The links between substance use and domestic violence are increasingly being noticed by services providing help to people with alcohol and other drug problems or those affected by domestic violence. There is a need to address the extent of overlap between substance use and domestic violence and the ways in which these complex issues can be addressed through more holistic approaches to intervention.

This project, run by the Women’s Council for Domestic and Family Violence Services (WA), in partnership with the WA Network for Alcohol and Other Drug Agencies, will work with key stakeholders from the Domestic and Family Violence and Alcohol and Other Drugs sectors to identify and share information on good practice when working with women experiencing both domestic and family violence and alcohol and other drug issues, and  improving links between both sectors.

The Project aims to:

  • Increase understanding of the way in which each sector works with female clients including discussion around philosophies, approaches when addressing domestic violence and/or alcohol and other drug use; 
  • Identify training needs and deliver a traning seminar for workers from each sector; 
  • Provide opportunities for networking and the development of links;
  • Identify good practice policies and procedures with the possibility of developing a template for addressing co-morbid domestic violence and substance use;
  • Develop a resource for the Refuge sector that provides information on alcohol and other drug use and domestic violence; and
  • Look for opportunities to further the work of agencies supporting women with complex needs.

For more information or to be involved in the project please contact Jackie Newbigin, Project Officer, Women’s Council for Domestic and Family Violence Services Phone 9420 7264 Email project@womenscouncil.com.au.



Supporting Women with Complex Needs

The relationship between substance use and domestic and family violence

The Supporting Women with Complex Needs resource aims to provide readers with an introduction to supporting women who have experienced domestic and family violence who are also misusing alcohol or other drugs. This basic resource targeted at frontline workers was developed in partnership with the WA Network of Alcohol and Other Drug Agencies with funding from the WA grants for Women Program, Department
for Communities and the Alcohol Education Rehabilitation Foundation.

Click here to download the resource.

Supporting Women with Complex Needs Training

Thursday 30th and Friday 31st July 2009

The Women's Council for Domestic and Family Violence Services, in partnership with the WA Network of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies provided training to workers in a variety of fields including alcohol and other drugs, domestic and family violence.

The training provided participants with information and strategies for working with women with complex needs. There was a particular focus on alcohol and other drugs and domestic and family violence however topics such as mental health and the needs of children were aslo discuss. The feedback from participants was positive with the majority indicating that they would like to participate in similar training in the future.

Presentations from the training can be downloaded below:

Day One - 30th July 20009
Domestic and Family Violence Session

Presentation One: Domestic Violence (Angela Hartwig - WCDFVS)

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Presentation Two: Family Violence (Gloria Walley & Sherida Walley - Wooree Miya Refuge)

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Presentation Three: Children and Domestic Violence (Nicole Leggett - WCDFVS)

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Alcohol and Other Drug Session

Presentation One: Understanding Drugs and Mental Health in 6mins (Paul Dessauer - WASUA)

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Presentation Two: Women with Complex Needs who Use Drugs (Frankie Valvassori - WASUA)

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Day Two - 31st July 2009

Presentation One: Mothers with Complex Needs (Wendy Shannon - Women's Health Services)

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Yajilarra Screening

To finish off these two days of training we were lucky enough to have June Oscar, Chief Executive Officer of Marninwarntikura Womens Resource Centre come all the way from Fitzroy Crossing to talk about the successfull battle of the Aboriginal women of the Fitzroy Valley to have alcohol restrictions imposed in their community. Their story has been made into a 20minute documentary titled Yajilarra, meaning "to dream" which was screened at the training.

To order a copy of the Yajilarra DVD please complete the order form which can be downloaded below and return it to the Marninwarntikura Fitzroy Womens Resource Centre.

Click Here to download the order form. 

For further information please contact:

Jackie Newbigin
Project Officer
P: 08 9420 7264
E: project@womenscouncil.com.au
Projects
- Keeping Kids Safe
- Supporting Women with Complex Needs Project
- HURT Project
 
       
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