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
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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?
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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9. Existing best practice DV resources
Family Court of Australia
Family Violence Best Practice Principles, 2016
Queensland Courts
Domestic Violence Protocols for Staff, 2012
NQWLS Ask NOLA training
WLS resources, including DV and safety planning
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10. CLCQ webinars Upcoming webinars Previous webinars / training
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)
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11. Where to from here? DV best practice working group: Next steps:
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:
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12. Presentation Title and Footer Information (change on Master page) | 12