareplan. Consultations with family violence services would assist in this task.

Recommendation 6

Advocate for the development of statewide protocol to instruct disability and family violence workers on possible actions when women at immediate risk of family violence are subject to a guardianship order

Recommendation 7

Promote awareness among disability workers about the Office of the Public Advocate’s capacity to provide advice and direction when there are concerns about family violence for a woman who cannot advocate for herself

Maximising choice

Womenandchildren’sexperienceofviolence,theimpactofviolence,andengagementwithservicedeliverysystemswillvaryaccording toarangeoffactors,includingdisability.Asaresult,anintegrated,client-centredandstrengths-basedservicethatworkswithwomenandtheirchildren isvital toassistthemtonavigatecomplexservicesystemswithoutfurtherlossofcontrol.Theclient’srighttoself-determinationisallthemoreimportantbecauseofthecompounding disempowermentofgenderedviolencecombined withdisability.

Asaresult,casemanagersmust understandandrespectwomen’schoices,evenwhentheydonotagreewiththem.Partoftheirroleistoensurethatwomenhaveabroadrangeofoptionsandcan accessresourcestorealisethoseoptions.

Maximisingchoiceforwomenwithdisabilitiescanrequire more intensive support,especiallyifwomenhavefewresourcesand/orarereliantontheperpetratoroftheviolenceforcareorsupport.Inaccessible services and inaccessible alternative accommodationexacerbatethis difficulty. Itiscriticalthatthecasemanageris