2005 Winners
Individual | School-based Prevention Project | Community organisation | Partnership | Government
Following is a summary of projects that received an award in 2005. These initiatives demonstrate the significant contribution made by individuals, community groups, government and non-government organisations in the prevention of domestic and family violence in Queensland.
Individual
Heather Nancarrow
Heather Nancarrow has worked in the field of domestic and family violence prevention for more than 23 years. In this time she has shown leadership and made significant contributions to violence prevention.
Heather has maintained a high level of energy and commitment to addressing domestic and family violence. She has been involved in the direct service provision of women's shelters, policy development in the Queensland Government's Domestic Violence Prevention Team, and now works in academia at the Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research.
Heather has successfully contributed to the establishment of services for women and children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, enabling them to seek protection from violence. She has also led developments in legislative reform to protect people in a wider range of relationships from domestic and family violence.
As Director of the Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research, Heather continues to research and educate others about the nature and impacts of domestic and family violence, as well as developing prevention strategies.
Her recent thesis for a Master of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice examined the different approaches that Indigenous and non-Indigenous women prefer in regard to seeking justice for domestic and family violence. Her thesis was awarded first class honours and received the Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology prize for best paper in criminology or a related discipline by an Australian or New Zealand student for 2004.
Heather's leadership and policy initiatives have led to an increased awareness of domestic and family violence, and increased protection from violence for people in a wide range of relationships.
School-based Prevention Project
For Koora the Kangaroo: Violence Prevention at Woorabinda State School
Koora the Kangaroo is a culturally based program that teaches children and young people at the Woorabinda State School alternatives to violence.
Koora the Kangaroo was developed by Ailsa Weazel from Gumbi Gunyah Women's Safe Place. Koora, a hip-hop kangaroo, has taught students at Woorabinda State School messages of respect and non-violent behaviour through break-dancing and corroboree.
Ailsa also wrote and developed a series of story books – which were illustrated by two young Aboriginal women – that use traditional storytelling to broach issues such as self-esteem, domestic and family violence and bullying.
The project also includes a teacher's resource package that brings together best practice in early childhood teaching, as well as activities based on traditional Aboriginal art forms.
Koora the Kangaroo addresses the issues of domestic and family violence in a traditional way that is accessible to children and young people.
Community organisation
North Queensland Domestic Violence Resource Service for Twisted Love - let's talk about dating violence
The North Queensland Domestic Violence Resource Service developed Twisted Love: Let's talk about dating violence– an audio CD for young people. The CD contains information about domestic, family and dating violence and the support services that are available to young people who may be experiencing it.
Developed for young people between the ages of 13 and 25, Twisted Love creates awareness of dating violence at a time when young people are or will soon be establishing their first intimate relationships.
By educating young people at this crucial time, Twisted Love aims to break the cycle of transgenerational violence.
The CD is distributed to young people in conjunction with training about healthy relationships in high schools in the Townsville area.
Partnership
Gold Coast Domestic Violence Integrated Response for Project SAFER (Safety Assessment for Every Response)
Project SAFER – or Safety Assessment for Every Response – is an innovative approach to policing domestic violence.
Developed through a partnership between the Gold Coast District Police and the Gold Coast Domestic Violence Service, the project has successfully introduced risk assessment to police investigations of domestic violence incidences.
The project also includes a children's risk assessment, to enable police to determine the level of involvement and risk to children who are present during domestic violence incidences. A program of advanced-level domestic violence training was also developed and implemented.
Project SAFER was developed in response to local needs and issues identified through the Gold Coast Domestic Violence Integrated Response. The project can be applied to other communities where an integrated response between the Domestic Violence Service and Queensland Police Service exists.
Government
Logan Beaudesert District Mental Health Service for The Better Beginnings Program
Better Beginnings is an infant mental health program that provides interventions to infants and their families who are at significant risk.
The program was developed for families where a parent or caregiver has a mental illness, homes where domestic and family violence exists, or homes where other stressors exist that might disrupt attachment between an infant and their caregiver.
Better Beginnings is based on international research and literature that suggests strong attachment between an infant and caregiver decreases the likelihood of future mental illness. It acknowledges the significant impact that living with domestic and family violence has on the current and future lives of infants and children. By providing interventions at an early age that promote strong attachment between infants and their caregivers, Better Beginnings increases an infant's capacity to regulate emotions, and increases the likelihood that they will develop strong and stable relationships in the future.
The Logan Beaudesert District Mental Health Service works in partnership with a range of agencies to deliver the project, including:
- the Department of Child Safety
- the Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect Team
- Child Health and other teams
- various community organisations.
Last updated: 24 June 2008.