SESSION SIXSESSION SIX

YOU ARE NOT ALONEYOU ARE NOT ALONESERVICES WHICH ARE AVAILABLESERVICES WHICH ARE AVAILABLE

TO HELPTO HELP

In all professional dealings with In all professional dealings with Refugee women the following pointsRefugee women the following pointsmust be the main focus for all workers:must be the main focus for all workers:

The rights and responsibilitiesThe rights and responsibilities of both the worker and the refugeeof both the worker and the refugee women clients are clearly explained andwomen clients are clearly explained and promoted throughout all client contactpromoted throughout all client contact

All dealings should show a commitmentAll dealings should show a commitment to empowering refugee women to resolveto empowering refugee women to resolve their own issues through enhancing theirtheir own issues through enhancing their knowledge, self-esteem and awarenessknowledge, self-esteem and awareness of appropriate support systemsof appropriate support systems

Any indicators of risks or safety will be Any indicators of risks or safety will be responded to according to the individual’s responded to according to the individual’s circumstances, while still in accordance with circumstances, while still in accordance with an organisation’s processes and proceduresan organisation’s processes and procedures

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Key issues to remember when Key issues to remember when advocating or working with advocating or working with

refugee women and their familiesrefugee women and their families Always be welcoming and put the woman at easeAlways be welcoming and put the woman at ease

Assess language needs and determine the correct language or dialect,Assess language needs and determine the correct language or dialect, arrange for an interpreter if required.arrange for an interpreter if required.

Make sure that the information given is clear and understandableMake sure that the information given is clear and understandable

If she wants to share it, listen to the woman’s story, including her If she wants to share it, listen to the woman’s story, including her refugee journeyrefugee journey

Identify the main issues and clarify your understanding Identify the main issues and clarify your understanding

Agree on the steps to be takenAgree on the steps to be taken

Always state the limitations of what you can do, be honestAlways state the limitations of what you can do, be honest

Include other non offending family members if the woman Include other non offending family members if the woman wants the supportwants the support

Acknowledge her refugee background when appropriateAcknowledge her refugee background when appropriate

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Services which refugees needServices which refugees need

Educational material about life in AustraliaEducational material about life in Australia

Economic supportEconomic support

Accommodation & TransportationAccommodation & Transportation

Access or referrals to specialist organisations and servicesAccess or referrals to specialist organisations and services

Legal and medical information and supportLegal and medical information and support

Community awareness programs and educationCommunity awareness programs and education

Support of community, extended family members, Support of community, extended family members, elders and friendselders and friends

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What we need to knowWhat we need to know

Identify:Identify:

What services are currently available for What services are currently available for women experiencing domestic or family violencewomen experiencing domestic or family violence

What are the barriers to accessible service provisionWhat are the barriers to accessible service provision for refugee women? for refugee women?

What are the challenges for service providers in providingWhat are the challenges for service providers in providing accessible service provision for refugee women?accessible service provision for refugee women?

What implications are there for service providers when What implications are there for service providers when providing assistance to refugee women and children providing assistance to refugee women and children in domestic violence situations (legal, professional,in domestic violence situations (legal, professional, inter-personal, working with translators etc.)inter-personal, working with translators etc.)

What law and legislation is there regarding domestic What law and legislation is there regarding domestic and family violence? To what extent do service providers and family violence? To what extent do service providers need to know the legal situation and when?need to know the legal situation and when?

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Service Provision Issues Identified Service Provision Issues Identified By Refugee Women By Refugee Women

A need for bilingual/bicultural domestic violence workersA need for bilingual/bicultural domestic violence workers

A mistrust, fear and previously negative experiences with state A mistrust, fear and previously negative experiences with state authorities in country of origin, such as police, courts, magistrates etcauthorities in country of origin, such as police, courts, magistrates etc

Lack of knowledge about the legal systemLack of knowledge about the legal system

Lack of access to interpreters, and the effective use of interpretersLack of access to interpreters, and the effective use of interpreters

Lack of flexibility in existing service responsesLack of flexibility in existing service responses

Lack of support services offered locallyLack of support services offered locally

A need for community based approaches including prevention and A need for community based approaches including prevention and educational programseducational programs

The need for an early intervention and prevention programs for The need for an early intervention and prevention programs for refugee familiesrefugee families

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Making Services More AccessibleMaking Services More Accessible

IIssue Suggested Actions

Lack of bilingual workers from specific communities

Many community organisationswho have bilingual/bicultural

staff are willing to work inpartnership with other

organisations

Lack of specific data relating to refugee communities

Sources for population dataon refugee communities are

available via DIMA. Most localmigrant services will also haveadequate population data that

they are willing to share.

Confidentiality issues within smallCommunities when dealing with

DV issues

All service providers are urgedto work within their relevant

policies and procedures, this Includes ethical codes of

practice. Client’s rights should beexplained and confidentiality ensured.

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Making Services More Accessible Making Services More Accessible

IIssue Suggested Actions

Lack of resources, especially when there are diverse refugeecommunities in one local area

Identify refugee communities andreallocate within existing resources

to ensure access by refugee communities

Interpreter service charges,which particularly affects not for

profit organisations

Organisational budget should make referenceto the need for funds for interpreter

services charges, some services may beentitled to exemptions

Client referrals getting lost betweenagencies and lack of follow up of clients

Procedures should be developed that ensurean agency does complete clients interactions

with appropriate follow up, this may be completed by phone or email and need not

take too much time, only with monitoring can a worker be certain that clients referrals are

followed through.

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LEGAL ASSISTANCELEGAL ASSISTANCE KEY ISSUESKEY ISSUES

Domestic Violence LegislationDomestic Violence Legislation

NSW Crimes ActNSW Crimes Act

Apprehended Violence ordersApprehended Violence orders

Role of police and local courtsRole of police and local courts

Domestic violence is a CrimeDomestic violence is a Crime

Family Law MattersFamily Law Matters

DivorceDivorce

Property settlementsProperty settlements

Matters relating to childrenMatters relating to children

Child supportChild support

Victims CompensationVictims CompensationFinancial compensation for Financial compensation for victims of assaultsvictims of assaults

Counselling servicesCounselling services

Child Protection and the LawChild Protection and the Law

Service Providers role inService Providers role in

reporting child at risk of harmreporting child at risk of harm

role of Dept. of Communityrole of Dept. of Community ServicesServices

Responsibilities of employersResponsibilities of employers

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