Statement of Purpose:

The Women’s Refuge Group (WRG) is a peak community based organisation committed to improving the status of women and children in society. WRG specifically seeks to ensure that all women and children live free of domestic and family violence and its consequences.

The role of the WRG is to provide a voice on domestic violence and family violence issues that is representative of Women’s Refuge Services and of the women and children they serve.
 

Statement of Principles:

The WRG recognises the herstory of the Refuge movement in Australia generally and particularly in Western Australia. Specifically WRG acknowledges the critical role that Refuge workers and the Refuge movement have played in raising community awareness about domestic and family violence and in developing practical and effective responses to assist women and children in escaping violence. .

The following principles guide the actions of the WRG:
 

 a commitment to access and equity for all women and children escaping domestic and family violence;

a commitment to sustaining and developing a gendered analysis of domestic violence

a recognition of children as primary victims of domestic violence and therefore as primary clients of Refuges and a commitment to building trust and collaboration amongst Western Australian Refuges.

Goals:
 

to be an effective and unified voice on domestic and family violence issues

to maintain WRG as an independent, viable and credible organisation

to improve the access of women and children to Women’s Refuges and other services which seek to deal with the effects of domestic and family violence

to  be recognised as an expert by the government and broader community on domestic and family violence

to increase community awareness of the incidence, effects and responses to domestic and family violence

to be involved in the development of policies, programmes and services to address the incidence and consequences of domestic and family violence.

Key Priorities for the WRG are:
 

development of rural and remote services;

expansion of services to Indigenous women and children;

expansion of outreach work, including the development of innovative responses to non-residential support services; and

the provision of good practice models that assist children who have witnessed and/or experienced family and domestic violence.

Here’s to the WRG moving forward in the 21st century with the vision of eliminating violence in lives of women and children by developing a diverse range of service delivery models that will meet the needs of those women and children who access them.

CORE FUNCTIONS OF THE WOMEN REFUGE GROUP OFFICE:
 

Membership

The Women’s Refuge Group are required to maintains its level of membership at least 85% of all Women’s Refuge Services funded through Family and Children’s Services.

The current level of membership is 95%. 37 out of 39 services are full members of the WRG with 2 as Associate Members. Unfortunately, the WRG lost the membership of Emmaus Women’s Refuge due to closure in May 2000.

Annual Membership Feedback Survey Results
93% of respondents to the survey said it was constructive for their Refuge Service to be part of a state peak body.

Major reasons given:

To have a connection to other refuges and to have a voice as a group

To be aware of issues in the welfare field generally

Important for all refuges to have some kind of central link, to share, discuss issues affecting all. All work towards common goals and interests in a methodical way instead of lobbying separately.

Consolidate and strengthen Women’s Refuge Movement, co-ordinate responses to family and domestic violence. Share information and strengthen isolated or vulnerable services.

It links services and provides and develops a national perspective on domestic violence and family violence and women’s homelessness, service delivery, provide consultancy and legislation, support programs.

The key benefits:
 

Sector Development

WRG Regional Committees

80% of respondents stated they would be interested in joining a WRG Regional based Committee to work in collaboration and fed into the peak body with issues and input to policy development.

86% were satisfied to very satisfied with the WRG as their peak body for Women’s Refuges in WA.

75% commented on the positive work of the WRG given the financial budgetary constraints. Motivation in maintaining a high standard.

WRG continued to produce and distribute copies of WRG News to its members. Themes included:
 

WRG Strategic Plan 2000 – 2003

Women’s Stories (double edition)

Rural and Remote & Key Events.

WRG Newsletter – 53% were happy with current newsletter and did not want changes. Change of layout, inclusion of training reports and expansion of current edition were identified as possible changes.

Facilitate access to training and training materials

WRG disseminated information in the training and training materials via mail, email, fax, WRG meetings.
 

National SAAP Data Collection – NDCA

Accommodating Homeless Young People with Mental Health Issues - AFHO

Rural and Remote – Literature Review (WESNET)

National DV Competency Standards

WA SAAP Protocols Project

DV and older people

Home Safe Home

Development of Resources for Women and Disabilities

Enough is Enough – International DV Conference held in London, UK

Educational and Support Group for Women who have experienced Family and Domestic Violence held in Nardine Wimmin’s Refuge

Access and Equity Manual ‘An Open Door’ by NSW Refuge movement

PADV Publications Resource List

Cert IV in Workplace Assessment

Women in Crisis – Homeswest Info Sharing Forum

DVLU – DV Legal SAAP Training 4 – 5 September

‘Walking into Doors’ PADV – Family Violence in Aboriginal Communities

Columbus Pilot Project – Family Law Court of WA

Reports – SAAP State Advisory Committee                                                                            - Housing Advisory Committee                                                                                           - SAAP Protocols Reference Group

There are a number of other training resources that are emailed out to refuges WRG e –list.

Through regular meetings with Women Refuge Services facilitate discussion and contribute to the development of policies that address the needs of women affected by domestic violence.

WRG hold regular monthly meetings. WRG Meetings – 55% frequently attended monthly meetings whilst distance, financial time constraints & staff shortage were identified as major reasons for non-attendance.

The key benefits of attending meetings were:
 

Discussion and updating policy issues

Forum for raising concerns

Receiving a wider perspective on family and domestic violence and women’s issues.

Being well informed on what’s happening in WA, interstate and overseas networking and discussion on special issues

Exchanging of ideas and information on new & existing programs

Changes to WRG meetings that were identified
 

Use of technology to assist rural and remote participation. Video special meetings for dissemination throughout the state

Meetings in rural/remote areas/bush areas

Teleconferencing

More guest speakers

Special Issues Meeting

WRG held a Children’s Issues Meeting on 27th March 2001. This meeting focused on general issues when working with children in Refuges and Practice Standards to provide guide policy and practice within Refuges in WA. The Women’s Refuge Group looked at some current Practice Standards developed by Les Gevers and the NSW Refuge Movement. The meeting was facilitated by Leanne Barron with 32 representatives attending, including representatives from South West and Geraldton.

WRG Strategic Planning Sessions

The WRG Strategic Planning Process held in July 2000 at Dadirri brought together WRG representatives for 2 days to develop an inaugural Strategic Plan 2000 – 2003.

The Strategic Plan 2000 – 2003 is a guide and informs the future directions of the Women’s Refuge Movement. The Plan includes the strategies, tasks and timelines of how the WRG propose to achieve their goals.

Prior to the Strategic Planning Process the Annual WRG Membership Survey and Feedback was carried out. The results of the survey also fed into the development and planning of the agenda for the 2 days.

Each year the WRG plan to come together to evaluate, review and re-assess the Strategic Plan and outcomes.
 

Community Education:

Develop relevant and up to date information pamphlets on Women’s Refuge Services for general distribution.

The WRG peak body pamphlet has just been re-drafted and is in the process of being completed. The WRG website is also being updated with a fresh look (new logo) and includes up to date, more information and educational material about services and family and domestic violence. Pamphlets on Women’s Refuges are distributed to a number of agencies on request which include:
 

Police Family Violence Unit

Parent Help Centre

Royal Perth Hospital

King Edward Memorial Hospital

Sir Charles Gardiner Hospital

Family Law Court of WA

Victim Support Service

Centrecare Mirrabooka

Pilbarra DV Regional Committee

TAFE and University Students

Develop an annual strategy for distribution of information and educational material and distribute materials accordingly.

A large number of pamphlets are distributed on request. The WRG currently produce 3 pamphlets entitled –

Women’s Refuges
Women’s Refuges in the Community
Women’s Refuge Group of WA

The WRG website has been updated to include more information and educational material on Women’s Refuges and Family and Domestic Violence.

The WRG newsletter is also a source of information and distributed to members and is available at various seminars and conferences. Pamphlets are also available at events where WRG has information stalls.
 

Annual DV Memorial March held in Fremantle

Launch of the WA Drug Summit

Balga Community Day

International Conference on DV (London)

WA Police Academy – Training for Senior Police

Contribute to and participate in forums relevant to domestic violence across the state
DV Memorial March & Rally held on 21st April, 2001 at Fremantle Esplanade
Partnerships Against DV – Evaluation
PADV Workshop – Men’s programs
Women in Crisis – Homeswest Forum
National DV Competency Standards – feedback on final draft
Police Family Violence Unit – Functional Review
Community Advocacy TAFE course (women)
Report back from DV Conference in London to DVPU/WPO
International Women’s Day: Women’s Policy Office: Ministerial Address
Curtin Radio – Media Training/National Stop DV Against Women Week
National Aboriginal FV Awareness Campaign in “Walking into Doors”
Women’s Health – A Conversation
State Homelessness Strategy – NGO Working Party
Launch of Drug Action Week
Residential Tenancy Act & Community Housing Forum

Policy and Advocacy
Key areas where WRG has provided advice and input to policy development are:

Family & Children’s Services
SAAP Protocols Project Reference Group
Working Parties for Department of Immigration & Multicultural Affairs & Centrelink
SAAP State Advisory Committee
SAAP Data Sub Committee
Revised SAAP Service Standards

Ministry of Housing
Housing Advisory Committee
Rental Services Standing Committee: Bankruptcy Policy
Rental References with Homeswest clients & Real Estate Institute of WA
Community Housing Standing Committee
State Homelessness Strategy – NGO Working Party

Police Services
Missing Person’s Bureau: Protocol for Information Exchange
WA Police Academy: Family & Domestic Violence Training – Recruits & Senior Police

Family Law Court of WA
Interim Recovery Orders
Columbus Project Reference Group

WA State Election
Pre-election
Strengthening Families Policy: Domestic Violence Initiatives
Post Election
WRG Funding Priorities – Briefing Paper prepared for the Hon. Sheila McHale

WESNET
PADV Projects Evaluation – Focus Group
National DV Competency Standards

WACOSS
State Budget Priorities
Peaks Meetings

Narrative summary of findings – emergency trends issues and strategies developed

The WRG have participated on a number of government reference groups, advisory bodies and committees to provide input and advice in a number of areas that include:
 

policy reviews

development of protocols

pilot and new program initiatives

service standards

pre-election funding initiatives

training needs for Refuge Services

In Summary:

All services are experiencing a increased demand on their services for supported accommodation and outreach services. Refuges are constantly working to full capacity with 8, 427 women and children accommodated in Women’s Refuges in WA for 1999/2000, 51.6% of 33, 800 is the National figure for unmet demand from single women and women with children experiencing family, domestic and social violence. (1999/2000 National SAAP Date Collection Annual Report).

Operational budgets have been stretched with the impact of the GST compliance and significant increases to Worker’s Compensation premiums. The CPI does not adequately cover the rising costs and operational funding levels remain the same for the duration of a Service Agreement, which is a three year period.

The WRG have lobbied consistently for additional resources for the area of family and domestic violence which will ultimately improve the quality of life of many women and children who experience violence in their lives daily.

Tragically at the time of the Annual DV Memorial March in April 2001, their had been 16 Homicides in a twelve month period in WA as a result of family and domestic violence.

As an outcome of the last State Election the Labor Government has pledged an additional 4.6 million to the area of family and domestic violence over the next 4 years.

This includes one million over four years to Women’s Refuge Services, Outreach Support for women exiting Refuges and a DV Crisis Line.

The peak body (WRG) also received its first increase in core funding of $200, 000 over 4 years.

The WRG wishes to acknowledge the commitment of the Labor Government in developing an effective response to family and domestic violence in this State and to redressing the pervious inadequate funding of the DV services.