In this issue

3 contact attempts in 2 business days!

As part of your agreement with the Police Referrals we ask that services are making 3 attempts at contact over 2 business days and then for the referral to be closed off with a Service Provider Action in the system.

Please ensure where clients are unable to be contacted that you are, where safe to do so, sending a referred client an SMS/EMAIL with your contact details. We understand that there are a percent of referrals that are unable to be contaced but we also know that clients have and do phone back in at a later date, when they are ready, for support. Arming them with your contact details is key in connecting. Don’t forget the availability of sending SMS/EMAILS through the system – functionality lives in Linked Notes tab!

This month we shine the spotlight on The Centre for Women & Co. – Logan Central Office

Who are we?

The Centre for Women & Co. is a not-for-profit organisation, funded by the Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women, and the Department of Education, Small Business and Training.  We provide assistance to those affected by Domestic and Family Violence as well as women’s health and wellbeing issues through crisis support, counselling and therapeutic/support groups. We play an active role in the provision of community education and development as an integral part of its role in the prevention of domestic and family violence, and the promotion of health and wellbeing.

We have been the regional domestic violence service covering the Logan district since 1995 when the service was known as Working Against Violence Support Services (WAVSS). In October 2018, WAVSS officially merged with women’s health service, Logan Women’s Health and Wellbeing, and The Centre for Women & Co. was born, allowing us to provide both specialised and holistic support to the women and children of Logan, Beenleigh and Redlands. Across the 3 sites, we have over 50 staff employed!

The Logan Central Office.

At the Logan Office, we are funded to provide support of quality, integrated, evidence-based service responses to women and children affected by domestic and family violence. This may present as a woman escaping an abusive situation or a woman who is experiencing domestic violence and who remains in the relationship. We provide free crisis support and counselling as well as practical support where appropriate. As we understand that domestic violence is complex and the issues around leaving an abusive relationship are multifaceted, it is important for us to assert to women experiencing abuse that we are here to provide assistance without judgement and regardless of the situation or her current circumstance.

Our diverse Logan team currently consists of 15 staff members each with a passion for spreading awareness and educating those around us on domestic violence, empowering women, breaking down barriers within the community and ultimately the cessation of violence against women and children. Our skillset as a collective is extensive as we come from a number of different educational and employment backgrounds including but not limited to social work, human services, visual arts and graphic design, justice and criminology and counselling.

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

From January 2019 – December 2019, our Logan site received 1242 referrals via QPS Redbourne. These come through to our Crisis Response Team who attempt to make contact with the clients and offer our services. If a client is wanting to engage, our team will complete an intake and risk assessment with the woman, and safety plan where appropriate. Client engagement varies and is difficult to measure as it often depends on their immediate safety, complexities and level of risk. On average, our clients will attend 6-8 counselling sessions.

Through QPS Redbourne referrals, we have been able to link in with women who have been at imminent risk of serious harm or lethality and may not have otherwise accessed our service. Within the past week, we have had 2 clients disclose numerous high risk factors during our intake and risk assessment with them following the QPS Redbourne referral. As a result, we completed referrals for a collaborative multi-agency response to assist in reducing the clients’ risks and increasing perpetrator accountability.

QPS Redbourne referrals are of immense value to our organisation and those affected by Domestic and Family Violence. It brings more awareness of our service and is the bridge connecting women to support that they may have never known existed.

Chris’s corner…

As we now start to see the relaxation of some of the restrictions placed on us all as a result of COVID19, it is not the time to lose sight of the end goal and think that the restrictions are over and it is a return to how we were.

As the numbers of active cases in Qld reduces (currently at three) the focus must remain on the ongoing mental health pressures that are placed on everyone. Whilst there will continue to be plenty said about the mental health of those that have lost family, lost jobs, lost other incomes, it is also important to remember to the mental health of your colleagues and work mates.

These are unprecedented times, never has there been such a fast change in how people have had to respond and adapt to new ways of doing what have always been routine things. Nobody could look at the last three months from a change management perspective and thought, “yeah that was exactly how I would have done it this time last year.”

In all of the sectors that Police Referrals works across, the one consistent factor is the desire to help others. But don’t forget to take the time to help yourselves as well. Make the time to call and check in on your colleagues who you don’t get to see because you’re are working remotely. Make the time to ask how they are doing. Because you are the base that their support structure relies on. Your role is vital, you are so very important to what happens next.

I normally finish with this but this month it belongs here instead, thank you for all of your special work in helping to build safe, caring and connected communities, particularly at this time of uncertainty.

On a lighter note, who missed their democracy sausage at March’s Local Government elections, who feels ripped off going to Bunnings and not having the waft of a sausage and onion? Well, for the month of June I have a solution, virtually. Throughout June before you log onto zoom, teams, goto, skype or whatever platform your virtual meeting is on, go to Beddown’s facebook page and purchase your virtual sausage sizzle. Money raised goes to Beddown, who are working hard in converting spaces that are commonly used and busy during the day but at night are left vacant or empty into pop-up accommodation to ensure that those who are sleeping rough are able to come and get into a bed at night.

Thank you and stay safe and mentally healthy.

A/Senior Sergeant Chris Stafford