GIPPSLAND Gippsland Family Law Pathways Network E-Bulletin VOLUME 3, NO: 4 DECEMBER 2011 Welcome from Project Officer Post Separation Parenting Group Safe Place to Celebrate 2 Family Violence in the Spotlight The Cost of Violence can be high Gippsland Network Members Take the Pledge What is the Family reconciliation initative? Richard Chisholm sings up a storm Last Edition Quiz Results 5 1 1 2 3 3 4 5 WELCOME: to our last E-Bulletin for 2011. Much of a very positive nature has been taking place within the Gippsland Network in recent times including the highly successful forum in November with Professor Richard Chisholm AM as the keynote speaker, and Federal Magistrate Phipps as MC; White Ribbon Day activities in member agencies; and a busy time for our representatives at the November circuit hearings (well, 2 days of them) of the Federal Magistrates Court in Moe. Articles and photos from these activities are featured in this E-Bulletin which we hope you find of interest. We conclude 2011 with 235 members, and 85 different agencies or legal and family services firms as members of the Gippsland Family Law Pathways Network which we trust forms the basis of a strong future for collaborative services in this great part of Australia. However, we are very keen to maintain this momentum so please encourage colleagues and other friends who aren t members to do so, and of course your support of the events we organise from now on is vitally important. Please have a very safe, happy and healthy Christmas and New Year! Mark Gibson Project Officer Gippsland Family Law Pathways Network Keep Access to Justice free! Pathways Profile: Michael Robinson Collaboration across many boundaries (geographies, agencies, programs and cultures 6 6 7 WOULD YOU LIKE $50.00 See inside for the chance to enter the E Bulletin s Quiz FEBRUARY WILL SOON BE HERE THE NEXT 6 WEEK PSPG STARTS ON 7 TH FEBRUARY 2012. Christmas Edition Quiz 7 Any members who know of clients who may be interested in undertaking the 6 week Post Separation Parenting Group run by Relationships Australia Victoria and the Family Mediation Centre in Traralgon could you please encourage them to contact the Intake and Assessment Officer as soon as possible for the February group. Enquiries to: mark.gibson@mediation.com.au or 5175 9333. Please note the dates for the remaining groups in 2012 are: 24 th April to 29 th May 2012 24 th July to 28 th August 2012 16 th October to 27 th November 2012
SAFE PLACE TO CELEBRATE Page 2 (The article was written by Melody Song, and published in the Latrobe Valley Express) In rooms decked with balloons and filled with afternoon tea treats, staff of Anglicare Victoria s Children Contact Centre celebrated 10 years of service. Known as Boyd House, the centre provides a neutral safe space for families dealing with conflict to have supervised visitation with their children. More than 50 people, including officials from the Department of Human Services and Anglicare Victoria, were present for the celebration. The only contact centre in the Gippsland area, Boyd House has served many regional families facing conflict, court or custody issues. We serve both the Latrobe and Wellington shires; the next closest contact centre is in Narre Warren and in NSW, Boyd House team leader Veronica Wells said. Ms Wells, who has been with the centre from the beginning, said she hoped to see more centres set up as some of its present clients have to travel far to obtain services. We don t know if we are able to expand, but we would like to make sure that our services are still recognised as needed and supported, she said She said the number of families requiring the children's contact centre services have been on the rise over the past five years. There are a lot of the same issues affecting communities, such as allegations of family violence, cases being in family court, or mental health issues, Ms Wells said. FAMILY VIOLENCE IN THE SPOTLIGHT (The article includes extracts from an article by Lynda McRae, Latrobe Valley Express, 17 November 2011). Local efforts to combat disproportionately high family violence in the Latrobe Valley are set to intensify. This follows an announcement by new Victorian Police Commissioner Ken Lay this week that family violence will be a key focus for Victoria Police under his command. In welcoming that news Eastern Region Division 5 Acting Supt Mick West told The Latrobe Valley Express he hoped a re-energised state-wide family violence focus would assist with local plans to see a dedicated, stand-alone family violence unit operating from Morwell by March next year....plans, spearheaded by a local team including Acting Supt West, and Gippsland family violence advisor Sergeant Deryn Ricardo, are already well-underway for a new Gippsland unit. The initiative follows research into an appropriate model tailor -made for the Latrobe Valley s specific demographics and issues. The most recent crime statistics for Latrobe s Police Service Area show this area to have the highest incidence of family violence in the state. They also indicated a 15.4% rise in crime against the person in 2010/2011. Sgt Ricardo and Act Supt West acknowledged the significant challenges facing wider Gippsland, and more particularly the Latrobe Valley, but said this region was already ahead of the game in its efforts to battle the problem. In recent months the implementation of a new policing strategy aimed at triaging family violence complaints and recidivist visits, which currently occupy vast amounts of police time and resources. A team consisting of Sgt Ricardo and SOCIT and CIU police now meets at least weekly to examine each family violence incident in the region and assess the appropriateness of police responses, referrals and connections made to partner agencies. Other recent initiatives that have contributed to anecdotal evidence of improved outcomes include the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency s involvement in response to family violence incidents with Indigenous families. Sgt Ricardo said giving these families the opportunity to access Indigenous-focused support rather than mainstream services had definitely led to better engagement outcomes. A men s behaviour support program, auspiced by Latrobe Community Health Service, now visited the courts on Fridays to meet with perpetrators to facilitate their engagement in support programs, Sgt Ricardo said. She claimed this had also proved effective so far. Sgt Ricardo said new and improved connections between police and more than 120 support agencies across the region had evolved from regular practitioner meetings aimed at monitoring the effectiveness of existing processes. Certainly there has been an added intensity over the past six months and it is a very cohesive approach she said. While improved outcomes noted by police might not yet be reflected in data the most recent of which showed 1782 crimes against the person in 2010/2011 Act Supt West said a deliberate local strategy to charge perpetrators with an array of offences including property damage when it occurred was part of a long term plan. The plan aims to ensure courts treat such offences seriously and mandate offenders to seek treatment and assessment. Act Supt West said this was part of a long-term vision and the short term reflection in crime figures was something police were prepared to wear. (E-Bulletin s Editor s Note: The Gippsland Family Law Pathways Network strongly supports the work of Sgt Ricardo and her team, and we were delighted when Sgt Ricardo was one of the speakers at our May forum this year on the topic: While they are sleeping - what are the real impacts of family violence on infants and children.?
Page 3 Research shows that in Australia up to 50% of women will experience physical or sexual violence by a man at some point in their lives. The cost of violence can be high Intimate Partner Violence is the leading contributor to death, disability and illness in Victorian women aged 15-44 years. Access Economics has estimated the cost to the Australian community to be $8.1 billion, including cost of pain, suffering, health costs and long term productivity costs. Victoria represented $2 billion of this figure. Recent studies show that Latrobe Valley residents suffer from family violence at double the rate of the state average. In the past four years Quantum Support Services has seen a 300 % increase in the number of women seeking help as a result of family violence. This year has seen nearly 1,500 women seeking assistance due to family violence. Many of these women are referred to assistance after police intervention. Children can also be victims of family violence. THE COST OF VIOLENCE CAN BE HIGH For assistance or more information about Family Violence please contact: Quantum Support Services 1800 243 455 Latrobe Community Health Service 1800 242 696 Victorian Aboriginal Childcare Agency 5135 6055 GIPPSLAND NETWORK MEMBERS TAKE THE PLEDGE We are aware, and proud, that many members of the Network took the pledge on White Ribbon Day (25 November 2011) never to commit, excuse, or remain silent about violence against women. A number of workplaces throughout Gippsland held functions or meetings to acknowledge the importance of White Ribbon Day. According to the White Ribbon Day website 16,939 Australians have sworn to stop violence against women. Network member, Gippsland VLA managing lawyer, Daniel Taylor was quoted in the Latrobe Valley Express as saying: We do much of our work in this area through our duty lawyers as well as in providing advice and litigation; it is important for us to display to those involved in the court processes and the community that we oppose any sort of violence against women. According to Mr Taylor, Morwell VLA handles about 500 applications for intervention orders per annum, and another 500 criminal charges pertaining to family violence. We are keen to address problems of domestic violence before they begin he said. Violence against women is not just physical violence, it can be verbal or economic, for instance when you withhold finances as a form of control. Kate Windmill, the Principal Lawyer of the Gippsland Community Legal Service (and a member of our Network s Steering Committee) and some of her staff met with staff of Morwell s VLA office to say no to violence against women as part of White Ribbon Day events. Although the two groups (VLA and GCLS) often faced one another in court with VLA predominantly representing respondents in family violence matters, while GCLS represented applicants, the lawyers agreed that reducing the incidence of family violence was a common goal, despite it being a big challenge. (Acknowledgement is given to an article by Melody Song of the Latrobe Valley Express, dated 24/11/2011 for the information of this article.) Staff from Traralgon Branches of Family Relationship Centre and Relationships Australia Victoria
Page 4 GIPPSLAND COMMUNITY LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDES INTERVENTION ORDER ADVICE CLINICS GCLS are running Intervention Order Legal Advice Clinics most Monday afternoons in Morwell. This is primarily for applicants of Intervention Orders. Appointments can be made by calling Letitia on 1800 004 402. If people are unable to attend, we can conduct a possible telephone advice. WHAT IS THE FAMILY RECONCILIATION INITIATIVE? Our E-Bulletins have recently been featuring different roles within the family law and post separation services system and this time we thought we would outline briefly the work of Family Reconciliation Initiative workers. The Family Reconciliation Initiative (FRI) works with young people (16-18 years) to resolve and re-establish relationships with their family and others who play an important role in their lives. The program may include counselling/mediation, a return home or assistance to relocate to extended family and significant others where appropriate. The program aims to prevent young people entering into a cycle of homelessness as a result of family breakdown. Workers aim to intervene in the initial crisis, assist in resolving by working with the young person and their family and encourage better communication and problem solving. Eric Swift, a FRI worker with Gippscare in Leongatha has advised that we often find ourselves involved in family mediation and providing parents with tools and an understanding of what is going on with their child and them. Through our peak body, Family Reconciliation Mediation Program, we have access to funds to provide counselling and character building which could mean anything from art group, absailing and more specific skills development but not education. For education we access funds from Child Brokerage via Uniting Care Gippsland. The Gippsland Family Law Pathways Network is very pleased that such staff, employed a by a couple of different agencies in different regions of Gippsland, are members of our Network. The Gippsland Family Law Pathways Network is funded by the Attorney General s Department to improve collaboration and coordination between organisations operating in the Family Law system, so that separating families obtain the most appropriate services
Page 5 RICHARD CHISHOLM (With help from a new friend!) SINGS UP A STORM Despite the airline lock-out and flight uncertainty several days from the forum when our main-drawcard (Professor Richard Chisholm AM) was due to fly in from Canberra - the much anticipated Lunchtime forum on 3 rd November 2011, certainly lived up to our expectations - and from the wild applause and wolf whistling from the audience, exceeded it. Yes that s correct a presentation on family law followed by several legally themed songs from the Professor and one of Gippsland s long serving lawyers (Paul Davine of Warragul) drew a reaction Joe Cocker or other professional performers would be happy with!! Bookings were received from over 110 members of the legal fraternity, and family relationship service providers from throughout Gippsland, and some senior representatives of FaHCSIA and the Dandenong Court registry also attended. 94% of the people who completed the evaluation forms indicated that the forum met their expectations. Many attendees have since requested copies of the overheads used by Professor Chisholm during his presentation and these can be emailed out on request to more people who may be interested. FM Phipps, Paul Devine & Professor Richard Chisholm AM LAST EDITION'S QUIZ RESULTS The answers to the Quiz questions in our last edition were: 1. Nicola Gilford works for Tyler Tipping & Woods 2. His Honour Federal Magistrate Phipps was the MC at the GFLPN's Lunchtime forum on 3/11/2011, and 3. Dr Michelle Wauchope was the Family Consultant featured in the last edition. The joint winners of this quiz were Marinda Smith (Team Leader, Gippsland Community Legal Service) and Veronica Wells (Team Leader, Boyd House Children's Contact Centre). Congratulations to these 2 Network members - a $25 voucher will be on its way to both of you.
Page 6 Keep Access to Justice free! Support the Law Handbook Online! Support the Law Handbook Online. We re losing our funding early 2012: www.fitzroy-legal.org.au/cb pages/keepaccesstojusticefree.php Fitzroy Legal Service is proud to announce The Law Handbook 2012 is now online! However, funding for this wonderful resource expires in early 2012. Please help keep the Law Handbook free online. Please click on the following link to support our campaign and email the Attorney General Robert Clark. www.fitzroy-legal.org.au/cb pages/keepaccesstojusticefree.php We also have hard copies of post cards available at our front desk at Fitzroy Legal Service, 124 Johnston Street, Fitzroy. We can send these t o y o u : w w w. f i t z r o y - l e g a l. o r g. a u / c b p a g e s / KeepAccesstoJusticeFREE.php Please get your networks involved and join our campaign to save the Law Handbook Online! Since 1977, The Law Handbook has provided Victorians with practical information about the law in plain English. This comprehensive guide to the law in Victoria covers more than 90 common topics. Over 70 specialists have contributed content for the 2012 edition of this leading plain English guide to the law - which is now also available online at www.lawhandbook.org.au Get involved. Let everyone know the Law Handbook needs your help! Support the Law Handbook online: www.fitzroy-legal.org.au/cb pages/keepaccesstojusticefree.php You can also contact Fitzroy Legal Service on 9411 1307 for more information cards. Pathways Profile Name: Michael Robinson Position/Occupation: Family Lawyer Organisation: Victoria Legal Aid Outline of career background: Secondary School Teacher in NZ in Accounting and English Moved to Australia in 1993 2003 approx commenced Master of Laws at Monash University 2008 Did Professional units at Leo Cussen 2009 Started with VLA Morwell How long have you lived/worked in Gippsland?: 2.5 years What are you most proud of?. Family. My brother s and sister and nieces and nephews. Your hopes for the Gippsland Family Law Pathways Network are: That it continue to build connections amongst stakeholders and to promote itself and its stakeholders to the legal profession and the wider community. Interests away from work: Really bad Science fiction movies, theatre, walking, cafes, my 2 cats Favourite food: steak Favourite book: To kill a Mockingbird Favourite travel destination: NZ it feels like home. Any amusing or memorable moment/s in your life you'd like to share: I was travelling in Europe and was on the island of Guernsey in September 2011. Shortly after hearing that Ansett was bankrupt and not flying, 9/11 happened. I d call that memorable.
Page 7 Collaboration across many boundaries (geographies, agencies, programs and cultures) A passionate commitment to enhancing innovative service delivery for families caught up in separation and divorce (especially when conflict gets entrenched) culminated in a meeting of minds involving Interrelate (NSW) and CatholicCare (Vic-Tas). Centacare Gippsland, a member of CatholicCare (Vic-Tas), hosted Interrelate to showcase their Building Connections program in Gippsland. For Interrelate, their Building Connections program serves as a first point of entry for clients of their Family Centres and Children s Contact Centres. Dr Johnathan Toussaint, Interrelate s Director of Services facilitated sessions over 3 days. These were animated, interactive and participatory and the concept of embedding Building Connections into a holistic suite of programs to assist families was well received by participants. Highlights included identifying opportunities for collaborative and leading-edge practices across Centacare, Anglicare, VACCA (Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency), Quantum Support Services and Wanjana Lidj Aboriginal Family Preservation Program. A strong rapport quickly developed within the group and activities which challenged participants to switch hats from practitioner to client evoked reactions that swung between somber reflection to hilarity and back again! The CatholicCare (Vic-Tas) referrers evening held on Tuesday night also promoted interaction between Anglicare Victoria, Centacare Gippsland, CatholicCare Melbourne, Interrelate and local lawyers, psychologists, & child protection workers. It is difficult to determine whether the highlight of the evening was Jonathan s address around Building Connections or his reading of excerpts from the Father & Son Movement s Guide to Virile Manhood! Nevertheless, the request by attending solicitors to undertake the two day training in Building Connections marked the evening as an unmitigated success. On the Wednesday, Centacare Gippsland invited Aboriginal organisations and community members to participate in a consultation for Aboriginal Building Connections. Over twenty-five people attended the day to see Melinda Brown and Felicity Cocuzzoli walk through Interrelate s draft new program for Aboriginal families experiencing family breakdown. The consultative group offered effective feedback around community & language and came together to express their passion for their Gunai / Kurnai community, their families and the best outcomes for their kids. An overwhelming interest was expressed in the program and participants asked that ABC training roll out in Gippsland following the project launch. The visit from Interrelate indicated the value of agencies working in partnership to promote service delivery, and effectively collaborate in providing a holistic suite of programs for families in Victoria. THE CHRISTMAS EDITION QUIZ: 1. Which Gippsland lawyer joined Professor Chisholm in song at the November forum at the Morwell Bowling Club? 2. Which important Gippsland agency recently celebrated its 10th birthday? 3. What % increase has Quantum Support Services seen in the past 4 years in the number of women seeking help as a result of family violence? The first correct entry received will win a $50 shopping voucher - just in time for Christmas. Thanks to all readers who have participated so enthusiastically in the E-Bulletin Quizzes this year.