By Dominique Tassell
Women’s Advocacy and Action Team Southern Downs (WAAT) has written a letter to the Honourable Shannon Fentiman, Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Minister for Women and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence.
Locals Kathy Payne, Judy Hefferan, and Sue Hamlet make up the team and are a small but passionate band.
In their letter, the women touch on several issues they think need to be addressed.
Earlier this year WAAT created a petition, hoping to draw attention to the need for nationwide action, seeking funding to end gendered violence and acknowledging the ongoing, longstanding inadequacy of appropriate and timely services on the Southern Downs.
In the letter, they acknowledge the department’s response and say “it is encouraging to see our state government attempting to address the impact of DFV”.
“While we acknowledge the funds being spent in this sector, there continues to be limited evidence of support being provided in our region,” they write. “While DVAC is the lead agency in our area they are not able to provide support as needed.”
WAAT details that, as recently as 18 August, DVAC informed the Southern Downs ISR Network meeting that waiting times for counselling for survivors of sexual assault or family was six to eight months.
“Waiting periods like this are not feasible for those in need.
“The goal of the petition was to have action to address the inadequacy identified in our region.”
WAAT member Kathy Payne said this is simply too long.
Kathy is concerned that women are being referred to DVAC by community groups who think they can help without knowing how long it may take for them to get assistance.
For locals in places like Stanthorpe, she says Toowoomba is too far for them to travel.
“It would be much better if we had something on the ground here.”
The second item WAAT addresses in their letter is the need to establish a high-risk multi-agency team which can service the Southern Downs.
“We are realistic knowing a HRT would unlikely be established on the Southern Downs but if one was established within the Toowoomba catchment this would ensure that the Southern Downs area would have a strong integrated response in addressing…high risk domestic violence matters,” they write.
“A Toowoomba HRT would work to prevent or lessen serious threats to life, safety and wellbeing of domestic and family violence victims and their children and would provide a forum for appropriate information sharing to ensure risk assessments are comprehensive, inform safety planning and inform ongoing management of risk, as well as enabling swift and flexible action across agencies and service providers to respond to need.
“It would increase the safety of victims and their children assessed as being at high risk on the Southern Downs.”
Kathy Payne said they have been informed that Southern Downs Regional Council will also be writing a letter in support of a high-risk team in Toowoomba.
WAAT then points out that the web page for the Department of Women and Violence Prevention does not give options for support for the Southern Downs local government area.
The webpage provides information for 59 local government areas, excluding the Southern Downs.
They have asked for this to be rectified.
Finally, WAAT writes that “it is a pleasure to be working with Trudi Peters, Integration Manager for the Office of Women and Violence towards a local Integrated Service response to DFV for the Southern Downs”.
“To date we have already made some significant inroads into providing resources for those in the human services sector, plus facilitating useful networking.
“There is evidence that the Southern Downs is moving closer to a ‘no wrong door’ integrated approach across frontline services and community agencies for those affected by DFV.
“We are thankful for Trudi Peters input into this forum.”
Kathy said recently they’ve had “rich conversations with local organisations” and there are some “quite exciting” developments coming.
“Watch this space,” she said. “We’re continuing to move forward to try to support women in the Southern Downs.”
