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PACIFIC ISLANDERS & MULTICULTURAL
WOMEN’S DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COURT ADVOCACY PROGRAM
A project of Canterbury Harmony group incorporated established 2007 auspice by Riverwood Community Centre.
Introduction:
The Pacific Islanders strengthening, Advocating, supporting and Mentoring Court Advocacy Program was established in 1995, the service was in partnership with the Funeral Industry, Doctors, Superannuation, Life insurance, funeral bonds, lawyers, Public Trustees, Protection Commissioners, service providers, Cemeteries, airlines, limousine, florists, restaurants, businesses, families and others. We did work closely with Solicitors and others to solve complicated issues especially when both parents die and left the children behind or family conflict, death in custody, suspicious circumstances, death due to violence and many more. Now PISSAM member Principal Solicitor/Registered Nurse Ate Hifo Leva Manufekai and Co-ordinator Court support, Counsellor, Interpreter, translator (Tongan) Anne Latu and one Administration assistant needed support from the 3 level of Government to fund PISSAM program. It has proved very successful and we now ask the NSW Legal Aid Commission (LAC) to support our Program. The service is currently supported by professional’s individuals who have supported Pacific Islanders with their issues with their various cases. We are sponsored by Canterbury Council, local clubs and individuals and are auspice by Riverwood Community Centre. Canterbury Council will provide one of their buildings to set up our service. Our financial affairs are managed by Riverwood Community Centre. We are under the umbrella of Canterbury Harmony Group Inc. various Multicultural groups with its members are the 156 voices across Canterbury and beyond. The many voices run their own project and we are open and connected working as partners united as one Voice. The PIMWDA program is currently provides court support Services at any Court where our Pacific Islanders cases are heard or when any person urgently requested our support requested by client’s lawyers, client’s family, and client themselves, service providers and others.
This information has been provided to give you an understanding of what service we provide to our Pacific Islanders, Multicultural and the general community’s women’s urgent needs across Canterbury and beyond.
We are very proud of our Canterbury Pacific Islanders and Multicultural communities many projects that we are part of and PISSAM program and its working partners wish to attract women, children, and families to use our service. We will try to motivate and give the clients the very best cultural which are relevant to them to work towards their goals in their life. We will strive and continue to develop an exciting opportunities help them get there. With our partnership with ATL Translators, we can accommodate any interpreters to deal with any needs of the language any of the client language problems.
Our successes over recent years are many and have culminated with our outcome since we officially activated the program in 2007. Our members Award winners in our services since we were established in 2007. This is recognised as the greatest accolade citizens in our Members can achieve. Award is a source of pride not only to the members of our organization, but also to the people of the area. Our members were winners of 2007 and 2008 for our contribution to peace and harmony across Canterbury in working with children, parents, schools and the whole community. Our Principal Research Officer won a PhD research with the Catholic University and 7 grassroots Pacific Islanders working with her. Academics, sports stars and individual successes are on the rise which makes us very proud of our achievement. We see a lot of changes to some still we have to keep on persevering on some. With the continued support and sponsor of Canterbury Council, The Mayor Robert Furolo, Deputy Mayor Councillor Karl Saleh, Bill Kritharas, Councillors, the General Manager, the Pacific Islanders, PISSAM working partners and our Auspice body Riverwood Community Centre helped us tremendously getting there.
Canterbury, Lakemba, Punchbowl, Belmore, Campsie, Marrickville, Ashfield, Auburn, Lidcombe, Bankstown, Earlwood, Lidcombe, Lewisham, Hurtsville area are the gateway to the City and to the inner west.
These areas comprise some of Sydney’s best football grounds suburbs, like Belmore oval where our young Pacific Islanders are flourishing with a football career due to the hard work of many mothers. The BULLDOGS, the DRAGONS where the Islanders call home. The Pacific Islanders and Multicultural children and youths play footy for these local clubs - the area most people identify as the ‘city’ - to the suburbs of the inner west. The area has a strong connection with the Pacific Islanders and Multicultural community. Youths love to hang around the streets, parks, football grounds, play footy for the local teams striving for a place in the BULLDOGS OR THE DRAGONS. The distinctive neighbourhoods and increasing numbers of people are attracted to the area because of its convenience, affordable city character, its vibrant street culture, multicultural influences, eating and shopping experiences, and its friendly community.
We aim, to retain and promote PACIFIC ISLANDERS, MULTICULTURAL COMMUNITIES’S distinctive character, while providing a high level of
Support in education, health, community development, participation, and to contribute by taking action, advocate, preventing, strengthening, supporting and mentoring Pacific Islanders and Multicultural children, parents, citizens as best as we could with the support our Auspice body, working partners.
Our community – diverse, vibrant and innovative PROJECT is a vibrant and dynamic community of about 5000 Pacific Islanders residents of Canterbury and 55,000 Pacific Islanders in other areas and many Multicultural communities. Our surveys and our constant support show that citizens see their community as friendly, tolerant, harmonious and very proud of their local area.
Our community is culturally and linguistically diverse, with about 30% of the population born overseas in a non-English speaking country, and nearly half speaking a language other than English at home. The main languages spoken are, Vietnamese, Chinese, Arabic and many others. This cultural diversity is
reflected in Bellmore’s Lakemba’s, Campsie’s, Bankstown’s shops, clubs, parks, architecture, churches and community organisations.
Canterbury Council strongly supports community diversity and the benefits that diversity brings. It is proud that (in the face of rapid gentrification) many second generation migrants have chosen to remain in the area, and that
Canterbury is also home to a significant Pacific Islanders, Multicultural and other population. Languages spoken across Canterbury: English only 30%, Arabic (including Lebanese) 14%, Greek 10.3%, Chinese languages 11.5 %, Vietnamese 3.8 %, Korean 2.2 % Pacific Islanders 2.00% not counting New Zealand Maoris, and Pacific Islanders who as Classify as Pacific Islanders.
Our aim is to actively develop Pacific Islanders and Multicultural vibrant and diverse cultural life. With its rich 156 voices, active community life and ‘cutting edge’ creative sports, arts and cultures Canterbury is one of the most innovative and cosmopolitan
Communities in Sydney. It has many cultural festivals, thriving our streets, and activities. Still there is a huge gap and a need for a service of this kind across Canterbury and beyond. When violence is at home, it goes to school, sport grounds, to the community. A mother suffered the consequences of any kind due to being a mother, abuses comes in different forms.
Abuses come in all different forms on our women. It can be Physical, Psychological, Mental, financial, economical, Power hunger. Greed, Jealousy, irresponsibility, bully, cultural inter-marriages, discrimination and many other forms of abuses. We must recognised those newly arrived migrant that has been through traumas all their lives. These are the people that need special support. We must convince ourselves that our work with multicultural people is a profound example of our purpose to put aside our differences and be united for the future of our Society. It is a vital expression of our aims and mission. We have to embrace the cultural variety of our community and to develop unity. It has been exhausted in the world with cultural differences, as a community we have a long way to go. The power and the glory are with us. We have the opportunity to bear it all and to bring hope.
The abuses can be a member of the family, a husband, a son, a daughter, a friend, a custodian or may be a stranger. We all know that abuses and addictions come in different forms. These abuses caused by problematic environment surrounding the people from their past lives. Some may think that what they are doing is normal. If we do not detect the warning sign and to prevent and protect them from happening they will explode and in some cases they are far too late to seek help. A mother will always try to protect her children from harm of others. Our program will focus on supporting them to get safely to the other side of the tunnel where there will be light.
In recent years a sense of deepening despair had settled on much of Pacific Islanders in Australia. As we have seen on the local newspapers, telegraphs and on air about the growing crimes of Pacific Islanders. It is not getting any better, it is getting worse. PISSAM Program strongly believes that if we do not fill these gaps and needs they will explode to a ball of fire.
2008 Statistics from Mt Druitt Police
Total charges in 2008 (3135)
15%: Pacific Islanders Aggravated Robbery, Armed with intent, Assault, Traffic and Property theft.
13%: Aboriginal
02% Torres Strait Islanders
Custodial sentences Assault
2006 2007 2008
52% 57% 50% Caucasians
9% 13% 21% Pacific Islanders
25% 18% 21% Aboriginal
Robbery
2006 2007 2008
27% 0% Caucasians
9% 50% Pacific Islanders
64% 50% Aboriginal
Statistics from Juvenile Justice:
Total Pacific Islander in Custody – 60 young persons
Total Pacific Islander in Community – 137 young persons
· Other relevant indicators are :
· The Department of Education and Training has reported on the increasing number of students from Pacific families and communities who are truanting, dropping out of schools, demonstrating other difficult behavioral problems, bullying, stealing, withdrawal, neglect, anger, not doing their allocated tasks and others.
Catholic Schools has reported to PISSAM Executive officer Kalo Sikimeti similar concern with the Department of Education with Pacific Islanders students attended their Catholic schools system. Here are some of their concerns:
· Australian born Pacific Islander children are experiencing identity crises and low self esteem.
· Half Pacific Islanders children are confused which way to go.
· Parent that married Pacific Islanders are confused, shocked by the cultures and tradition and in some cases they ended up in separation or divorced. This causes more traumas on the children.
· The donations given to Pacific Islanders congregation leaders are major factors of the above issues.
· The Pacific Islanders Island of origin constant coming looking for donations is a concern.
· Another great bridge was crossed in the events of the World Youth day. Let us not forget the great wave of goodwill that has been unleashed across our community on World Youth day, the feeling of belonging, the equal shares on enjoyment, cultures and traditional beliefs and bringing every youth to the occasions were moving but that was last year and is already forgotten. After the world youth day a lot of babies were born to young girls still going to school and are now single mothers facing the responsibilities of being a parent at very young age.
Now we are back to square one and everything has been forgotten and back to basic with the usual fabric of cultures and tradition that goes on in the Pacific Island community.
Since the Pacific Islanders settlement from New Zealand I believe we have finally concluded that this great challenge transcends ideology – to what government support and what services we will deliver will take Pacific Islanders forward.
The PISSAM PROGRAM are eager to embrace a new approach.
An evidence-based approach, where two questions come before all others.
One, what is most needed to close the gap in the Pacific Islanders community?
And two, what works best to meet that need in each local and general community where most of the Pacific Islanders are located?
Expectations that change would be a way forward to us Pacific Islanders and there will be results.
Slowly but Surely.
But Pacific Islanders disadvantage cannot be turned around overnight.
Some say that little has happened because we Pacific Islanders have to change to a life of education, hard work, discipline, participation, strengths contribution, Social, Community Development and healthy lifestyle.
But that is not the case. A new approach, Current Research, children, parents, school Professionals, and Specialist, experienced; quality people to lead Pacific Islanders to the Next Level.
Has Progress has been made? No as we have seen in the Statistic we are the worse off, in juvenile, jails PI are over represented and PI are the highest according to our population. Our population is just over 55,000 Pacific Islanders in NSW. Still, we outdo other communities in committing crimes than any other communities in NSW, QLD and Victoria
Houses are being built, more money goes to agencies that provide services to Pacific Islanders and in most cases the services provided are not viable are not culturally working due to their disadvantages, not understanding what is all about. In cases like this they are misdiagnose causing Pacific Islanders withdrawn or never keep to the appointment. Pacific Islanders are still on the long list in the Housing NSW ever growing list. Some Pacific Islanders are desperately looking for a place to live. To some agents Pacific Islanders are not much favoured. From past experiences I do not blame the landlords for not favouring the PI when they are looking for accommodation. The way they treated these places.
The PISSAM Program ask the 3 levels of government to provide funding over three years to provide more Pacific Islander communities awareness, safer and support the justice system by:
- continuing night patrol services across Canterbury and Innerwest areas communities; responding to cases that identified as Pacific Islanders.
- enabling PI Interpreter Service to meet increased demand;
- ensuring PI legal services can respond to high levels of need; and
- Continuing the PI human Rights Outreach project.
- Established a body for superannuation where the family authorised Apra to pay the funeral director the funeral instead of going to the family.
Our philosophy – to provide our service to our best of our best to those Pacific Islanders and Multicultural in needs of our service.
To give a community support according to the complex needs of those looking for support in what affected them in their daily lives. PISSAM is the head body of the Pacific Islanders programs and its Council has developed its own model of governance’. This model is based on the philosophy that our Principal Researcher KALO SIKIMETI developed. It is current, up to date and collaborated with her many years in Education, as a teacher, leader, Director of Education, Educator, lecturer, Principal, counsellor, musician, social worker, mercy leader and many other management positions simply delivering education products and services to Universities, schools, clients, children, and parents since 1975 in the many Pacific Islands nation, New Zealand, Australia and Abroad. She is focusing performance on the achievement of bottom line results.
In fact, she sees her role and her team of 7 grassroots University students and grassroots specialist on education, medical, legal, age care, health, community development, counselling, human resources, welfare, interpreters/translators, service providers, sports leaders, community leaders, congregation leaders and professionals working partners are as much more challenging and interesting – providing community leadership to Pacific Islanders and the Multicultural Communities across Canterbury building community strength, and improving the quality of people’s lives. With such a broad projects influence on community well being, She believes its focus should be on people as Pacific Islands citizens and children, parents as families as connected as can be reaching out to those in needs and vice versa. These will bring those in needs to our service in a one to one or group cultural appropriate Pacific Islanders and Multicultural way according to their cultures of their Pacific Island origin.
She encourages children, parents and to all citizens to exercise both their rights and responsibilities as members of their community. This means that processes such as communication, consultation, feedback, debate, transparency and inclusion, are as important at PISSAM program as accountability, action, performance and achievement. Our Working for our community will continue to take our PI and Multicultural people to higher and dryer grounds.
Our members find that our approaches to working in partnership with the community provides a rewarding work experience and chance to make a real difference to all inclusively. The more we participated and involved with the community are not only a huge learning, educational, enjoyable but we share other cultures and understand their perspectives.
Our reputation for innovation and excellence
Leading in many areas from the Pacific Islands and in Australia since the seventies in the support of bringing hundreds of students and others and now are proud citizen of Australia. Providing the different support to those who have seek and trusted our members in the past now and to the future. Our transparency accountability and governance will strive our utmost best to make differences to our community yesterday, today and everyday will empower us and our future generation to follow. That is why PISSAM program believes in collaborating the past, current and the future specialist to start its program with the three generation so the future generation will be equipped with all the knowledges that will bring high quality of the past, current and the future to take Pacific Islanders to the next level.
Our reputations for innovation, for excellence in education are the very fabric of most of the leaders in the Pacific Islands, New Zealand, Australia and America where the Pacific Islanders call home. We are very proud of that, still it is so good to keep it going and to achieve the next level. For us we are aiming and focusing on being vocal in our
support of community diversity and harmony. We are ever so proud of our program under the umbrella of Canterbury Harmony Group Inc. auspice by Riverwood Community Centre, Manager Greta Vallance and Director Pauline Gallagher. We are growing stronger and stronger each new day with our partnership in many programs, education and forum that we are invited to participated. We acknowledge the support and hard work of the Deputy Mayor of Canterbury Councillor of Karl Saleh and Canterbury Council.
To help us meet our goals we are guided by a set of values:
1. communication and children, parents, senior citizen and the whole community focus innovation and strategic thinking teamwork and performance
2. Communication and children, parents, citizen and the whole community focus are about and understanding our community; innovation and strategic are:
3. About responding to community priorities (identifying new options and opportunities), and teamwork and performance are:
4. About delivering results in partnership with our working partners, children, parents, citizens and the whole community.
5. To support the delivery of innovative and citizen focused services we clearly need the commitment of a high quality, qualify, skilled, up to date and motivated staff team.
6. Our team is listed below; our professional resources are listed below and are equivalent to provide services in a wide range of roles.
7. We have four major programs focused on providing quality services, and providing leadership to our Pacific Islanders and diverse community.
8. Community Services - comprising children and family services, community development.
9. Communication and cultural, and recreation services. Partnership with other Service Providers - and finance, legal Aid and general support, public housing support, justice of the peace, filling all types of application forms, Development and sport activities Services - comprising development assessment, monitoring, talented sport people and planning services.
We encourage Pacific Islanders people anyone from non English speaking backgrounds, and people with disabilities to come to us when you needed our service.
We will continuous Community development. We will work with a merit basis and put a high emphasis on continuous learning and development in partnership with Primary and Secondly Schools to refer to us the slow learners or special needs so we can work on the help they need during our homework classes. We targeted our systems that will support staff through a competency based performances and have an annual personal performance planning and review process. We have excellent systems in place for occupational health and safety directed by our Auspice body Riverwood Community Centre. They have a lot of short courses that train staffs and volunteers and we will be happy to be part of it.
We believe and try to be on a leading organisation with an excellent reputation for both providing good services and being an excellent mentor as shown by some of our members. To sustain these goals we need our staff to be qualify, skilled, experience and specialist on their profession and members of the profession they represented. Staff must have up to date knowledge, innovative, motivated and committed to making PISSAM a great PILOT program to provide the service that Pacific Islander people need.
Our working environment
Our terms and conditions are set under the agencies which ensures all staff receive
good employment conditions, salaries are reviewed regularly, we have a competency
Our mentor program and schemes to encourage flexible work arrangements on 24 hrs availability so our client will have to access when there is an urgent need.
We also have good working relationships with our working partners so we can stood together in providing the viable service that the Pacific Islanders need.
Our working partners and resources are aware with our consultant where they understand the Pacific Islanders and Multicultural needs are extra work to them especially trying to come down to a Pacific Islander level to provide the best service that they need. An active Consultative Committee – made up of the 4 Projects are members and all the representatives and senior executive members and are of specialist professionals and service providers and they are members of the professional they represented. We also hold regular briefing sessions for all Program members weekly, and a range of many social events all helping to facilitate good communication and we are so connected with the community.
We have invested considerably in Education by upgrading University knowledges, ongoing researches with the community, schools and families. We set up support booklet and flyers and other resources that – our citizen requests.
We really want our Mentor members to make a difference and to support this we recognise
and celebrate good performance and have a number of our mentor program members
recognize and our children, youths and parents rewarded at the end of the year.
There are social clubs and local activities that we are part of and we are very part of the
extended community. The Canterbury Harmony Day, The Ex Students for Catholic School,
The Refuge Day, The Clean up Australia Day, The Volunteer Award Day, The Australia Day,
The Pacific Islanders Day, The Tonga Day, The Holy Spirit Sport Day, The All Catholic
School Sport Day, The St Mary’s House Day, The Mary Mackillip Day, The Junior
Rugby League Final day, The all Schools sport Day, The Pacific Games,
The Catholic University Day, Australian Human Rights forum. The
Catholic Tongan Australian ex student’s day. The Australia Day,
World Peace Day and many more.
We encourage healthy lifestyle
and have a program of activities to encourage health and well being at work.
Information on the Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Program
The Advocacy was formally established in 2007 with little funding from local clubs. The aim of the program is to assist youths and families experiencing petty, harsh crimes, domestic violence, drugs offenders, driving offences and other criminal activities to obtain legal aid, protection through an Apprehended Domestic Violence Order (ADVO).
Prior to 2007 a number of youths, adult crimes and Domestic Violence Court Assistance with lawyers and other professional help. It has been operating through a
number of lawyers, like David Cohen and other court who needed support by parents and the youth themselves in the metropolitan region NSW. In most cases, Schemes operated without specific funding.
In 2009 PISSAM Principal Solicitor Ate Hifo Leva Manufekai takes over all legal representatives for Pacific Islanders and will be supported from time to time by PISSAM'S working parters.
In 2007 we established under the Program to provide services
to most of our Pacific Islanders with direct support with lawyers and court support.
As services are in demand we have developed and evolved, a huge change in coordinating with working with the schools, homework support, counselling, grief counselling 24 hrs line and finally it has been adopted and in 2009 we are in full Swing and we became known as the Canterbury Harmony Inc. with our project under the umbrella in 2007. In early 2009 we decided to ask for some fund to expand the Program bringing our working partners to make sure that our resources are there to meet our demand. As a result, all our projects are running with all the skills and experiences from the different profession to take our projects to the next level. With the funding from Canterbury Council and providing the Venues for Senior Citizens at Earlwood and Lakemba. And now we needed funding due to the significantly expanded needs, now and towards the end of 2009 and years to come.
The Aims of the
Women and children who have experienced or are experiencing domestic
Violence, re-offending, drugs, gambling, addictions face numerous and diverse legal, social and economic disadvantages.
In many cases they will have experienced some or all of the following: physical,
verbal and sexual violence, ongoing threats to their physical and/or emotional
safety, lack of access to the legal system, social and geographical isolation, lack
of family and community support, inadequate income support and credit/debt
issues, housing insecurity, health issues, threats to immigration status and
encounters with the family law and child protection systems.
The aim of the PISSAM is to provide a holistic service which:
- assists women and children who have experienced or who are
Experiencing domestic violence to obtain effective legal
Protection from New South Wales Local Courts through
Applications for Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders
(ADVOs); and
- facilitates their access to a network of professional services that
can assist them with their other legal and social/welfare needs;
and,
through partnerships established through the Service, assists in
building the capacity of local services to respond effectively to
domestic violence which has been established for some time.
Guiding principles for the
The WDVCAP is founded on a human rights approach to the provision of
services to people in domestic violence matters, which acknowledges:
- A commitment to the United Nations Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Violence against Women, the United
Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against
Women and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the
Child. The full text of these instruments can be found at
- The gendered nature of domestic violence and its
disproportionate impact on women;
- The impact of exposure to domestic violence on children and the
relevance of domestic violence as a child protection issue;
- The disproportionate impact of domestic violence on women who
are already disadvantaged, in particular Indigenous Pacific Islanders’ people similar to Aboriginal women,
women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds,
women with disabilities, women in same-sex relationships and
older women;
- The need to adopt a holistic, multi-pronged approach to the
provision of services to victims of domestic violence; and
- The need to continually improve responses to victims of domestic
violence at an individual and systemic level.
What is?
PISSAM Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service is asking for the Attorney General department for some funding from the Legal Aid
NSW to provide information, assistance and court advocacy services to women
and children experiencing domestic violence.
Funding is provided to incorporated, not for profit non-government Service
Provider organisations through a triennial Service Agreement with Legal Aid
NSW.
PISSAM is asking Funding to provided Services and to employ a Part time Administrator, Co-ordinator, Assistant Co-ordinator, administrative assistance, 2 phone counsellors, tutors and for
Administrative costs relating to the operation of the Pacific Islanders program.
Pacific Islanders that operate in areas with a high percentage of Pacific Islanders or CALD people are funded to employ Specialist, qualified professional Pacific Islanders in Education, health, legal, counselling, individuals and Pacific Islanders CALD Workers to
deliver the following services, which are explained in more detail
below:
- Information;
- Assistance and referral; and
Court Advocacy.
It is important that PISSAM staff and Professionals, Service Provider organisations have a shared understanding of what these services involve.
Information
- This includes legal information. Legal information involves describing legal procedures or processes and includes providing basic information about:
- The role of the Police; and
- The role of legal representatives including individual solicitors, representatives from Legal Aid NSW, police prosecutors and community legal centres.
Legal information does not include telling women the most appropriate course if
legal action to take, interpreting the law or making an assessment of the
consequences of any legal course of action. This is called legal advice and
WDVCAS staff
do not provide legal advice.
Women will be given legal advice by PISSAM Principal solicitor Ate. (These is where Manufekai will step in)If a woman needs legal advice and she will also represent Pacific Islanders in Court.
Assistance and Referrals
PISSAMs will
engage in ongoing casework or case management of clients, and we will referred to
our working partners with any overload.
PISSAMs engagement with a client is short-term/long-term, focused on ensuring legal
protection and assessing the clients other legal and social welfare needs and
making
appropriate referrals where and when necessary.
It is important that PISSAM workers understand the boundaries of their role and
act within those boundaries.
PISSAM provide a range of assistance within their role depending on their
resources. It may include assisting a client to make an ADVO application, making
a complaint to police about a breach of an ADVO or other criminal offence or
Writing a letter of support for a housing provider and any other support that is requested.
1 Definitions taken from the Queensland Government Department of Families, Practice Standards for
Working with Women Affected by Domestic and Family Violence (2002).
Referrals are made when the PISSAM considers that a client can be more
appropriately serviced by another organisation and refers the person to the other
organisations for assistance. Examples include:
- Legal services (e.g. family law, care and protection, victims
compensation matters, credit and debt);
- Housing services (e.g. refuges, Department of Housing, Staying
Home Leaving Violence services);
- Counselling and emotional and practical support services (such
as professional counsellors, family support services);
- Financial assistance services (e.g. Centrelink, financial
counsellors).
Wherever possible ‘warm referrals’ (referrals in which the referrer introduces the
client to the referee) should be made.
Court Advocacy
An advocate builds relationships with other key partners (such as Police, Local
Courts, legal representatives) in order to gain specialist knowledge about the
systems and services available to assist women and children experiencing
domestic violence. Advocacy involves using this knowledge in a respectful and
collaborative way to assist women to negotiate these systems effectively.
This may also involve advocating on her behalf (with her consent) with other key
partners.
Examples of court advocacy include working with the DVLO or police prosecutor
to ensure ADVO conditions are appropriate to the client’s needs, ensuring
women receive the support and assistance they need to address breaches and
when they disclose offences against them and prevent secondary victimisation of men,
women and children by the system.
Advocacy does not mean providing legal representation or advice.
Principles relating to WDVCAS service delivery
The principles that underpin the services provided by PISSAMs include, but are
not limited to, the following:
1. The safety of women, men and other persons with whom she is in a
domestic relationship (including their children) and of workers
has priority;
2. Women, children are treated with dignity, respect and sensitivity;
3. Women, children are supported and assisted to receive services on an
equitable basis;
4. Women, children are able to identify and express their needs and make
decisions in a supportive and non-judgemental environment.
This includes the right to refuse a service and not have this
decision prejudice their future access to services;
5. Women, children have the right to have their confidentiality respected
and observed and are informed of situations where that
confidentiality may be limited;
6. Services will work co-operatively, collaboratively and in a coordinated
way to ensure the best possible services are
delivered to women, and children experiencing domestic
violence;
7. Women, experiencing domestic violence are provided with
appropriate advocacy;
8. A culture of intolerance about domestic violence is developed in
communities and individuals;
9. Women, and children receive quality services from appropriately skilled
workers;
10. Women, men and children are able to access a service environment that enables
effective service provision.
Who are the Priority Client Groups of the PISSAM?
Depending upon demand and resources, PISSAMs are required to provide
assistance to women, and children who have experienced or are experiencing
domestic violence in the following matters in order of priority:
- Women, who are considering ADVO proceedings and require
information, advice and referral;
- Women, in ADVO applications (police and privately initiated)
which are being heard on a mention basis on AVO list days
(whether as an applicant or defendant);
- Women, in ADVO applications (police and privately initiated)
which are being heard on a mention basis on other court days
(whether as an applicant or defendant);
- Women, in ADVO applications (police and privately initiated)
which are set down for a defended hearing (whether as an
applicant or defendant);
- Women, in APVO proceedings who have been subjected to
stalking and intimidation, where there is no previous intimate
relationship, subject to the discretion of the WDVCAS Coordinator,
for example, by someone whose apparent intention is
for the purpose of forming a relationship; or by a new partner of
the client’s ex-partner;
- Women, in criminal charge matters involving domestic violence
which are being heard on a mention basis with or without an
associated ADVO application (whether as a victim witness in the
matter or as a defendant);
- Women, in criminal charge matters involving domestic violence
which are set down for a defended hearing with or without an
associated ADVO application (whether as a victim in the matter
or defendant);
Women, and children in ADVO applications (police and privately initiated)
which are the subject of an appeal to the District Court (whether
as an applicant or defendant);
- Intervention programs under the Criminal Procedure Act 1986,
such as Circle Sentencing, subject to the choice of the victim in
the proceedings to have a support person present, in accordance
with the Criminal Procedure Regulation 2005 and the procedures
of the circle sentencing group.
COURT ADVOCACY WORKER
.
Pacific Islanders Strengthening, advocating, supporting and Mentoring women’s and children Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service
PISSAM is a community organisation (auspice by Riverwood Community Centre under the umbrella of Canterbury Harmony group inc.) providing services to women, and children experiencing domestic violence, addiction, reoffenders to obtain legal protection through Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders (ADVOs) and access support services to assist with their other needs.
We are confident, motivated and with dynamic skills to deliver effective and timely services to women, and children affected by domestic violence and other court support.
The work of the PISSAM Court Advocacy Worker includes, but is not limited to,
the following duties:
- Assist the PISSAM Co-ordinator/Assistant Co-ordinator with all enquiries from women and papers re appearances in court, to provide
information, assistance and referrals and court advocacy to PISSAM clients;
- Assist the PISSAM Co-ordinator/Assistant Co-ordinator to work in
partnership with NSW Police, Local Courts, legal representatives and referral
agencies;
- Ensure the safety of PISSASM clients at court by accompanying them into
and out of court and obtaining copies of orders and other notices from the
court staff on behalf of PISSAM clients, as required;
- Adhere to PISSAM Principles, Policies and Standards in undertaking their
work in particular those relating to client confidentiality and privacy, referrals
to and from the PISSAM, client and worker safety, staff professionalism,
child protection notifications and follow-up assistance;
- Ability to deliver services in accordance with the PISSAM Service
Agreement, PISSAM Principles, Policies and Standards and operational
documents
- Collect data for the PISSAM database and any other information, as
directed by the PISSAM Co-ordinator/Assistant Co-ordinator;
- Attend court on AVO list days and other days as required, in particular,
mentions on other court days, hearings, criminal charge matters to provide
information, assistance and support for PISSAM clients, as directed by the
Coordinator;
- Develop working relationships and referral networks with local services that
respond to the particular needs of PI women and others whom access the service;
Essential skills and knowledge
- Understanding of domestic violence and its complexities
- Knowledge and understanding of and ability to implement Legal Aid NSW
PISSAM principles, policies and procedures
- Knowledge of the criminal justice response to domestic violence, legislation in
relation to ADVOs and criminal charges and processes for their
implementation; basic understanding of the family law system, its impact on
the administration of ADVO legislation and its implications for PISSAM
clients; some knowledge of Victims Compensation law
- Knowledge of Legal Aid NSW policies in respect of grants of legal aid for
representation for persons in need of protection and defendants in domestic
violence matters
- Ability to deliver services in accordance with the PISSAM polices and
procedures
- Recognition of the special needs of women, and children who are disadvantaged,
particularly Pacific Islanders women, and women, with disabilities and women of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
- Good communication, negotiation and networking skills
- Ability to work effectively with interpreters. And will be more ongoing training
Co-ordinator of the PISSAW and 1 assistant co-ordinator and a Secretary
A well developed understanding and commitment to feminist principles.
- Understanding of Domestic Violence and its complexities
- Understanding of ADVOs and Court procedures.
- Proven Ability to work with non-government & government agencies,
- Demonstrated understanding and commitment to access and equity principles.
- Proven ability in advocacy and case management of clients
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a multi-disciplinary environment
- Well developed understanding of effective communication skills.
- Well developed computer skills.
- Core training in the Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service
- Experience working in the legal system and Courts.
- Experience in working with Police Local Area Commands
- Tertiary qualifications in related areas of community development and
counselling.
