Australian Violence Prevention Awards

Winners of the 2001 Australian Violence Prevention Awards

Announced by the Senator the Hon. Margaret Reid on behalf of Senator the Hon. Christopher Ellison, Minister for Justice and Customs and Senator for Western Australia on Thursday, 18 October 2001.

• National winners
• 'Special category' award
• Monetary winners
• Certificate winners

Contact list for 2001 award winners (PDF 21kB)

National winners

Two projects were selected as National Winners:

• 'When Love Hurts': Violence Prevention for Young People (Victoria)
  Award $10 000 and a Certificate of Merit
  The Program was developed by the Domestic Violence & Incest Resource Centre, to provide resources for young people on domestic violence. The project aims to prevent violence by raising young people's awareness of the warning signs of abuse in a relationship and by assisting young people who are in a violent relationship to protect themselves from further violence, or to leave a violent partner. The project involves a 40 page website titled 'When Love Hurts' (www.dvirc.org.au/whenlove/) and a 24 page colour booklet titled 'Relationships'. The project was developed in response to research that suggests that young people were more likely to be subjected to violence than older people, yet they were also the least likely to contact services.
• Port Augusta Aboriginal Families Project (South Australia)
  Award $10 000 and a Certificate of Merit
  The Port Augusta Aboriginal Families Project is a Department of Human Services initiative undertaken by Family and Youth Services, South Australian Housing Trust and the Port Augusta Hospital. The project also has an Aboriginal Elders group attached to it that acts in an advisory capacity. The project works with Aboriginal families who have multiple problems and who have a number of agencies involved with them. These families are often difficult to engage, resource heavy for all agencies and need a different approach to create change. Rather than agencies attempting to control families, the project applies the principles of empowerment, participation and partnership with intensive availability and help from workers when requested. Intervention with the families involves following an 11 stage model at the family's pace.

'Special category' award

'Special category' award, sponsored by the Hon Dr Michael Wooldridge, Minister for Health and Aged Care awarded to:

• Safer Times Round Albury Wodonga for Women (STRAWS) (New South Wales)
  Award: $10 000 and a Certificate of Merit
  The Safer Times Round Albury Wodonga project STRAWS is a unique partnership project, which promotes safety for women at licensed premises in the Albury Wodonga region. The programme grew from concern for the safety of women in public places in the Albury Wodonga region. STRAWS is directed towards enhancing the safety of hotels, clubs, nightclubs and other licensed venues, especially for women and addresses issues prevalent in Albury Wodonga related to harassment of women at licensed premises. Letters of invitation to participate in STRAWS are sent to licensed venues in Albury and Wodonga. An audit is then conducted of each participating venue to assess the venue in terms of its general safety for women patrons. Following the assessment, venues are provided with feedback in relation to good aspects of the venue and what could be done to improve it.

Monetary winners

Five projects were awarded $5000 and a Certificate of Merit:

• Auskick Football Program (Northern Territory)
  The initial concept of the program was to improve the relationship between Police and the Aboriginal community through football because it was envisaged that playing football would relieve boredom amongst youth and potentially reduce juvenile crime. It is conducted through local schools and children must attend school to be eligible to participate. The program concentrates heavily on the personal development of juveniles by teaching appropriate and acceptable behaviour on the sporting field.
• The Yarrabah Police Citizens Youth Club Community Centre (Queensland)
  A Police Citizens Youth Club Community Centre was established to provide a healthy alternative to drug and alcohol use and anti-social behaviour caused through boredom and lack of entertainment. The primary focus was to assist in combating juvenile crime, anti-social behaviour and the community's extremely high suicide rate. Activities such as boxing, skating, basketball, volleyball, discos and movie nights have all contributed to the success of the program and the substantial impact it has had in changing the community's youth life style and behaviour.
• Mooloolaba Safe, Streetsafe Project (Queensland)
  The program coordinates the proactive enforcement resources of the Queensland Police Service and the Maroochy Shire Ranger Services, in partnership with the safety net and support services provided by the Sunshine Coast Street Angels. The Streetsafe program provides enhanced safety of residents, visitors and property through on foot and vehicle safety and security patrols, control on the consumption of alcohol in public places, enforcement of the Litter Act, dealing with acts of anti-social behaviour and a safety net and streetwork service to provide immediate support and assistance to people in distress or need.
• The City of Gosnells, SafeCity Initiative (Western Australia)
  The SafeCity Initiative is a comprehensive community based Crime Prevention Initiative encompassing many aspects of crime prevention, security and safety strategies including: Anti Graffiti Programme; Diversionary Programmes with Youth; SaferSeniors; SafeCity Advisory Committees; Community Based Development; Security/Community Liaison Officers, and other community involvement programmes.
• Broome PCYC Youth Development Program (Western Australia)
  The program engages unemployed aboriginal youth in paid duties associated with running the Police and Citizens' Youth Centre where they learn specific skills and the discipline and rigors associated with full time employment. After completion of their program they are then placed in long-term sustainable employment situations such as formal traineeships or apprenticeships.

Nine projects received an award of $3000 and a Certificate of Merit:

• ACT Family Violence Intervention Program (Australian Capital Territory)
  The program is a coordinated community and criminal justice response to family violence within intimate and family relationships. Its principal aims are to improve victim safety and increase perpetrator accountability through the development, piloting and evaluation of an interagency criminal justice intervention into family violence.
• Sticks and Stones (New South Wales)
  A theatre in education project that explores the reasons for children perpetrating violence, bullying and harassment toward others and proposes fundamental changes in behaviour and attitudes, which can be adopted in schools to reduce violence and encourage co-operation and harmony. It employs the devices of a powerful and engaging story line, identifiable and sympathetic characters, humour, dance, song and circus skills in which the children become absorbed and actively involved.
• Aboriginal Women's Outreach Project (Northern Territory)
  The Project provides legal advice, assistance, information and education to Aboriginal women in remote Aboriginal communities. The Community Legal Workers provide an ongoing presence within the communities between Top End Women's Legal Service outreach visits and court sittings. This ensures that local women receive ongoing support in accessing legal and other services.
• The Research & Development of the Northern Territory Domestic & Family Violence Offender Programs (Northern Territory)
  In order to progress the goal of the Domestic Violence Strategy, a sub-committee was established under the Domestic Violence Coordinating Committee in 1994, to consider offender programs for the Northern Territory and provide recommendations on best practice models for offender programs. Two programs, Northern Territory Court-Mandated and Court Referred Offenders of Domestic and Family Violence Program and the NT Prison Referred and Community Based Indigenous Family Violence Offender Programs were developed. Although similarities between domestic and Indigenous family violence do exist, there are also important differences. The differences were identified by Indigenous Territorians in the design of the programs and incorporated into all aspects of delivery.
• Success on the Outside (SOTO) (Queensland)
  The program provides job seekers, who have been through the Criminal Justice System, the skills they need to find, obtain and maintain employment in contemporary employments settings, to function more efficiently and effectively within the workplace and enhance the management of their personal lives. It comprises twelve stand-alone modules within three streams that include building self-esteem, effective resume writing, job applications and industry-based job interviews.
• Family Wellbeing Program (FWB) (South Australia)
  A counselling skills program that equips people with the skills for effective communication and conflict resolution as well as strategies to deal with family violence issues. The course uses a range of learning techniques that assist participants to develop the skills required to ensure their basic needs are met.
• Missionbeat (Tasmania)
  A program operating between midnight and 5.00am on Saturday and Sunday mornings. It removes intoxicated people from the city centre streets by driving them either to their homes, City Mission Crisis/Sobering-up Unit or the Hospital. It also transports girls/women who are in parks or walking alone to safer places and where appropriate, discusses with young people aspects of drugs and alcohol consumption and other destructive lifestyles.
• Solving the Jigsaw: Changing the Culture of Violence (Victoria)
  A program in schools which focuses on the key areas of violence, bullying, depression, anxiety and abuse and which is designed to foster safety, well-being and belonging among young people. The courses are run by trained facilitators and range from short, medium and long-term programs at primary and secondary levels. The program also includes linked parenting programs and professional development and information sessions for teachers. Skills in conflict resolution, assertive communication, decision-making and anger management are highlighted and positive regard between students, their parents and the school is promoted.
• Albany Family Violence Early Intervention Project (Western Australia)
  A community based family violence early intervention project which provides measurement tools for use by key workers to identify those who may benefit from early intervention; offers community education and training for service providers, including identification of early signs and effects of family violence on children, young people, women and men, and an increased capacity to recognise and respond appropriately to family violence.

Ten projects were awarded $2000 and a Certificate of Merit:

• The Jannawi Resources (New South Wales)
  A companion set of video resource kits for children, families and the professional community about preventing domestic violence which assists children and families who have experienced domestic violence and abuse; raises community awareness and provides strategies to prevent violence; educates workers through structured, self-paced learning programs, engages men who use violence in their relationships and identifies positive parenting practices that nurture and support children.
• Footprints (New South Wales)
  A respite camp and mentoring program for young boys. A closed group of 15 boys attends six weekend camps per year. The camps are carefully structured and offer a balance of predictable routine, meaningful ritual and exciting challenge. For each two boys there is one volunteer leader, so that an adult's attention is readily available. It embraces three key elements: consistency, containment and commitment.
• Mark David Farm (New South Wales)
  Mark David Farm is a facility that works with young men aged 13 to 17 years, who are both chronically homeless and drug addicted. The approach is to remove young people from the exposure to physical and sexual violence and take them into a safe and supported home where they can overcome their trauma. Young people in the program learn strategies to deal with the problems that are the cause of violent behaviour such as anger, depression and troubled relationships with their families and friends.
• The Reflections Room: Teaching kids how to break the cycle of domestic violence (Northern Territory)
  The Reflections Room is the school's commitment to mediation as an Alternative Dispute Resolution where the teacher on duty mediates children's disputes. Children can be referred to the Reflections Room for a range of behavioural management matters. Mediation focuses on helping the child/children have ownership of the problem and responsibility for the dispute/conflict; they must be listened to and actively hear others and must come up with an appropriate outcome.
• Peacebuilders (Queensland)
  Designed to help create an environment that reduces violence and establishes a more peaceful way of living in schools, organisations and communities. The principles to give up put downs, praise people, seek wise people, notice hurts, right wrongs, increase the peace, get things done and find better ways are taught through a direct lesson approach, supported play activities, small focus group meetings and home visits.
• Stepping Out Safely (Queensland)
  The program defines sexual violence, and challenges incorrect community assumptions about it raises awareness in the community about both sexual and gender based violence. This is achieved in an interactive setting, with small groups and discussions, covering a number of topics such as strategies and scenarios.
• Fax-Back Domestic Violence Project (Queensland)
  The project is a preventative domestic violence initiative based on a partnership between the Working Against Violence Support Service (WAVSS) and the Queensland Police Service in the Logan District. Police who attend domestic violence incidents connect victims with support, crisis counselling, information and referral at WAVSS by completing a referral form. Police then fax this form to WAVSS who contact the aggrieved to offer crisis support around a wide range of issues relating to domestic violence and its impact on families.
• Labrador Peaceable School Project (Queensland)
  The project fosters mutual respect amongst individuals and encourages increasing responsibility in students. Staff, students and parents are trained in "Choice Theory/Reality Therapy" and Conflict Resolution Techniques which increases the levels of resiliency amongst all members of the School Community and reduces levels of violence and aggression in the school by empowering people to take responsibility for their own actions.
• City of Clarence Council Youth Services: Clarence Plains Youth Centre Alternative, Learning Recreation and Social Support (Tasmania)
  Youth Services develop, coordinate and provide recreation, alternative learning and social support opportunities that are reflective of the diverse nature of young people's needs within the City of Clarence. The programs emphasise the empowering of young people in taking responsibility for their choices and actions in a supportive environment. Engaging and connecting young people particularly those "at risk" in positive, safe social experiences can often assist in reducing or preventing violent/risk taking behaviour.
• MOVAIT - Management of Violence and Aggression International Training (Victoria)
  The project offers training and education to staff who interact with clients/patients that have a potential for violence and aggression. This enables staff to develop observational skills to detect causative factors, prevent or de-escalate aggression before violence occurs. Tailored 1, 3 and 5 day courses equip staff with the essential skills to manage an eruption of violence and strategies to safely escape and minimise injury to both client and staff.

Nine projects were awarded $1000 and a Certificate:

• North West Violence Prevention Program (New South Wales)
  The project was developed to address issues related to violence prevention in the northwest region of NSW. Through a series of workshops over a number of weeks in five communities the participants explored issues relating to violence based on their own experiences. Narratives, including songs were recorded, over 400 hours of film was collected and from this material the film 'Hurt' was produced. Through local, state and national screenings, 'Hurt' provided greater awareness, understanding and empathy in the broader community for the effects of violence on young people.
• "Ride for Respect" (New South Wales)
  The program, which is an annual 21 day bike ride covering 2,300kms, aims to build relationships and mutual respect between young people, police and the community through co-operation, sponsorship, support and networking. It provides an alternative recreational activity improving overall health and wellbeing and contributes to young peoples' education and developmental needs. By working together young, people, Police and community have developed a greater understanding of each others' culture as well as being educated on different topics that are broached each day - including family violence, drugs and alcohol.
• Eden Safe House (New South Wales)
  The Eden Safe House project was formed to establish a safe place for Aboriginal families suffering family violence. The service provides a resource centre for the Aboriginal community although priority is to be given to women and children. Every effort is made to help all family members end the violence using culturally appropriate and community based solutions and staff provide workshops and perform outreach work.
• Workplace Domestic Violence Strategy (Queensland)
  Employers are encouraged to create workplace responses to domestic violence, which includes the development of specific policies and procedures as well as the provision of specifically developed training for workplace supervisors and human resource personnel. It raises awareness through display of information, poster brochures and other materials and an Information Kit for employers has been developed.
• Responsive Adolescents Guys' Education, RAGE (Victoria)
  A pilot project to provide an innovative, early intervention for adolescent boys who have witnessed domestic violence in their lives and who may be caught up in the transmission of violence in their relationships with others. The project sought to work with the young men and present an alternative view of relationships. It provided opportunities for the young men to develop communication skills in relationships, social problem solving, identify their stressors as well as inviting them to accept their responsibility in avoiding the perpetuation of violence in their own lives.
• Joondalup Family Violence Court Project (Western Australia)
  The Joondalup Family Violence Court operates as a Court of Petty Sessions dealing with restraining order and criminal matters whereby the complainant and defendant have a familial relations. The project is a pilot that engages a co-ordinated response involving other government and non-government agencies with an aim to increase victim/s safety and reduce repeat violence.
• Implementing Risk Management Systems for the Prevention and Management of Workplace Aggression (Western Australia)
  As a result of escalating incidents of violence against staff, the Bentley Health Services carried out a comprehensive review of high-risk areas (adult mental health wards). A comprehensive staff-training program was developed to increase staff skills and competence in recognising, managing and defusing aggressive behaviour in clients.
• Family Violence Intervention Project (Western Australia)
  The project provides a holistic integrated series of programs. It is divided into intervention, prevention and community education to ensure that not only the symptoms, but also the multi-faceted causes of this social problem are identified and dealt with appropriately.
• Noongar Patrol System (Western Australia)
  The project provides a Patrol mediation and intervention service to Indigenous people in the Perth CBD, Northbridge area and the Town of Vincent. It provides a park patrol, assists homeless people in finding longer-term accommodation and supplies transport to people who require urgent assistance. Indigenous and non-Indigenous people work together to keep the peace and provide a public service.

Certificate winners

Fifteen projects were awarded Certificates of Merit:

• Family & Community Safety Intervention Program (New South Wales)
• Self-Sustaining Mediation & Conflict Resolution Training for Rural Australian Families (New South Wales)
• Glenbrook Community Safety Audit (New South Wales)
• Rural Education & Aboriginal Women's Access Project (R.E.A.W.A.P.) (New South Wales)
• Mentoring to Improve the Transition to High School for Vulnerable Students (New South Wales)
• Casuarina Street Primary School Behaviour Management Program (Northern Territory)
• Cairns Police Liaison Officer's Domestic Violence Follow-Up Project (Queensland)
• Liquor Enforcement and Proactive Strategies (LEAPS) (Queensland)
• Owning Up Program (Queensland)
• Parent Media Violence Awareness (South Australia)
• Children's Peace Literature Award (South Australia)
• Common Ground Project (Tasmania)
• Wonthella House Domestic/Family Violence Advocacy & Support Service (Western Australia)
• Western Australian Business Police Academy (Western Australia)
• Domestic Violence Resource and Referral Centre (Western Australia)