Some of our member services (specialist domestic and family violence services) have asked us about the new edit and unsending features that were announced at Apple’s WWDC  event on 6 June 2022, relating to iMessaging on Apple devices. Specifically, the ability to edit within 15 minutes and unsend messages within 2 minutes, as well as retrieving messages you have deleted within the last 30 to 40 days.

WESNET members and other domestic and family violence (DFV) services quickly recognised how such features could be misused by people choosing to misuse technology to abuse, but the news here is not as worrisome as it might appear at first glance.

Sending harassing, abusive, controlling, and/or threatening messages is probably the most common form of tech abuse we currently see in Australia. Findings of our 2020 National Survey of Technology and Domestic Violence in Australia showed that a whopping 61% of frontline workers reported seeing text messaging as the type of technology most commonly used by perpetrators to abuse – with a further 36.5% reporting they saw it often.

So, one could argue that tools that enable an abuser to edit or unsend a toxic message might interfere with a survivor’s capacity to document what’s going on.

Click here to read blog post

This resource is for policy makers and practitioners working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who have experienced domestic and family violence and have come into contact with child protection systems. 

This framework is designed to be implemented in local contexts, to meet local needs. It has been built from knowledge generated through participatory action research methods led by First Nations community researchers in regional and remote Queensland locations. Importantly, it recognises the strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and embeds evidence-based healing responses.

Children are placed at the centre of this trauma informed, strengths based a framework that upholds self-determination and will support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children to  experience increased physical, social, emotional, cultural and spiritual safety in their homes and communities. A set of principles, drawn from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander values shapes key actions, ideas and questions that can be embedded within practice. The framework provides critical insights for government, to support policy and systemic change that will enable the framework to be implemented successfully. Links to additional resources are also included.

Read full report here

This rapid evidence review identified evidence-informed programs that help to reduce harm and maltreatment and improve outcomes for vulnerable children aged 0-5 years.

Of the 34 programs that were rated according to evidence of their effectiveness, 25 programs were found to contribute to reducing maltreatment and improving safety for vulnerable young children.

The majority of programs (22) identified in the review are designed to improve parenting competency and family functioning. Eighteen programs aim to prevent neglect and abuse, and reduce the incidence of contact with child protection services. A number of programs (14) target harsh and/or dysfunctional discipline and punishment. A small number of programs specifically address child health, child safety and domestic violence.

The review identified common core components of these effective programs, including: engagement, building supportive relationships and social networks, building parental capacity and case management.

The review highlights a need for more high-quality research examining the effectiveness of Australian programs and the implementation of international programs in diverse Australian contexts, particularly with Aboriginal and culturally and linguistically diverse families.

Click here to read full review

Health Justice Australia are continuing their work around what secondary consultation looks like in health justice partnership, and how it can help practitioners build strong relationships across services. In their latest resource, Secondary consultation: insights from practice, they explore the experiences of secondary consultation of three frontline HJP practitioners.

Secondary consultation in health justice partnership is a valuable way for legal, health and other practitioners to share their professional expertise with one another. It is often enabled by the trust and proximity that comes from working in partnership and, in turn, helps to build and strengthen relationships between partnering practitioners.

There are protections for people affected by family violence in Victoria’s rental laws. The Family Violence Protection Tenancy Kit provides detailed information including protecting bonds and making safety modifications. 

Topics include:

Click here to read more and download the kit

We are proud to release our latest Victorian Women’s Health Atlas update, where we have drilled down into PBS, MBS and Census statistics to record sexual and reproductive service delivery and track gender inequality markers in Victoria by location.

Women’s Health Victoria is leading this important work so the public, health professionals and policy makers can see how:
• access to medication abortion and long-acting reversible contraception is still largely determined by where you live in Victoria.
• gender inequities persist in relation to unpaid domestic work, weekly earnings, and employment status.

Visit the Victorian Women’s Health Atlas website to see how your Local Government Area (LGA) fares when it comes to local provision of contraception and medication abortion, rates of unpaid domestic work for men and women, and much more.

We have a long way to go to achieve gender equity and equitable access to sexual and reproductive health services. Women’s Health Victoria will continue to advocate for and champion the health and wellbeing of women and gender diverse people.

Explore the Women’s Health Atlas or visit the Women’s Health Victoria website to find out more about our work in supporting Victorian women to live well: healthy, empowered and equal.

Workplaces as responders
Workplaces are well placed to provide timely and significant support to victims-survivors of domestic, family and sexualised violence (DFSV). We encourage organisations to develop their understanding and readiness to respond in ways that uphold dignity and build on safety.

Purpose of this guide
This guide invites you to build on being a workplace that has insight-informed design and responses to people experiencing domestic, family and sexualised violence.

Using Insight Exchange
Insight Exchange has many resources made available for free (donated) to support responding industries and organisations. A selection of resources are introduced throughout this guide. No fee can be applied to use or access the material and they cannot be sold, and appropriate acknowledgement and copyright applies.

Click here to view full guide

Ending family and gender-based violence is long-term work that must occur at all levels and all settings across the community. This continuum of interconnected and concurrent activities is often grouped into three broad categories:

Initiatives focused on each of these areas are important and reinforce each other.

Safe+Equal’s latest resource ‘What is Primary Prevention?’ aims to promote understanding of family and gender-based violence work across the continuum, from prevention to response, as well as provide practical suggestions to improve connection.

Access resource here

Language has the power to reinforce or deconstruct systems of power that maintain poverty, inequality and suffering. As we are making commitments to decolonization in practice, it is important that we do not forget the role of language and communications in the context of inequality.

The Inclusive Language Guide is a resource to support people in our sector who have to communicate in English to think about how the way they write can subvert or inadvertently reinforce intersecting forms of inequality that we work to end.

The language recommended is drawn from specialist organizations which provide advice on language preferred by marginalized people, groups and communities, and by our own staff and networks, to support us to make choices that respectfully reflect the way they wish to be referred to. We want to support everyone to feel empowered to be inclusive in their work, because equality isn’t equality if it isn’t for everyone.

Read language guide here

On February 15th 2023, WESNET hosted a webinar exploring the role of women’s specialist services and why they are so important.

The session was facilitated by Julie Oberin AM, WESNET National Chair, who was joined by panellists:

Click here for more information and to watch the webinar recording

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