In this issue

A quick thank you to infoxchange from Queensland Police Services

Providing as much feedback from a referral back to referring officers is always well received. Referring officers are genuinely interested in the outcomes of the referrals they generate and whilst we understand services are bound by confidentiality to their clients, any additional information you can provide is much appreciated. To send information back to a referring officer you need to be adding a comment after you have selected your service provider action. Once the referral is then closed the referring officer will receive an email with the action and attached comments. Below shows the exact comment box to complete should you wish to pass on additional information.

Sometimes a comment or conversation highlights how far we have all moved in relation to an appropriate Policing response to vulnerable people.  In a recent conversation with an “older” lady I was quizzed about why Police would be involved in supporting homeless people.  Her view of Policing is still that it is all about the reactive, lock up the offenders’ process as opposed to the provision of support to vulnerable people to reduce the likelihood of victimisation or re-victimisation.

Twenty years ago, I put together a local level process where we had met with 80 local services and had everyone on board across Government and non-government agencies to initially support the family identified as being central in youth offending in the area.  It was where everyone congregated, where boredom was resolved by wandering and playing out a range of anti social behaviours and epitomised the generational learned behaviours that we now identify as risk indicators.  Unfortunately, not long after the groundwork was done and the family started working with us, we were pulled from the program being told it was not Police work and is social work.

As the State Coordinator for Police Referrals, I am now privileged to be in a position where I get to see the great work where Police have the opportunity to be the initiators, commencing the support process for vulnerable people.  A process where we acknowledge that we don’t have the answers to everything, but realising that repeatedly arresting everyone on its own, is simply not going to resolve the issues.  A process of working closely with an amazing network of nearly 500 Services across Queensland to support people through the process of finding a pathway to assist them in achieving the outcome that will work best for them.

So why do Police have this non-arresting role?  Because a key part of our charter is about keeping our communities safe, this includes every person irrespective of where their current fortunes lay.  Police officers have an obligation to take that bit of time and offer some support to every person who wants it.  Every person from those safely secured in their homes each night, to those who for a range of different circumstances are couch surfing, sleeping in cars or parks deserve the same support and have the same right to a feeling of safety.  As Police we have the opportunity through thousands of ad hoc contacts with all of these people to help them achieve that increased level of safety.

Until next month, thank you for all of your work in helping to build safe, caring and connected communities.

A/Senior Sergeant Chris Stafford

The Womens Centre FNQ is a specialist domestic violence and homelessness support service.

We have been providing services to women and their children escaping Domestic and Family Violence for over 30 years in both the Cairns and Tablelands region. Our target group includes women and children fleeing violence, women who are homeless, tenancies at risk, families at risk of entering or reentering the statutory child protection system, women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Our professional staff – made up of 9 in the Cairns office and 3 in Atherton, are committed and passionate about working tirelessly to ensure that women and children have options for a safer future.

Our service in Atherton has 8 units of temporary secure accommodation for women escaping DFV. Referrals come from a large catchment area across the Tablelands and the Cape and are made via DV Connect and other services. Over the past year we have provided support to over 120 referrals made via Redbourne. One of the most positive things we find with Redbourne is that we’re able to link women in with the services that will best suit their needs as well as providing information and support about our own service. This is particularly useful for women in rural and remote areas like ours. Sometimes it’s just the sound of a friendly, supportive voice on the other end of the phone that clients find most comforting and reassuring.

You can find further information about our service on our webpage www.wirc.org.au

We have now conducted four District Engagement workshops – Brisbane North, Brisbane South, Cairns and Sunshine Coast.

We thank all our Service Providers and QPS members who attended. Feedback has certainly been positive highlighting the benefit of both QPS and Providers sharing together their perspectives and appreciation of the Police Referral Program.

Keep an eye on our District Engagement page with our next workshop being held in Mt Isa. Invites will be sent to nominated persons.

Welcome to the Police Referral Network.

A big welcome to the below Services who have commenced being part of the Police Referral Network.

Artius Health – West Moreton and Darling Downs

Mossman Elders Justice Group

IUIH Connect – Inner City Referral Team

Lives Lived Well – Whitsunday Region