Page 1592 - Week 06 - Thursday, 23 July 2020

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video


With the assistance of a whole-of-government community of practice and our community partners, we are proud to have developed and to be delivering such high quality and targeted training, from our online foundation training through to the face-to-face, intensive and manager training modules. With the challenge of COVID-19 restrictions, training is being delivered in other ways—for example, blended learning options for online learning, interaction, and webinars. Finally, our evaluation framework and our new panel of specialist training providers will ensure that we continue to improve and deliver training that meets best practice standards and evidence.

In 2019 Canberra Health Services started implementing a Victorian award-winning strengthening hospital responses to family violence program. This organisation-wide approach has involved establishing governance and working groups; developing policy and workplace procedures; and, importantly, delivering face-to-face and online training.

Before COVID-19 halted all face-to-face delivery of training, Canberra Health Services was able to train 545 staff through e-learning and 142 managers face to face. With a network of workplace champions to assist, Canberra Health Services is continuing to strengthen its organisational response to consumers experiencing family violence.

In last year’s statement I spoke about the compelling need for action to address family violence in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. On 22 October 2019, with many members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities present, I presented a ministerial statement, We don’t shoot our wounded, to the Legislative Assembly. While this statement was an initial step, it was an important one. It ended the long wait the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities had to get a response from government to these landmark reports. It was also an important step towards rebuilding trust and partnerships with the community.

The $354,000 over four years that we committed to last year’s budget has been invested to provided start-up support to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander reference group of the Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Council, ably assisted by Coolamon Advisors. A new Aboriginal project officer has begun with the office of the Coordinator-General for Family Safety. I look forward to being able to present and report on the achievements of this work in future statements to this Assembly.

The ACT domestic and family violence risk assessment and management framework has been gaining momentum this year. The framework, with its practice guides and tools, will develop a territory-wide understanding and practice for screening and risk assessment for domestic violence. Assisting staff and the broader service system towards a conscious and planned approach to identifying, prioritising and responding to domestic and family violence risk is fundamental to keeping victims safe while holding perpetrators to account.


Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video