Agenda

Day 1

Day 1, May 28th

8:30

Welcome to Country

8:50

Chairperson's Opening Address

Thelma Schwartz, Principal Legal Officer, Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Services

FIRST NATIONS DOMESTIC AND FAMILY VIOLENCE POLICY

9:00

Working together with the Queensland Government and community stakeholders to help close the gap on rates of Indigenous family violence

Outlining the role of the First Nations justice office and how it is working alongside the Queensland Government to address rates of family violence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
Identifying the status of the Queensland Government’s Women’s Safety and Justice Reform priorities
How are Queensland government departments working alongside community stakeholders to help meet the agreements in the National Partnership Agreement on Closing the Gap?

Stephen Tillett, First Nations Justice Officer, Department of Justice and Attorney-General QLD

9:30

Reserved Session

Commonwealth Bank of Australia

9:50

Translating research on family violence in First Nations communities into culturally-safe service delivery

Ensuring that research into family violence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities is utilised to inform evidence-based service delivery models

Dr Marlene Longbottom, Associate Professor, Indigenous Education and Research Centre, James Cook University

Kyllie Cripps, Professor, Monash Indigenous Studies Centre, Monash University

10:20

Morning Tea

11:05

Panel: How will the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander First Action Plan impact the Aboriginal community-controlled family violence prevention sector?

Identifying potential opportunities facilitated by changes to First Nations family violence policy and areas for improvement
How can government and policy makers support the community-controlled sector to ensure self-determination is at the forefront of First Nations family violence prevention
What does the future of the community-controlled Family Violence Prevention + Legal Services sector look like in light of policy changes?

Tyne McConnon, Family Principal Lawyer, Tasmanian Aboriginal Legal Service (TALS)

Wynetta Dewis, Chief Executive Officer, Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Services

11:55

Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission Address: The DFSV Commission's role in monitoring the impact of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander First Action Plan

How will the Commission work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to support the effective implementation of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander First Action Plan?
How will the Commission engage with Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention and Legal Services to support their work to reduce rates of domestic and family violence in communities?

Micaela Cronan, Commissioner, Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission (VIRTUAL)

12:10

Lunch

CULTURALLY SAFE REHABILITATION FOR ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER MEN WHO USE VIOLENCE

1:30

Preventing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men from using violence through connection to community

Looking to positive examples of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander masculinity for family violence prevention
Facilitating opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men to gather, share and support each other
Recovering from using violence through connection to Country and culture

Devon Cuimara, Chief Executive Officer, Aboriginal Males Healing Centre

2:00

Delegates to move into Yarning Circles and Connection Activities

2:15

Yarning Circles and Connection Activities

Weaving and Art Workshop: Navigating significant points in our lives, connecting to ancestors and creation stories, and focusing on wellbeing through coconut weaving and polymer clay art
Walk Along Trinity Inlet and Hear Stories of the Water Spirit (20 max.) : Enojy a guided walk along the esplanade accompanied by cultural stories that impart the historic journey of Traditional Owners, as well as their connection to place and country
Guided Meditation (20 max.): Engage in deep listening meditation for healing, including a smoking ceremony and an opportunity to set intentions for the future.
Early Intervention Services Yarning Circle: How can early intervention services be tailored toward keeping First Nations families together?
Cultural Healing Services Yarning Circle: Incorporating cultural healing and therapeutic services into domestic and family violence services

3:45

Afternoon Tea

4:15

Improving access to culturally appropriate behaviour-change programs in prisons and post-release to reduce rates of recidivism and incarceration among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men who use violence

How can cultural healing programs during and post-custody reduce instances of family violence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families
Building partnerships between correctional services and community-led behaviour change programs to reduce recidivism rates for men who use violence
Building the capacity and visibility of community-led men’s behaviour change programs to reduce incarceration rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men who use violence

Lynette Anderson, Chief Executive Officer, Helem Yumba Incorporated

PREVENTING FAMILY VIOLENCE TOWARDS ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER ELDERS

4:45

Preventing abuse of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders

Learning to identify signs of Elder abuse and the different forms this abuse can take
How can we provide culturally safe support to an Elder who may be experiencing abuse from a family member and what considerations are there in doing so?
Creating culturally relevant, place-based educational and support resources so that communities are aware of the signs of Elder abuse and know what to do about it

Julie Karidis, Aboriginal Advocate, Aged Rights Advocacy Services (ARAS)

5:15

Chairperson’s Closing Address and End of Day One

6:45

Meet in foyer for Gala Dinner

7:00

Dinner Starts

Day 2

Day 2, May 29

9:00

Chairperson's Opening Address

Thelma Schwartz, Principal Legal Officer, Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Services

9:10

Outlining the status and future direction of the National Family Violence Prevention Legal Services (NFVPLS) Forum

Outlining the current work being undertaken by the NFVPLS Forum
What is the future direction the NFVPLS Forum is looking to take in light of current First Nations family violence policy reform?
How does the work of the NFVPLS Forum support family violence prevention services working on the ground around Australia?

Kerry Staines, Chief Executive Officer, National Family Violence Prevention Legal Services Forum

CHILD PROTECTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION

9:40

Case Study: Putting the findings of QATSICPP's You Can't Pour from an Empty Cup report and the Heal Our Children and Young People Framework into practice in child protection and DFV services

Outlining the findings of QATSCIPP's research and the development of the resultant framework for addressing the impacts of DFV in a local context
How can the Heal Our Children and Young People Framework be used as a practical resource to work in a culturally responsive, trauma-informed way with First Nations children and young people?

Candice Butler, Director, Centre of Excellence, Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Peak (QATSICPP)

Jenny Parsons, Quality Manager, Corporate Services, Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Peak (QATSICPP)

10:20

Morning Tea

11:05

Case Study: Reducing rates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children taken into care in the Katherine region through the Banatjarl Strongbala Wimun Grup’s family engagement centre

How has facilitating opportunities for connecting with local community reduced the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the Katherine region being taken into care?
Supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers to improve family wellbeing, prevent violence and build a strong sense of identity through connection to culture
Making the most of government funding to maximise the reach and impact of the family engagement centre

Andrea Andrews, Program Coordinator, Banatjarl Strongbala Wimun Grup

Anita Painter, Family Support Case Worker, Banatjarl Strongbala Wimun Grup

Serena McCartney, Family Support Case Worker, Banatjarl Strongbala Wimun Grup

REMOTE AND REGIONAL COMMUNITIES

11:35

Case Study: How is CAAFLU helping to assist people experiencing domestic and family violence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Alice Springs?

Navigating the unique challenges associated with assisting people escaping family violence in a remote area with a small population
Providing practical assistance to DFV survivors including mobile phones, financial assistance to relocate and necessities such as clothing
Collaborating with external stakeholders such as shelters, government departments and mobile phone providers to provide wrap-around support

Phynea Clarke, Chief Executive Officer, Central Australian Aboriginal Family Legal Unit (CAAFLU)

Kim Raine, Senior Lawyer, Central Australian Aboriginal Family Legal Unit (CAAFLU)

12:05

Lunch

1:25

Panel: Increasing the reach and capacity of regional/remote Indigenous family violence prevention services

Identifying the specific requirements of family violence prevention services in remote and regional Australia
Upskilling and capacity building for First Nations family violence prevention workers in remote and regional communities
What do regional and remote First Nations family violence prevention services need from government and mainstream services to ensure culturally appropriate support for people who use violence and for victim-survivors?

Rachael Hill, Senior Partnership and Advocacy Officer, North Australian Aboriginal Family Legal Services (NAAFLS)

Aletia Twist, Chief Executive Officer, Mura Kosker Sorority

SUPPORTING ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER WOMEN WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED FAMILY VIOLENCE

2:05

Case Study: Warringu Women’s Shelter's Best Model of Care Project

What does an effective, holistic model of care for shelters for First Nations women and children leaving family violence situations look like?
How can community-led shelters achieve this model of care despite limited access to funding and resources?
Identifying the ways in which a holistic model of care could reduce instances of family violence through opportunities for trauma-informed healing and early intervention

Karen Dini-Paul, General Manager, Warringu Women’s Shelter