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Home Page > ALFRED FELTON RESEARCH PROGRAM - Domestic & Family Violence > Women with Disabilities

 

Building the Evidence: The status of policy and practice in responding to violence against women with disabilities in Victoria

Research Objectives: To analyse the extent to which current Victorian family violence policy and practice recognises and provides for women with disabilities who experience violence; and to recommendations to improve responses to women with disabilities dealing with family violence.

Findings

  • Family violence sector standards, codes and guidelines say little about how to support women with disabilities
  • Most services do not routinely collect data on disability and family violence
  • Most family violence workers consulted had minimal or no training in supporting women with disabilities
  • Little is known about the help-seeking experiences of women with disabilities experiencing violence

 

Key message: There are major gaps in knowledge, policy and processes that will require significant resourcing if we are   to improve services to women with disabilities.

 

 Family violence and disability services need:

  • Sustained collaboration with each other that includes specialist advice, secondary consultation and education about women with disabilities experiencing violence
  • Education from women with disabilities
  • To undertake risk assessment and to respond appropriately

 Family violence services must:

  • Improve physical access
  • Improve availability of information in accessible formats
  • Provide secure, affordable crisis, supported and permanent accommodation
  • Provide more intensive case management and post-crisis support
  • The human rights of women with disabilities to be free from violence requires planned action NOW
  		 

This Research was conducted from Dec 2007 to June 2008 with funding by the Reichstein Foundation and the Department of Human Services and the in-kind support and dedication of the staff of our partners. The report linked to on this page is sourced from :

http://www.whv.org.au/

Ring Victorian Women with Disabilities Network Advocacy Information Service on 03 9662 3755 for more information.
NEW! See photos and download presentations from the recent Working with Women with Disabilities Experiencing Violence Forum on 21 July 2009, at the Northcote Town Hall: http://www.vwdn.org.au/forum.htm