In this issue

As provided by Domestic Violence Action Centre – Toowoomba

Good News Story #1

We received a Police Referral for a woman in February 2020. The referral was for a woman who declined supports from previous referrals received over a 3-year period and as a service we had also attempted to connect with her through other avenues such as court due to the high-risk nature of referrals. Following this most recent Police Referral, Domestic Violence Action Centre contacted the client and despite initially declining supports, we were able to provide her with the service contact details using the SMS templates feature within the police referral system. Subsequently, the client contacted Domestic Violence Action Centre a week later for support.

During this contact we identified the respondent as being high risk and due to threats made by the respondent, the client was fearful of reaching out for support or to report multiple breaches of a current domestic violence order. The client did not want to continue the relationship but feared what that meant for her safety.

Our Domestic Violence Specialists gave the client the space to talk without feeling judged or forced and this was something that she commented on and was grateful for. Through ongoing safety planning, installing cameras on her property that were approved through our Safety Upgrades Program; and increased domestic violence awareness, the client developed the confidence to set boundaries with the respondent and to also report breaches.

The client is now better connected in the community and with friends and family. She remains connected with our service and we continue to work with her so that she feels comfortable in speaking with Police if she needs assistance in the future.

Good News Story #2

As a service, Domestic Violence Action Centre has seen a rise in adult children physically and financially abusing their elderly mothers. In early March 2020, we received a Police Referral for an elderly woman who had experienced domestic violence at the hands of her adult son, which resulted in him being incarcerated.

The client was concerned for her safety as the respondent was to be released from prison any time and had a set of keys to her home. The client felt partly responsible for his incarceration and was fearful of him coming to the home on release and his behaviour escalating.

Domestic Violence Action Centre was able to complete an emergency lock change to help the client feel safer in the home and assisted with safety planning around what to do if the respondent was to arrive. Naming the respondent’s behaviour and acknowledging the difficult choice the client had to make regarding protecting herself and potentially impacting her son’s freedom weighed heavily on the client however we were able to support her through this and walk through her options.

This month we shine the spotlight on Centacare Central Queensland (CQ)

About the Service Provider, location, how long in operation, number of staff, number of clients seen each year approximately, areas of speciality (in particular in relation to Police Referrals)

CentacareCQ is the longest running not-for-profit local social services organisation in Central Queensland, providing professional community services for over 40 years. Our reach extends from Mackay to Bundaberg in the south, and out to the Central West. While we have seven office sites (Rockhampton, Emerald, Bundaberg, Mackay, Gladstone, Yeppoon, Blackwater & Emerald), staff travel far and wide to deliver services. Our dedicated 200 + staff and volunteers provide professional community services, including a wide range of counselling and dispute resolution, family & community support and education to over 10,000 people each year. Link to CentacareCQ website: https://www.centacarecq.com/

Number of Police Referral Clients they’ve worked with, average length of time for client engagement

Most successful client outcome (or 2)

For the past 12 months, the client contact team have booked approximately 400-500 police referrals. The clients are usually engaged within 5 business days with a counsellor. Our team are the first point of contact for clients, ensuring clients receive relevant information and referral information if required.

Thoughts on the importance of the Police Referral Service / the value they get from it / they see clients gaining from it / suggestions for improvements,

The police referrals is anchored to assist and work with traumatised people and CentacareCQ clients find these referrals to be extremely helpful. These referrals made to CentacareCQ ensure that individuals, families and youth have access to an array of clinical interventions to ameliorate the effects of violence exposure and trauma caused to individuals.

Service Delivery, flexibility and responsiveness

Thanks to all those services who provided updates on their service delivery over the last month, learning and adapting to new ways of connecting. It sounds like you have all transitioned comfortably to supporting our most vulnerable where and when you can. With limited F2F contact with public and clients, connecting by phone and email has been the way of communicating and feedback from services suggests for the most part clients have embraced the phone or online platforms. For clients where the barrier is having no phone, credit or internet we have seen in some district’s services dropping off appropriate resources and essentials to client’s homes to ensure no one goes without.

An update from our Far North and more remote teams is that service is continuing in most communities with clinicians on the ground. The teams will be staying in some communities for extended periods and providing phone and video support for when they cannot be there.

With the health of all our clients our priority – we wish everyone the best.

2 to go!

At the end of 2019 we had completed 13 of our 15 District Engagement workshops across the state and how very thankful we are now to have managed this. We were all geared up to complete the remaining two – Capricornia and Wide Bay Burnett Districts in early 2020 however stopped in our tracks by COVID – 19 restrictions.

We have not forgotten about you Capricornia and Wide Bay Districts and will endeavour to meet and present the workshops when time allows, we look forward to meeting.