S.D.V.A.G. is
composed of workers from organisations involved with domestic
violence in the South side and surrounding areas of Brisbane,
who are committed to working collaboratively. We are
committed to promoting a non-violent society and
relationships within the community which are equal, caring,
trustworthy and free of abuse.
During 1997 a
group of legal and welfare practitioners identified concerns
relating to the abuse of children on 'contact' visits with
their non residential parents. The problems seemed to
have worsened since the introduction of the Family Law Reform
Act in 1996, reductions in legal aid funding, and increased
use of 'conferencing'. Under the auspice of the Women's
Legal Service, the group commissioned research into these
issues with a grant from the Queensland Gaming Machine
Community Benefit Fund.
The findings of
the research, were published in November 2000 in the
report"An Unacceptable Risk. A report on child contact
arrangements where there is violence in the
family". The Family Law Act 1975 requires the
Family Court, when making parenting orders, to ensure that
those orders do not expose any person to an
"unacceptable risk" of family violence. (Section
68K)
The research
found that women and children whose partners and fathers are
abusive are not well served by the current system of family
law and child protection. In particular the research
indicated that separation from a violent partner rarely ends
the abuse and can escalate and that children on contact
visits and their mothers experience an ongoing risk of harm.
On Thursday 8 November 2001 the
Southside Domestic Violence Action Group held a one day conference called 'An Unacceptable Risk - a
Symposium' which will consider what has happened since the
release of the 'Unacceptable Risk' Report. The
Symposium will specifically focus on :
- issues
relating to children being harmed or at risk of harm during
contact visits either that may be court ordered or made
informally,
- legal and
welfare system's response to the child and parents,
-
protocols between Department of Families and Family
Court Australia,
- practice
implications from child protection, family law systems and
community agencies, and
- practice
implications and strategies for support and counselling
service
providers.
To purchase the 'Unacceptable Risk' Report:
Women's Legal Service Inc
PO Box 119
Annerley, Qld 4103
Please Note: all prices are GST inclusive
Ph: admin only 07 3392 0644 Fax: 07 33920658
email: wlsi@gil.com.au