Whittlesea CALD Communities Family Violence Research Report 2012

51 maintaining the integrity of the visa system (Australian Law Reform Commission, 2011, p.492) among them that the family violence exception be extended to cover prospective/fiancé visa holders, that targeted education and training be provided to ‘competent people'53 and that there be better information dissemination to prospective visa applicants regarding their legal rights and family violence support services prior to and on arrival in Australia (Australian Law Reform Commission, 2011, p.490). Addressing Family Violence in CALD Communities: Potential Models The VicHealth family violence framework and background paper (VicHealth, 2006) defines three levels at which strategies for the prevention of violence against women can be implemented: 54 55 56 intervention strategies , early intervention strategies and prevention strategies. Evidence from consultations conducted with CALD women and service providers confirms the findings in the literature review that there are additional complexities that present barriers to CALD women disclosing family violence, finding assistance and early intervention, accessing support services and leaving a family violence situation. Given that the research also demonstrates that CALD women are less likely to seek both informal and formal assistance with family violence (Raj & Silverman, 2002, p.381) it was the aim of the scoping exercise to determine how an understanding of the needs of CALD communities can assist service providers to facilitate greater access to services. The literature suggests that for services to be both effective and empowering they must recognise the additional complexities that hinder CALD women’s ability to access services and adopt strategies to address these complexities (Justice Institute of British Columbia, 2007, InTouch Inc., 2010, Runner et. al, 2009, Raj & Silverman, 2002) and meet a ‘multiplicity of needs’ (Justice Institute of British Columbia, 2007, p.33). Strategies for overcoming language barriers, addressing visa and migration issues, challenging social isolation and providing information are key to a successful model of service delivery. Integrated Service Delivery The research suggests that those models of service delivery that are integrated, comprehensive and collaborative are likely to be particularly successful in addressing the interrelated factors that affect CALD women experiencing family violence and facilitating access to assistance (InTouch Inc, 2010, 53 ‘Competent people’ are those professionals, including registered nurses and family violence specialist agencies, which the Migration Act deems able to give statutory declarations in support of a claim for family violence on the basis of non-judicially determined evidence and includes medical practitioners, registered psychologists, registered nurses, social workers, family consultants, a manager or co-ordinator (or person in a position that involves decision-making power) of a women’s refuge, a manager or co-ordinator (or person in a position that involves decision-making power) of a crisis or counselling service that specialises in family violence. 54 implemented after violence has occurred and aimed at providing support and treatment to victims of violence and to perpetrators who use violence in order to deal with the violence, prevent its consequences and stop it from recurring or escalating. VicHealth, 2006, p.8-9 55 targeted at individuals or groups who display early signs of either perpetrating or being subject to violence. Aimed at changing behaviours or increasing skills at an individual or group level or in environments where there are strong indications that violence may occur. VicHealth, 2006, p.8-9 56 aimed at preventing violence before it occurs and delivered to the population as a whole or targeted at particular groups at higher risk of experiencing or using violence. Strategies can aim to change the behaviour and build the knowledge and/or skills of individuals but also target the structural, cultural and societal contexts in which violence occurs as well as addressing underlying causes of violence. VicHealth, 2006, p.8-9

Whittlesea CALD Communities Family Violence Research Report 2012 | Page 52