events report 2009

 

February

Domestic Violence and Child Protection Forum: exploring best practice from a feminist perspective

18 February 2009

Brisbane, QLD

Increasingly the children of domestic violence survivors are being placed in care of the State. Often the pretext for the removal of children is that the mother has "failed to protect her children" or has "participated in domestic violence". Little attention seems to be paid to the realities of the power dynamics inherent in domestic violence and the control perpetrators exert over women and children. This forum will provide domestic and family violence workers with the opportunity to share information, experiences and generate creative ideas.

  • contact details: Women's House ( 07) 3391 0005

Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research - 40th Anniversary Symposium

18-19 February 2009
Sydney, NSW

On the 18th of February next year it will be 40 years since the NSW State Cabinet decided to establish a NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics. To celebrate the event the Director and staff of the Bureau are holding a 40th anniversary symposium on the 18th and 19th of February 2009 at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney's Darling Harbour.

Reducing Family Homicide: Learning from Loss

20 February 2009
Adelaide, SA
The forum will bring together key representatives from all the significant agencies/services involved in SA to discuss the development of a research proposal to conduct DV related homicide reviews in SA, as well as to establish an action group to undertake advocacy work in promoting homicide review.

Intimate Partner Abuse of Women in the Bowen Basin and Mackay Region of Central Queensland Research Seminar
27 February 2009
Mackay, QLD
This presentation will discuss the findings of quantitative research conducted by Ms Heather Nancarrow, Professor Stewart Lockie, and Dr Sanjay Sharma. The research was conducted to ascertain the prevalence and nature of male-to-female intimate partner abuse in the Bowen Basin region, and to explore statistically significant correlations between intimate partner abuse and a range of factors, including characteristics of the mining industry.


March

The 4th Annual Conference on Crimes Against Women
2-4 March 2009
Dallas, Texas, USA

The 4th Annual Conference on Crimes Against Women offers training from top national experts, including FBI profilers, on investigating, assisting victims and prosecuting crimes against women. Law enforecement officers, prosecutors and victim advocates will gather again this year in Dallas to learn cutting edge techniques taught by the most recognised experts in their fields.

5th Annual Family Law Conference

5 March 2009
Melbourne, VIC

This year’s 5th Annual Family Law Update will be following on in tradition and deliver the most topical and focused agenda in this area. Over the course of the day expert speakers and practitioners will deliver the most advanced presentations, highlighting what is both current and essential in the area of family law.

Same Sex Domestic Violence - an International Perspective
5 March 2009

Sydney, NSW
The Same Sex Domestic Violence Interagency presents a forum with Police Constable Thomas Decker who is currently the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) Liaison Officer for the Toronto Police Service (TPS). He has been actively involved in raising awareness surrounding issues of homophobia in the context of bullying and harassment in Canadian Schools, in increasing the rate of reporting of hate crimes against members of the LGBT community, in LGBT youth suicide prevention, and in investigating same-sex domestic violence and partner abuse.


5th Australia and New Zealand Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abuse (ANZATSA) Conference 2009

5-7 March 2009
Sydney, NSW

This conference will be the most significant assembly of researchers and clinicians in the field of sexual abuse in Australia and New Zealand.  The theme of this years meeting is “Responses to Sexual Abuse: Safeguarding Human Rights”.


Stalking Conference: Prevent*Protect*Progress
6 March 2009
Bathurst, NSW
The Central West Women’s Health Centre is holding a state wide conference on ‘Stalking’. The conference aim is to bring experts in the field of Stalking together to share latest research and expertise with service providers. It will also raise awareness and understanding about the issue of Stalking in the minds of the general public.

Women's Safety and the Law

18 - 19 March 2009
Melbourne, VIC

This forum will bring together a range of stakeholders including: lawyers, academics, community workers and government
representatives. Expert presentations and panel discussions will be combined with interactive workshops to establish best practice models for ensuring women’s safety within the justice system.

  • Contact details: (03) 9642 0877


Forming a foundation for working with clients who have been sexually assaulted

19 March 2009
Berwick, VIC
This workshop aims to: Develop knowledge of the prevalence and a definition of sexual assault; Form an understanding of relevant interventions and develop ways of working with clients who disclose sexual assault and gain an understanding basic issues and therapeutic themes.

  • contact details: Sue or Emily on (03) 9928 8741

Protecting Children Today Conference 2009

25-27 March 2009
Brisbane, QLD
The 2009 Protecting Children Today Conference will aim to address the complex child protection issues, prevalent in our society today, as they interface with justice and other community sectors. The Conference will provide an opportunity to learn about issues impacting upon participants’ capacity to protect children, through the following three key strands: Justice, Proactive Education & Therapeutic Intervention.

Global Symposium on Engaging Men and Boys in Gender Equality

30 March - 3 April 2009
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The Global Symposium on Engaging Men and Boys in Gender Equality challenges rigid gender norms and engages men and boys in reducing violence against women and girls, promoting sexual and reproductive health, HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, and fatherhood and caregiving.


Top

April

What about the Children - The Voices of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Children affected by Domestic Violence

8 April 2009
Melbourne, VIC

The Immigrant Women's Domestic Violence Service will be launching this publication at Melbourne Zoo in the Bong Su Room. You will recieve a copy of the information booklet based on current research and knowledge gained from pilot children's recovery groups.

Mental Health and Risk Assessment in the Family Law System
21 April 2009

Brisbane, QLD

The Chief Justice Diana Bryant will discuss approaches to risk assessment and mental health awareness in the family law system. The Chief Justice will consider the extent to which family courts and legal professionals are positioned to predict extreme and dangerous behaviour, particularly that of filicide.  In so doing, the Chief Justice will discuss recent initiatives in the Family Court of Australia that are designed to identify abusive and dysfunctional behaviour at an early stage and to preserve the safety of families, particularly children. 

Mothers, domestic violence and child protection: free seminar

22 April 2009

Brisbane, QLD

Domestic violence is now recognised as a risk factor in child protection matters. Given this position, it ought to be axiomatic that mothers who experience domestic violence should not fear the removal of their children from their care if they seek help from child protection agencies to remove themselves and their children from the violent situation. The research presented here draws on five focus group interviews with workers who support mothers dealing with both domestic violence and child protection matters.

Working with survivors of sexual abuse –Advanced Counselling in Practice
22-23 April 2009

North Hobart, TAS

This training is for professional counsellors and students, offering an opportunity to learn about and experience counselling techniques used in working with adults, young people and children who have experienced sexual assault, or children who have participated in Problem Sexualised Behaviour. 

Loss and Grief Through Child Abuse and Domestic Violence

28 April 2009

Canberra, ACT

This course defines loss and grief using Worden's task approach.It examines issues particular to children's losses and how they may present. In particular the ambiguous losses of child abuse, neglect and domestic violence. The overlay of trauma is also examined and Judith Herman's model applied.

Innovation Through Collaboration: Building a Community Response to Family Violence

29 April - 1 May 2009
Columbus, OH, USA

Bringing participants together from across five different professional sectors, as well as from around the nation this conference strives through both its structure and its content to realize the vision embodied by its title. In addition to general sessions, participants can select from more than 55 presentations and master classes. Five programming tracks – Business, Health Care, Legal, Victim Services, and Faith -- each offer sessions that highlight promising practices, emerging issues, and collaborative efforts in addressing family violence in our communities.


Top

May

Working with women affected by domestic violence a strengths-based, safety-focused approach

1 May 2009

Glebe, NSW

The purpose of this workshop is to facilitate social workers to recognise the skills they already have to assist clients affected
by domestic violence and to provide an evidence-based model for approaching this work.

Telling Stories: Child Abuse, Neglect and Adult Sexual Assault

1 May 2009

Melbourne, VIC
It is a given that the child abuse and neglect and adult sexual assault fields have something in common, hold shared values and work towards common goals. To what extent is this reflected in the reality of work and practice in this area? How do our values and goals overlap? Where do they diverge? In this seminar, Antonia Quadara and Leah Bromfield take a closer look at the shared experiences and needs of victim/survivors of sexual assault and families who come into contact with child protection services.

Keep Them Safe Action Plan

6 May 2009
Sydney, NSW
A cross sector Forum to discuss the implications of the NSW Government’s response to the Wood Special Commission of Inquiry – the “Keep Them Safe” Action Plan.  The Forum is being jointly run by AbSec, ACWA, Create Foundation, LCSA, NSW Family Services, YAPA and NCOSS

Implementation of the National Council’s plan for Australia to reduce violence against women and their children
7 May 2009
Griffith, ACT
On 29 April 2009, the National Council to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children presented its plan, Time for Action, to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. The Prime Minister responded with an announcement of $42 million to immediately implement 18 of
20 urgent priorities identified by the Council. The deputy chair of the national council, Heather Nancarrow, will present its vision and proposed strategies and actions to significantly reduce violence against women and their children in Australia, the commitments that have been made by the Australian Government and the Council’s aspirations for the further implementation of the plan.

6th Annual Indigenous Family Violence Prevention Forum: The Big Picture - Putting the Pieces Together

11-13 May 2009

Mackay, QLD

This forum is presented by the Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research.

 

Criminal Justice System: Information Seminar For People Working with Crime Victims & Prosecutorial Witnesses
12 May 2009
Adelaide, SA
The information seminar is particularly useful for service providers working with victims/witnesses of crimes, where the criminal matter is being heard/likely to be heard in the District or Supreme Courts.

Current Research on Intimate Partner Violence Seminar
13 May 2009
Mt Gravatt, QLD
Domestic violence is an issue that impacts many families across the community. The range of health and safety consequences are numerous and preventing intimate partner violence requires a more developed research base. This seminar will present a range of
researchers undertaking important research on intimate partner violence.


Bridging Perspectives - Intervening with Men who Batter

13-15 May 2009

Minneapolis, MN, USA

Building on the successful Michigan conference of 2005, the Bridging Perspectives Conference 2009 in Minnesota will bring together nearly 600 people interested in and involved with working with men who use violence in their familial relationships with women and children. The conference will offer a chance to simultaneously explore multiple issues in the field of batterers intervention such as accountability, culturally specific approaches, new and emerging research, fathering and battering, interdisciplinary cooperation, chemical dependency, mental health issues and more.

2009 Anaheim International Conference on Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence & Stalking

18-20 May, 2009

Anaheim, CA, USA

Join fellow law enforcement personnel, prosecutors, victim advocates, judges, parole and probation officers, rape crisis workers, medical personnel, faith community members, educators and others in this three-day conference highlighting promising practices and emerging issues in sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking.

Out of the Shadows - Young People Finding Solutions to Domestic Violence

21 May 2009
Brisbane, QLD
This event is for ALL young people to speak out about violence and come up with how to STOP violence. A one day free EVENT for young people aged 12—25 years. This event is for ALL young people to speak out about violence and come up with how to STOP violence.

Earlier intervention: supporting the attachment/attunement needs for infants in out of home care
26 May 2009

Melbourne, VIC
This is the 3rd Vera Scantlebury Memorial Lecture to be held at Melbourne University. Professor Cathy Humphreys leads the Alfred Felton Research Program, which is committed to applied research in the areas of domestic and family violence, out of home care, and
the impact of changes brought about by new legislation for children, youth and familieswill discuss Infants in out of home care are arguably the most vulnerable children in our society. Understanding their needs and particularly the complex relationships of attachment when there are foster carers and mothers and fathers involved was the subject of a recent research project of the Program.

Partners in Prevention Annual Forum

27 May 2009

Collingwood, VIC
A forum for schools and community agencies on cross-sector approaches to the primary prevention of violence against women.

June

How to have your say about the human rights of women experiencing domestic/family violence
3 June 2009
Sydney, NSW

Women’s Legal Services invites community, health and welfare professionals working in the area of family violence to a FREE workshop on: How to have your say about the human rights of women experiencing domestic/family violence. The workshop will address: What is the National Human Rights Consultation? How can you and your organisation participate? Why are human rights relevant in cases of violence against women? Options for protecting human rights in Australia; Guidance and advice about writing submissions to the National Consultation.

Breaches of domestic violence orders: The criminal justice process

4 June 2009
Brisbane, QLD
This presentation draws on a study of criminal prosecutions of breaches in Queensland and explores the process of criminal intervention in the context of domestic violence. The research explored in this presentation demonstrates that the process involved in prosecuting a criminal breach often involves a minimisation of the harm inflicted on women by perpetrators, police and magistrates, a ruthless contest about the facts, numerous court appearances before resolution, and inappropriate sentences.

Canadian Conference on the Prevention of Domestic Homicides
14-16 June 2009
London, ON, Canada
The Conference is intended to enhance networking and partnerships amongst social science researchers, policy makers and practitioners (coroners, medical examiners, police, crown attorneys, child protection and anti-violence community agencies) in their review of domestic homicides across Canadian provinces and territories.

11th European Conference on Traumatic Stress
15-18 June, 2009

Oslo, Norway
The conference will cover a broad range of perspectives corresponding to the themes for wich Norwegian Centre for Violence and Traumatic stress studies is responsible. These themes include individual and collective stress exposure, refugee health and forced
migration, domestic violence and sexual abuse and a special focus on children and adolescents.

Resilient Families need Resilient Workers National Symposium 2009

22-24 June, 2009

Melbourne, Vic

This unique Symposium will focus on current international and Australian research and evidence base for working with vulnerable families with complex needs and how community based organisations deliver sound outcomes for families and best support and retain good people in this critical and challenging work.

Strategies and actions for prevention of domestic violence
23 June, 2009

Sydney, NSW
Domestic violence is a complex criminal justice problem; preventing it is also complex, requiring multiple, sustained approaches. This presentation will discuss various crime prevention approaches as they relate to domestic violence, including the role of criminal and civil justice responses, and community (or social) approaches to prevention.   It will also discuss strategies and actions for primary prevention of domestic violence, advocated by the National Council to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children in its National Plan for Australia, Time for Action.


Intervention in Family Violence

26-28 June, 2009

Los Angeles, USA

New Directions in Domestic Violence Research and Intervention - more details to come.

Top

July

Child to Parent Violence: Who, what & why?
1 July, 2009
Mackay, QLD
The Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research in conjunction with CQUniversity’s Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Health Distinguished Visitor’s Program is pleased to host this video-linked seminar which will be presented by Eddie Gallagher, a Psychologist, Social Worker and Family Therapist with over 30 years experience in health and welfare, with extensive teaching experience. He works in private practice in Melbourne, runs regular groups for parents of violent young people, and facilitates men’s behaviour change groups.

 

Fifth Australian International Conference on Motherhood

2-4 July, 2009
Brisbane, Australia
This conference is interdisciplinary. How has your discipline dealt with motherhood/mothering historically? Does that affect the mother in the present? If so, how? Topics could include: the mother, violence and history; legal treatment of the mother; cultural differences and the mother/s; pathology and the mother: the pregnant body in history; birth control; pregnancy; birthing; textual images of the mother; mothers and work, class influences and childhood.

NAIDOC Week
5 - 12 July, 2009

The theme for NAIDOC Week in 2009 is Honouring our Elders, Nurturing our Youth. The theme encourages our communities to acknowledge the status of our Elders as leaders and role models for our youth. Brisbane is the national focus city for 2009.

 

Critical Criminology Conference 2009

8-9 July, 2009

Melbourne, VIC

Further details will be made available shortly along with calls for abstracts for those interested in presenting. Places will be limited to 100.

Australian Social Policy Conference

8-10 July, 2009
Sydney, Australia
How can we build an inclusive society? This theme is a topic of growing importance in social policy – and one that is central to the stated aims of the new Labor Government. At a time of global economic insecurity, exacerbated by the challenges of climate change, how do we create a society that is both socially and economically inclusive within its own borders and actively engaged with its regional neighbours to promote a wider form of global inclusiveness?

Report launch of 'Mothers and the child protection system'
9 July 2009
Brisbane, QLD

The report will be launched by Karyn Walsh, Co-ordinator of Micah projects and President of QCOSS. The authors and Karyn Walsh will speak to the content of the report.

An Inclusive Society? Practicalities and Possibilities: Special Session - Prevention of Violence Against Women
9 July, 2009

Sydney, NSW

Violence against women is examined from three contemporary perspectives, with original presentations by experienced practitioners, activists and researchers: Dr Lesley Laing, Betty Green and Ludo McFerran and Robyn Edwards.

Women Partners of Men in Domestic Violence Programs

14 July, 2009
North Adelaide, SA

Catherine Opitz is a PhD candidate from the University of South Australia, and Social Worker.  In this seminar Catherine will provide an update on her research highlighting key findings that consider the implications for women as victims of domestic violence within offender focused intervention.The project explores women’s experiences of their male partners attending domestic violence intervention programs in regional and urban areas of Western Australia.

Primary, Secondary & Tertiary Prevention of Abusive Behaviours In Childhood and Adolescence

15 July, 2009
Bundaberg, QLD
Gail Ryan MA ;  Director, Kempe Perpetration Prevention Programme, Assistant Clinical Professor, Dept of Pediatrics, University Colorado Denver School of Medicine, presents a one-day unique program.

National Evaluation of the Stronger Families and Communities Strategy: free seminar
28 July, 2009
Melbourne, VIC
This seminar will present findings from an evaluation of the Federal Government’s Stronger Families and
Communities Strategy (SFCS) conducted from 2004–2008 by Social Policy Research Centre (SPRC),
UNSW and the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS).

Engagement Blackfella Way
29 July, 2009
Zillmere, QLD
Yeaca Dhargo Family Project facilitates a cultural awareness training seminar named “Engagement Blackfella Way”. This is aimed directly at government services and non-government organizations that deal with Indigenous people and provides engagement strategies for workers to use when supporting Indigenous people. ‘Engagement Blackfella Way’ provides an understanding of how non-Indigenous workers can assist and communicate with Australian Indigenous people.

August

Women's Housing Futures Inaugural Conference

4 August, 2009
Melbourne, VIC

Minister for Housing The Honourable Tanya Plibersek, will officially open this conference which brings together affordable housing providers, governments, academics, property developers and other stake holders. It aims to inform policy development and plans to better anticipate and address women’s housing requirements in the short and long-term. The conference will consider the impact of current economic conditions and changing demographics on women of all ages and identify priorities for the development of responsive public policy.

Family Violence Forum -'Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities - CALD Communities taking action against family violence'

5 August, 2009
Melbourne, VIC

The forum will focus on the development of preventative strategies and finding approaches that address current issues impacting CALD communities. Family violence and violence against women must stop. In culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities
awareness of family violence services is low so the eccv is hosting this forum to identify and develop culturally appropriate strategies that will help reduce domestic violence.

AIJA Indigenous Courts Conference

5-7 August, 2009
Rockhampton, QLD
The Conference has several important features, namely: to focus on courts with specific procedures for dealing with Indigenous offenders throughout Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere; to involve Indigenous Elders, members of Indigenous communities, judicial officers and court administrators who sit on, or are involved in, Indigenous courts; to provide an opportunity for an exchange of information, experiences and views about the operation of specialist Indigenous courts; to provide a forum for the publication and dissemination of the results of research into the effectiveness of such courts ; to consider issues relevant to Indigenous children and the courts; to provide a forum for Aboriginal legal and liaison officers and to place restorative justice and adult conferencing in an Indigenous Courts context.

Women's Health Matters at Work

6 August, 2009
Sydney, NSW

The Women and Work Research Group are holding a seminar at the University of Sydney's Darlington Centre, Room 18, from 12:30 - 2:00 looking at the impact of health issues on the workplace.  Speakers include Ludo McFerran, 'Taking action at work on violence in  the home: the job as pathway to recovery'; Claire Portors, 'Recent African migrant women in the workplace: recognising OH&S issues'; Sandra West and Virginia Mapedzahama, '[Re]Thinking Shiftwork and Women’s Health: A Nursing Perspective'.

Sixth Women and Policing conference - Making it Happen!

23-26 August, 2009
Perth, WA

The theme of the 2009 conference is “Making it Happen” and will explore practical and innovative solutions to how policing is being improved for women – how police services respond to their female employees and how policing responds to women in the community.

Indigenous young people, crime and justice conference

31 August - 1 September, 2009

Sydney, NSW
This conference aims to identify and share the research and practice most relevant to addressing this problem. It has a major focus on Indigenous children and young people who interact with the criminal justice system early and/or repeatedly, who are likely to have complex needs and require highly targeted and joined up responses across the justice and other interrelated systems such as education, child protection, family support, and cultural services.

September

 

Ethical Issues in the Family Law System
1 September 2009
Perth, WA
Are you working with children in the Family Law System? Do you experience ethical dilemmas relating to your work?
Assoc Prof Maria Harries is an expert in this field and sits on the advisory Board for the UWA Research Centre for Vulnerable Children & Families. She works with a number of national organizations involved with mental health and child, adult and family welfare.

Making Prevention Work
2-4 September, 2009
Melbourne, VIC
The conference aims to build links between international and national experts, researchers, social entrepreneurs, marketers, innovators, business and financiers.  It will explore pathways to success, and showcase preventive innovations that are improving the lives of children and young people. The conference will include a mix of keynote addresses, workshops, interactive sessions, symposia, creative presentations, and informal networking opportunities.

Child Inclusive Family Dispute Resolution – a Clinical Training Intensive
9-11 September, 2009
Sydney, NSW

This three-day intensive workshop teaches core skills for working with children and their parents in child informed family law dispute
resolution. This dynamic and powerful intervention is an evidence-based approach to building post-separation parenting elationships and care arrangements based on the understanding and effective inclusion of children’s core developmental needs within parents’ negotiations.

Same Sex Domestic Violence Conference

11 September, 2009

Sydney, NSW
In 2007, the Same Sex Domestic Violence Interagency hosted the second conference on same sex domestic violence (SSDV) in NSW. The 2009 Conference will build on this foundation to consider emerging issues, as well as look at how we can move forward to ensure a better response to SSDV.

Forensic Issues in Domestic Violence and Expert Evidence

12 September, 2009
Sydney, NSW

This seminar includes topics on: Detection of domestic violence in the community setting; Innovation and Research in management of domestic violence in NSW; Domestic violence and the Law; Giving evidence in court; Mock trial – tips and trips in giving evidence.

CLC National Conference
14-17 September, 2009
Perth, WA
The National Association of Community Legal Centres (NACLC) has held an annual conference every year since 1979. The conference provides an important opportunity for workers from CLCs to get together and learn from each other, hear from inspirational and interesting speakers and recharge their batteries.

Top

October

Family Violence
1-3 October, 2009
Brisbane, QLD
The conference seeks to address a broad range of issues confronting those who are involved in responding to domestic and family violence. Details to be announced.

The infant, the family and the modern world: Intervening to promote healthy relationships
1-3 October, 2009

Melbourne, VIC
Researchers and practitioners throughout Australasia have generated vital knowledge about how social adversity and mental health problems can contribute to difficulties in parenting and infant development. The Australasian Marcé Society and the Australian Association of Infant Mental Health are collaborating to run the 2009 conferences of each society as a shared endeavour. The joint conference will focus on interventions that promote healthy family relationships in the modern world, drawing on expert knowledge and evidence from a range of disciplinary sources. Speakers from around the world will address this topic, giving prominence to the perspectives of both infants and parents.

National Conference on Health and Domestic Violence
8-10 October, 2009
New Orleans , USA

The 5th Biennial National Conference on Health and Domestic Violence aims to advance the health care system's response to domestic violence. The conference attracts the nation's leading medical, public health and family violence experts from across the U.S. with increased international participation.

Stalking Symposium

14 October, 2009

Brisbane, QLD
The Violence Research and Prevention Program will be presenting this symposium where a range of speakers will present important research in this field.

Child Inclusive Family Dispute Resolution – a Clinical Training Intensive
14-16 October, 2009

Brisbane, QLD

This three-day intensive workshop teaches core skills for working with children and their parents in child informed family law dispute
resolution. This dynamic and powerful intervention is an evidence-based approach to building post-separation parenting elationships and care arrangements based on the understanding and effective inclusion of children’s core developmental needs within parents’ negotiations.

Gendered Violence: Linking practice and prevention
16 October, 2009
Adelaide, SA
The Addressing Violence Alliance (AVA) is a collaborative partnership between a number of lead agencies in the community services, health and criminal justice sectors. AVA is committed to increasing the capacity of the South Australian workforce to respond to and prevent violence by: informing the community of current national and local initiatives in the area of violence prevention; promoting awareness of the impact of gendered violence; promoting men’s responsibilities in addressing violence. This workshop will provide workers with an opportunity to reflect on, discuss and enhance the connections between practice and prevention in their work role.
People working with, or wanting to work with, issues of violence and abuse, including health and community service workers, social workers, psychologists, counsellors, policy makers and educators.

  • Contact details: Sharon Formosa at (08) 8300 5317

Ageing Safely Forum
22-23 October, 2009
Adelaide , SA

The Australian Domestic & Family Violence Clearinghouse will present this forum in partnership with the Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre, the University of South Australia and the Older Women's Network NSW. The forum will bring together policy makers and services from across a range of sectors to develop effective inter-agency protocols to protect older people from abuse.

Week without violence - Clothesline project
23 October
Moreland, VIC
Moreland Family Violence Network (MFVN) is organising a Clothesline Project during Week Without Violence. The Network provides community education sessions and workshops for specific community groups and advises on law reform and changes to the legal service system. Survivors and those affected by family violence will attend workshops in the local community and design their own T-Shirts.

Supporting Children Experienced Domestic and Family Violence

26-28 October

Perth, WA

The Women's Council for Domestic and Family Violence Services will be holding forum on the 26th October to discuss good practice in supporting children who have experienced domestic and family violence. The focus of this form will be comparing metro and rural and remote models of practice. Services working with children are invited to submit an abstract. The forum will be followed by a two day training workshop being held on the 27th and 28th of October. This workshop will look at the Impact of Trauma on Children’s Brain Development and Working with Traumatised Children and will be facilitated by the Australian Childhood Foundation. Travel subsidies are avaliable for workers from rural and remote WA, for further information on the Forum and Workshop please use the links below

 

Changing Systems: Saving Lives
28 October, 2009
Brisbane, QLD
The Symposium will cover a range of issues aimed at improving system responses to domestic & family violence. Topics covered by speakers include: Systems Safety Audits; Collaborative Community Responses; Current Research and Opportunities for New Dialogues; Leaning from Domestic Violence Death Reviews; Government Directions in Responding to Domestic & Family Violence; National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children; Enhancing System Responses through training; Holding Perpetrators Accountable; Responding to Diversity; Women’s Safety – Are We Making A Difference.

Victorian Offender Treatment Association (VOTA) 2009 Conference

28-30 October, 2009

Melbourne, VIC

The VOTA 2009 Conference will reflect four interacting themes: Assisting community protection by: Promoting research and skills to effectively manage and treat sex offenders, including early prevention strategies; Informing policy makers, aiding research and influencing practice related to offenders and survivors of sexual abuse; Collaborating as a broad and effective body of representation for all agencies/disciplines focused on the management and interaction with offenders and survivors of sexual abuse; Supporting the development of 'self-care' awareness for persons interacting with offenders and survivors of sexual abuse.

Bringing Duluth to Australia - Coordinated Community Responses to Domestic Violence
29-30 October, 2009
Brisbane, QLD
This Intensive training is the first in a series of training events under a TAVAN /Duluth Partnership and is aimed at providing participants with a comprehensive understanding of collaborative response to domestic violence and the mechanisms for developing and implementing a systems approach including the skills and tools to conduct systems safety audits.

Reclaim the Night Australia
30 October, 2009
National
Reclaim the Night is a global women’s protest against men’s sexual violence on the last Friday in October each year. The philosophy of Reclaim The Night encourages grass roots participation in the organisation of events by as many women as possible.  In this way it is able to draw together women from diverse backgrounds and experiences to work together in addressing issues of men's sexual violence against women and children.

2009 Family Law Conference
30 October, 2009
Sydney, NSW

Justice Judy Ryan will present the keynote presentation. Participants include Commonwealth Attorney General Robert McClelland

and Chief Justice Dianna Bryant.

2009 Care & Protection Conference
31 October, 2009

Sydney NSW

Themes for this conference include: Government response to Woods reforms - future directions; An analysis of different models of ADR in care jurisdictions; Culture v Attachment...and the winner is?; An exploration of the outcomes of variation of care orders in the
Children’s Court; Getting the best out of a case – advocacy tips for the Children’s Court and How to successfully frame an application for clinician assessment and update on Children's Court Clinic.


Top

November

 

CALD Domestic & Family Violence Forum - 'Expect Respect – It’s Everybody's Business'
12 November 2009

Auburn, NSW

Hosted by Immigrant Women’s Speakout Association of NSW, this forum is for all service providers to gain a better understanding of: family/domestic violence in CALD communities and the effects of family/domestic violence on children.

8th ISPCAN Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Child Abuse & Neglect

15-18 November 2009

Perth, Australia
The Conference theme is 'Child Abuse and Neglect: Looking Through the Lens of Prevention' in recognition of the need to focus attention on the creation of holistic approaches that engage children and families, communities, professionals, business and governments in preventing child abuse. Please note: Abstract submission is now open and closes on 31 March 2009.

Early bird registration closes 14 August 2009.

Allan Wade: Response-Based Practice

18-19 November 2009
Hobart, TAS
The response-based practice has been developed by Allan and his colleagues Linda Coates and Nick Todd on Vancouver Island, Canada, and is based on the observation that victims invariably respond to and resist violence and that perpetrators take steps to conceal and suppress these acts of resistance. By focusing on a client’s responses, their actions and experiences can be explored to elicit more complete and accurate accounts of their resistance to violence and oppression. Response-based ideas can be used in a variety of direct-service settings such as therapy, child protection, housing support services, offender treatment and health care.

Family & Domestic Violence in Focus: Family Law in Practice

18-19 November 2009
Toowoomba, QLD
Sponsored by the Toowoomba Family Pathways Network (TFPN) this one and a half day Professional Conversation Seminar will give seminar participants the opportunity to engage in interactive professional conversation sessions led by local/regional members of Toowoomba community.

International Day for the Elimination of Violence - Commemoration in memory of Susan Ann Taylor
25 November 2009

West Perth, WA

This commemoration is dedicated to the memory of Susan Anne Taylor and all the Aboriginal children and young people who have been impacted by sexual assault and whose innocence has been stolen and abused. Susan was brave to speak about sexual abuse and violence and we must do the same. We honour her memory and consider that the human rights abuse of all Aboriginal children and young people must end.

White Ribbon Day
25 November 2009

National

International Day for the Elimination of Violence
25 November 2009
National

not one more - remembering victims of family violence homicide
27 November 2009
Melbourne, VIC
Each year in Australia, at least 60 women and 20 children will die as a result of family violence. To raise awareness about family violence and to remember all those women and children who have been killed, a public event will be held at Federation Square, Melbourne on Friday 27th November @ 7pm.

  • contact: Jane Ashton, 0419 328 938 or email jane.a@wdvcs.org.au or
    Wil Stracke, 0419 505 640 or email wstracke@asuvic.com

December

Family Violence, Family Law & Child Support: What's Happening to Mothers and Children

1 December, 2009

Milperra, NSW

Social Justice & Social Change Research (SJSC) presents a public seminar at the Bankstown campus of the University of Western Sydney to discuss the repercussions of the 2006 policy changes in the areas of family law, child support and Welfare to Work for single parents. Presenters include Dr Elspeth McInnes, Ms Marie Hume, Ms Kathryn Rendell, Ms Beth Tinning and Ms Terese Edwards.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Family and Community Strengths Conference - Strong Stories, Strong Mob, Strong Kids: Growing Up Together

1-3 December, 2009

Callaghan, NSW

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Family and Community Strengths Conference will bring together Indigenous and non Indigenous community members, community workers, researchers and policy people to share stories about cultural, family and community strengths that have contributed to improving life for Australian Indigenous people and how this may effect policy and building capacity and have an impact on the wellbeing of Indigenous families and communities.

Shared care after separation
2 December 2009
Canberra, ACT
Professor Richard Chisholm and Dr Jennifer McIntosh will be presenting this workshop which will include: Shared care and high conflict families - What the research tells us; Today's parenting law - What the law says and how it came to say it; A developmental framework for considering the appropriateness of various care arrangements for various children including conflicted and violent separations; The implications of conflict and violence for parenting arrangements - What is the law and how does it work? and the next wave of family law 'reform' - What it will be like and how we might influence it.


Evaluation and Practice Standards in the sexual assault and violence against women fields

8 December, 2009
Melbourne, VIC

There is increasing emphasis on the need for practice standards, evidence-based practice and evaluation in the sexual assault and violence against women service delivery fields. This forum addresses and debates ‘best practice’, information sharing, capacity building and applying evaluation in service delivery. Speakers include Moira Carmody, Chris Krogh, Michael Flood, Kiri Bear, Debra King, Haley Clark and Karen Wilcox.

The NSW Ombudsman’s Domestic Violence Community Stakeholders Forum
9 December 2009
Sydney, NSW
The main purpose of the forum is to provide stakeholders with an opportunity to speak about their views in relation to the handling of domestic violence complaints by the NSW Police Force and other lead government agencies. The information received at the forum will inform the current audit of the NSW Police Force’s handling of domestic violence-related complaints. The forum also provides the opportunity to update stakeholders about the progress made by the NSW Police Force in implementing the recommendations from the 2006 report to Parliament, Domestic violence: improving police practice, and answer any other questions about the role of the Ombudsman and work in reviewing the quality of service delivery to communities. Services are requested to RSVP for no more than 2 attendees each.

  • contact Anna Papanastasiou on (02) 9265 0478 or by email: apapanastasiou@ombo.nsw.gov.au

events report 2010

March


2010 Conference on Crimes against women
8-10 March, 2010
Dallas, Texas

The 5th Annual Conference on Crimes Against Women seeks to bring together all those who may respond to crimes of female victimization and arm them with the most effective, most relevant, and most up-to-date training available to battle this worldwide epidemic. Federal, state, and local law enforcement officers; federal, state and local prosecutors; nurses, and victim advocates will gather this year in Dallas to participate in workshops, computer labs, and case studies that will address all types of crimes in which women are targeted.

International Family Therapy Association’s 18th World Family Therapy Congress
17-20 March 2010

Buenos Aires, Argentina
The goal for the congress is the same as it has been since IFTA was founded in 1987: Advancing family therapy worldwide by promoting research, education, and sound practice, and promoting international cooperation and exchange of knowledge and ideas that support the health and well-being of families and persons around the world. The 2010 theme, Family Therapy 2010: Global Sharing in Challenging Times, will focus on sharing findings, approaches to problems and ways of coping with them and helping to heal hurting families, couples, and children in various cultures, and fostering mental health and growth in challenging times. 

May

6th Australian Women’s Health Conference
18-21 May, 2010
Hobart, Tasmania
The major focus of the Conference, entitled Women’s Health: The New National Agenda, will be to continue the work of getting women’s health as a priority issue onto the public agenda. It will provide an opportunity for individuals, organisations and services involved and concerned with women’s health to contribute to international dialogue, share ideas, knowledge and practice. In particular, the Conference offers a platform for mobilising capacity for women’s health and wellbeing in Australia in the context of the Federal Government’s agreement last year to develop a new national women’s health policy.

July

2010 SNAICC National Conference - For Our Children: Local Strengths, National Challenges
27-29 July, 2010
Alice Springs, NT
The conference will provide an opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, policy makers, researchers, government representatives, other non-government organisations and various industry representatives to gather and make renewed commitments to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

September

The 6th National Homelessness Conference Many Ways Home: Ending Homelessness by 2020

1-3 September, 2010
Brisbane, Qld
The 6th National Homelessness Conference, Many Ways Home: Ending Homelessness by 2020 is an opportunity to discuss the Government's White Paper - The Road Home. Will we meet the national target or can we do more? How will the White Paper impact on your service? What are other States and Territories doing in relation to their Implementation Plans? The Conference is of particular interest to specialist homelessness services and those who support these services. It is also directly relevant to those services who have an interest in responding to homelessness and how the Federal Government's new approach to homelessness is being implemented throughout Australia.