Working with men who use violence towards family members: enhancing women’s safety and men’s

accountability

Making It Home – The real issues in homelessness

The Case

• Jack 48 yrs• Linda 40 yrs• Bec 13 yrs old (Linda’s child from a

previous relationship)• India (3 months)• All living in a small rural community• Casey 14 yrs and Lachlan 16 yrs (Jack’s

children residing with their mother)

Police Referral

• Jack is referred to the program when police seek an intervention order on behalf of Linda

• Recent incident where Jack threatened to punch Linda causing fear

• Linda leaves the family home, taking Bec and India with her and flees to a friends house

• Jack throws a can at the car and yells threats to shoot her and all her friends.

The Gendered Nature of Violence• 1 in 3 women have experienced physical violence

between the ages of 15 – 44 years.• 1 in 5 women have experienced sexual violence between

the ages of 15 – 44 years.• Intimate Partner violence is the leading cause of death,

disability & illness in Victorian women aged 15 - 44 yrs. • Women are three times more likely to be injured as a

result of the abuse• Five times more likely to require medical attention or

hospitalisation• Five times more likely to report fearing for their lives

Vic Health Report 2004

Initial Intake and Assessment

• Initial intake call from Jack

• Appointment made for a comprehensive risk assessment

• Jack attends the Centre for a comprehensive assessment

System response

• Police concerned for Linda’s safety and assess incident as threats to kill and reckless conduct

• Concerns for the children who were both present at the incident and witnessed Jack’s use of violence

• Jack’s attitude towards referral to support services is considered by police as resistant

• 12 month Intervention order granted for Jack to continue to reside at the family home but not commit family violence

Summary of Jack’s comprehensive assessment ratings

• Rarely threatened to do something to hurt her • Occasionally made her afraid by using gestures or looks

and rarely in front of the children• Frequently screamed and yelled at her• Occasionally said things to scare her• Occasionally smashed and threw things • Occasionally put Linda down, called her names and

criticised her and rarely in front of the children• Rarely checked up on her • Rarely tried to make her feel guilty about the children

and her parenting

Partner Contact with Linda

“Things have been pretty good since the last bad incident, I feel safer. We have been going to counselling and this has helped me to give Jack some space to allow him

to calm down.

I still feel like I am walking on egg shells though”

System Response

• Limited Intervention order allows Jack to remain in the family home and not commit family violence

• Contact by women and children’s services for comprehensive assessment and safety plan implemented with Linda

• Jack commences Men’s Behaviour Change Group

Indicators of family violence

• have recently separated or divorced• suffer anxiety, panic attacks, stress and/or depression• have a stress-related illness• have a drug abuse problem including dependency on

tranquillisers and alcohol• have chronic headaches, asthma and/or vague aches

and pains• have abdominal pain and/or chronic diarrhoea• have sleeping and/or eating disorders• have attempted suicide and/or have a psychiatric illness

Week five

• Jack misses Men’s Behaviour Change Group

• Program staff try to contact Jack and fail

• Linda flees the home with the children and is

accommodated in crisis accommodation

• DHS Child Protection contact program staff and

report there has been another incident of

violence in the home

Partner Contact with Linda

“I’m in safe accommodation and I can’t tell you where I am. DHS told me that they will take the children away if I go

back home. I don’t want to charge him for the threats and I’m worried

that will make things worse.I want Bec to go back to school and I want to go home and

I need to leave the accommodation Tuesday.I don’t want him to get in any more trouble, but if you can

report the breach to the police and help me to return home, I would support that”

Impact of violenceImpacts for women are broad ranging from homelessness, physical injuries, disability, miscarriage, sexually transmitted diseases and homicide.

Physical healthheadaches, irritable bowel syndrome and self-harming behaviour such assubstance abuse or unprotected sex.

Mental healthdepression, fear, anxiety, and low self esteem, social isolation, financial debt, loss of freedom, degradation and loss of dignity and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.Mothers who are traumatised may be unable to provide for their own or their children’s needs.

ChildrenEarly childhood development, dependence and attachment, behavioural and learning problems, poor physical health, hypervigilance, hyperactivity.

Community

Absenteeism, expenditure on counselling, medical treatment, police services, child protection and social services.

Program Response

• Staff referred Linda for assessment to women and children’s services and safety planning and Safe at Home options

• Staff reported breach of Intervention Order to Police

• Staff accommodated Jack in transitional housing with ongoing case management support

System response

• New Interim Intervention Order granted excluding Jack from the family home

• DHS Child Protection investigate the case and close the case based on both parties engaging with services, against the advise of program staff due to the ongoing risk of violence and threats used

• Jack continues in the Men’s Behaviour Change group

Week 20• Jack breaches the order• Jack attends the family home and assaults Linda • Jack comes into the office to talk about the incident with

program staff• Program staff notify police and DHS – Child Protection of

the assault• Staff contact Linda to assess her risk and safety and

notify DHS of ongoing violence and risk• Program staff assist Linda to remove her belongings

from the home and store them securely• Program staff support Linda to pursue a full Intervention

Order against Jack

Linda’s Evaluation

I realise now he’s never going to change.

I had false hopes and I tried to be a good wife, I supported him no matter what.

Now I’ve had to move my children and leave my home. I’ve had to leave everything behind that I have collected over twelve

years.

The children have lost their dad.

System response

• DHS – Child Protection identify Linda as at immediate risk and assess refuge as her only option for safety

• Jack completes 24 weeks of group and returns to live at the family home

• Staff report breaches to police and advocate for Linda’s safety with DHS and other parts of the service system throughout Jack’s contact

“We are safe now and I thank you for getting my things from the house.

It’s sad not having our pets.

I need a letter to give the housing service as they don’t believe me when I say

can’t go home.

I’m sorry if I sound ungrateful for your support, but I’m just so disappointed with

the situation.”

The PresentersRobyn Trainor

Regional

Integration

Coordinator

Centre for Non

Violence

robynt@cnv.org.au

Phone: 54 344112

Alan Thomson

Programs for men

who use violenceagainst family

members

Centre for Non

Violence

alant@cnv.org.au

Phone: 1800 884292