Domestic Violence Best Practice in CLCs – Consultation

1. Domestic Violence Best Practice in CLCs – Consultation Carly Hanson Friday 9 March 2018

2. Aim & format for today’s workshop • Aim: Gather ideas to assist in the development of a DV best practice resource for CLCs • Hear from you about your experiences working in a CLC in the area of DV: • at all levels/roles, including specialist workers and new workers • focus on the issues/situations unique to CLCs • look at the strengths, challenges & opportunities • Form a small working group to develop and pilot an easy-to-use, practical resource DV Best Practice Workshop |2

3. What are the strengths, challenges, and opportunities for CLC practice in DV? 1. What are the strengths for CLC practice in DV? 4. What are the opportunities/ next steps we could take as a sector / peak body? 2. What are the internal challenges for CLC practice in DV? 3. What are the external challenges for CLC practice in DV? DV Best Practice Workshop |3

4. 1. What are the strengths for CLC practice in DV? • Multi-disciplinary approach • Trauma informed practice • Client-centred / non-judgmental • Strong networks and facilitated / warm referral pathways / MOUs • Gendered analysis of violence & male / female mix of staff within centres • Understanding of the additional barriers faced by people from CALD backgrounds, immigrant & refugees, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, people living with disability (interpreters) • Commitment to human rights & acknowledgement of impact of social issues: gender, race, ethnicity, disability and class & advocacy in these areas • Collection of demographic data of client base / local community (CLASS) • Solid CLC policy framework (eg info/advice/representation, ethics, record keeping, privacy & confidentiality, CLE, feedback processes, WHS/safety) • DV duty lawyer services DV Best Practice Workshop |4

5. 2. What are the internal challenges for CLC practice in DV? • Physical premises / safety / confidentiality / accessibility • DV indicator usage / consistency in CLASS • Working with perpetrators / respondents • Identifying DV / risk when clients present with other legal issues (triaging) • Conflict of interest in rural/remote areas • Links with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups/organisations • Ability to provide ongoing / representation services and/or follow-up support – underservicing of this client group (rather than just legal advices / legal tasks / assistance to self-represent) • Vicarious trauma of staff and volunteers • Staff turnover (loss of knowledge / contacts / processes) • Adequate triaging of clients seeking assistance DV Best Practice Workshop |5

6. 3. What are the external challenges for CLC practice in DV? • Legislative changes / constraints • Uncertainly re operation of national DVOs / information sharing / police protection notices / strangulation provisions • Unsympathetic magistrates • Accessibility to CLCs – high demand / turnaways vs lack of knowledge about CLCs by general public • Funding availability DV Best Practice Workshop |6

7. 4. What are the opportunities/ next steps we could take as a sector / peak? • DV screening / risk assessment tools • Resources eg written resource/s (info sheet, poster, booklet, pamphlet) • Training eg webinars / video resource, face-to-face sessions • Working group / phone-a-friend / peer mentoring • Advocacy / law reform • Promotion of CLCs widely – to public, community, key agencies (eg agency visits with targeted organisations eg Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander, variety of media and languages) • Safety planning eg good practice re contacting clients • Referrals list • Working with perpetrators – increases safety for victims / aggrieved • LGBTI responses / training • CLC audit re DV accessibility / checklist for centre management DV Best Practice Workshop |7

8. Existing best practice DV resources • Queensland Law Society • Domestic and Family Violence Best Practice Guidelines, 2016 • Legal Aid • Best Practice Guidelines Framework: Working with clients who have been affected by domestic violence, 2012 • Department of Communities • Practice Standards for Working with Women Affected by DFV, 2002 • Practice Standards Working with Men who Perpetrate DFV, 2009 DV Best Practice Workshop |8

9. Existing best practice DV resources • Family Court of Australia • Family Violence Best Practice Principles, 2016 • Queensland Courts • Domestic Violence Protocols for Staff, 2012 • NQWLSAsk NOLA training • WLSresources, including DV and safety planning DV Best Practice Workshop |9

10. CLCQ webinars • Upcoming webinars • Trauma informed practice and DV (WLS): 24 April 2018 • Reproductive coercion & DV (Children by Choice): 7 June 2018 • Financial literacy & DV (DVAC): date TBC • Previous webinars / training • Recent amendments to DV legislation & QPS High Risk Teams (QPS) • Domestic and family violence and community lawyering panel (Pine Rivers) • When violence affects your tenancy (Tenants Qld) • Amendments to victims of crime assistance in Qld (VAQ) • Connecting your DV clients to LAQ (LAQ) • Trauma informed practice and resilient lawyering (Knowmore) • Lawyer-client communication (CLCQ) DV Best Practice Workshop |10

11. Where to from here? • DV best practice working group: • 1-2 specialist DV solicitors / workers • 1-2 generalists / new practitioners • CLCQ representative • Next steps: • CLCQ will collate the notes from today and distribute to the working group • Working group will meet to discuss & review draft resources • Once finalised, resources will be added to CLCQ website and distributed to members • Get in touch with any further ideas: sdo@communitylegalqld.org.au DV Best Practice Workshop |11

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