Family Violence: How to identify it… what to do when you do

Session broken down into two broad themes: Family Violence Training: 1.How to identify it… 2.…what to do when you do

Learning Objectives/Outcomes Family Violence: How to identify it…what to do when you do  To develop a common understanding and increase the knowledge and skills base of health professionals and allied health staff in respect of identifying and responding to family violence.  To increase community health professionals and allied health staff understanding of their role in identifying and assessing victims of family violence and responses to perpetrators in an integrated service system.  To instil a knowledge of local and regional services and referral pathways that may assist those experiencing family violence so that practitioner identified patient safety concerns may be addressed.  Increase staff confidence in being able to identify family violence (vulnerability) and make appropriate referrals for victims experiencing family violence and perpetrators who are using violence towards family members within the community.

Background and Context: What is Family Violence?  Any coercive and controlling behavior by a family member that causes physical, sexual and/or emotional damage to others in the family, including causing them to live in fear.  Commonly perpetrated by one adult partner towards another adult and/or child.  Commonly occurs in the home, with 74.9% of all assaults against women occurring in a behind-closed-doors setting.  Victoria Police dealt with more than 60,000 family violence incidents in including 29 murders, which account for a little less than half of all murders committed in the state’.† †John Elder, The Brutal Price of Domestic Violence, The Age 27 April ….in broad brush strokes: Family Violence: How to identify it…

Background and Context: What is Family Violence? What might it look like? Intimidation Verbal abuse Physical abuse Emotional abuse Social abuse Economic abuse Sexual abuse Controlling behaviours Spiritual abuse Stalking Spousal homicide

Legislative Framework Pertinent legislation includes: Crimes (Family Violence) Act 1987 NB- R v L (1991) 174 CLR 379 now superseded by- Family Violence Protection Act 2008, Victoria (the Act). Family Violence: How to identify it…

Legislative Framework Family Violence Protection Act 2008 (Victoria) (a) that non-violence is a fundamental social value that must be promoted; (b) that family violence is a fundamental violation of human rights and is unacceptable in any form; (c) that family violence is not acceptable in any community or culture; (d) that, in responding to family violence and promoting the safety of persons who have experienced family violence, the justice system should treat the views of victims of family violence with respect Preamble In enacting this Act, the Parliament recognises the following principles- Family Violence: How to identify it…

(a) that while anyone can be a victim or perpetrator of family violence, family violence is predominantly committed by men against women, children and other vulnerable persons; (b) that children who are exposed to the effects of family violence are particularly vulnerable and exposure to family violence may have a serious impact on children's current and future physical, psychological and emotional wellbeing; (c) that family violence— i.affects the entire community; and ii.occurs in all areas of society, regardless of location, socioeconomic and health status, age, culture, gender, sexual identity, ability, ethnicity or religion; In enacting this Act, the Parliament also recognises the following features of family violence: Family Violence Protection Act 2008 (Victoria) Family Violence: How to identify it…

(d) that family violence extends beyond physical and sexual violence and may involve emotional or psychological abuse and economic abuse; (e) that family violence may involve overt or subtle exploitation of power imbalances and may consist of isolated incidents or patterns of abuse over a period of time. Family Violence Protection Act 2008 (Victoria). …continued from previous slide ACCORDINGLY, FAMILY VIOLENCE IS DEFINED under the Act as…… (next slide) Family Violence: How to identify it…

Legislative Framework (a)behaviour by a person towards a family member … that is physically or sexually abusive; or emotionally or psychologically abusive; or economically abusive, threatening, coercive or in any other ways controls or dominates the family member and causes that family member to feel fear for their safety or wellbeing or the safety and wellbeing of another person FAMILY VIOLENCE IS DEFINED under the Act as: Family Violence: How to identify it… (b) Behaviour that causes a child to hear or witness, or otherwise be exposed to the effects of the behaviours referred to above

Family Violence: How to identify it… Power & Control

Family Violence: How to identify it… Equality

Fundamental to the identification of family violence is asking if Family Violence is being experienced: As noted by Feder †, a fundamental failing of… interventions/strategies [is] the omission of the above enquiry. †Feder, G et al., The Lancet Vol 379(12) , Family Violence: How to identify it… Once violence is identified, via specific Family Violence Identification training, referral to allied assistive services increases by 53%. †Feder, G et al., The Lancet Vol 379(12) , 1794.

Age related increase in the representation of women Epidemiological Observations: An Early Onset Engendered Issue? SOURCE: Measuring Family Violence in Victoria. Victorian Family Violence Database, Volume 5 Family Violence: How to identify it…

Unsurprisingly Family Violence is a Contra-Indicator to Good Health MORBIDITY - Chronic physical and mental health problems are common sequelae of family violence (Ellsberg et al., Lancet 2008; 371(9619), ). It promotes a spectrum of pathologies including: Gynaecological disorders (Campbell JC, Lancet 2002; 359(9314): ). Chronic pain (Bronomi A E et al.,. Arch Intern Med (18): ). Neurological symptoms (Bronomi A E et al.,. Arch Intern Med (18): ). Gastrointestinal disorders (Bronomi A E et al.,. Arch Intern Med (18): ). Self-reported heart disease (Coker A L et al., J Prev Med 2002;23(4): ). Family Violence: How to identify it…

MORTALITY – Family violence is the leading cause of preventable death for Victorian women under the age of 45.† Women are more likely to be killed by a male partner or ex-partner than any other person.‡ † The Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth),The Health Costs of Violence: Measuring the Burden of Disease Caused by Intimate Partner Violence, Melbourne, ‡ Department of Victorian Communities (Vic), Changing Lives: A New Approach to Family Violence in Victoria, 2005, 13. Unsurprisingly Family Violence is a Contra-Indicator to Good Health TO REITERATE - Victoria Police dealt with more than 60,000 family violence incidents in including 29 murders, which account for a little less than half of all murders committed in the state’.† †John Elder, The Brutal Price of Domestic Violence, The Age 27 April Family Violence: How to identify it…

Are you afraid of anyone in your family or household? If so who? Has someone in your family or household ever put you down, humiliated you or tried to control what you can or can’t do? Has someone in your family or household ever threatened you? Have you ever been pushed, hit, kicked or hurt in another way by anyone in your household? Are you worried about your children or anyone else in your family? Would you like help with any of this now? Family Violence: How to identify it… Questions that may prompt disclosure from an adult patient: If violence is detected, the victim needs to be asked questions about any children or other adults who may be involved. Questions that could be asked Are you worried about the children? How is this affecting the children? Is there anyone else in the family who is witnessing or experiencing what you are?

Family Violence: How to identify it… Case studies for discussion:

Flo (64 years) 64 years 64 years Recently retired/ medical related Recently retired/ medical related No pension No pension Homeless – recently moved in with daughter Homeless – recently moved in with daughter Increasingly ‘forgetful’ Increasingly ‘forgetful’ Several falls at home over past 6 months Several falls at home over past 6 months Chronic respiratory disease Chronic respiratory disease Flo (64 years) 64 years 64 years Recently retired/ medical related Recently retired/ medical related No pension No pension Homeless – recently moved in with daughter Homeless – recently moved in with daughter Increasingly ‘forgetful’ Increasingly ‘forgetful’ Several falls at home over past 6 months Several falls at home over past 6 months Chronic respiratory disease Chronic respiratory disease Family Violence: How to identify it… Case studies for discussion:

Family Violence: How to identify it… Case studies for discussion:

Practical steps to address family violence Discuss with the patient the practical steps involved when addressing family violence- Refer patient to local services that can assist with said application: Application to Magistrates Court for a Family Violence Intervention Order (FVIO) (process discussed later) Centre for Non-Violence (CNV) Loddon Campaspe Community Legal Centre (LCCLC) Centre Against Sexual Assault (CASA) Bendigo & District Aboriginal Co-operative (BDAC) REMEMBER THAT ONCE FAMILY VIOLENCE IS IDENTIFIED - a general practice family violence training program then increases the referral rate of women to family violence advocacy organisations. Feder et al. Lancet 2011;378(9805), Holistic goal is to end the violence and remove the victims feeling of isolation – to that end: Family Violence: …what to do when you do

Making an application  Complete an application at court – the registrar can help  Explaining why fear for safety  Nominate what conditions required on an order  Need to include details such as:  length of the relationship  whether there are children requiring protections  what specific events led to the application Making an application  Complete an application at court – the registrar can help  Explaining why fear for safety  Nominate what conditions required on an order  Need to include details such as:  length of the relationship  whether there are children requiring protections  what specific events led to the application

Family Violence: …what to do when you do

INTERIM ORDERS If applicant or associated/named Affected Family Member (AFM) requires immediate protection they can make this clear on the application form. This elicits an ‘Interim Order’ hearing before a magistrate. Essentially, upon oath or affirmation, the applicant discloses to the magistrate the incidence(s) of family violence giving rise to the application. Magistrate makes a decision as to whether an ‘Interim Order’ is appropriate in the given circumstances. If an ‘Interim Order’ is made, it is normally made in the same terms as the those sought for ‘Final Order’

Family Violence: …what to do when you do If an ‘Interim Order’ is made, it is normally made in the same terms as the those sought for ‘Final Order’. Interim Order remains in place as a protective mechanism until a ‘Final Order’ is made i.e.  Between application and ‘First Mention’ and;  Between ‘First Mention’ and ‘Directions Hearing’ and;  Between ‘Directions Hearing’ and ‘Final Hearing’ (if Respondent contests the application). INTERIM ORDERS Continued…

Family Violence: …what to do when you do

CONTESTED APPLICATIONS: If Respondent contests the application it can sometimes take 5 months to progress the matter to Final Hearing

Family Violence: …what to do when you do Who can help?  LCCLC Court Outreach program (03) ;  Bendigo (weekly) - Tuesday  Echuca (fortnightly) – Tuesday  Maryborough – (fortnightly) - Thursday  Kyneton – (fortnightly) – Friday  Centre For Non-Violence (03) ;  Why Didn’t You Ask research ( information sheet ) Who can help?  LCCLC Court Outreach program (03) ;  Bendigo (weekly) - Tuesday  Echuca (fortnightly) – Tuesday  Maryborough – (fortnightly) - Thursday  Kyneton – (fortnightly) – Friday  Centre For Non-Violence (03) ;  Why Didn’t You Ask research ( information sheet )

Family Violence: …what to do when you do Only share information which the client has agreed for you to share (unless there are immediate safety issues) Remember the indivisible continuum as far as consent and autonomy is concerned: “Respect for individual autonomy emerged as the dominant principle of Western bioethics during the second half of the twentieth century. From Autonomy grew consent”. Genevra Richardson, involuntary Treatment, Human Dignity and human rights in Rioux MH, Basser L, Jones M (eds) (2011). Critical perspectives on Human Rights and Disability Law, Leiden, Boston: Maritinus Nijhoff Publishers/Brill Academic, 137.

FINALLY: Family Violence IVO process Q & A FINALLY: Family Violence IVO process Q & A Family Violence: …what to do when you do

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Family Violence: …what to do when you do