Progress, Trends and Challenges in Australian Responses to Domestic Violence

• NCJ Number: 189374
• Author(s): Lesley Laing
• Date Published: 2000
• Length: 16 pages
• Sale Source: Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Historical Overview
• Language: English
• Country: Australia
• Note: Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse Issues Paper 1, 2000

Annotation

This paper sets the scene for future "issues papers" by briefly reviewing Australian responses to domestic and family violence over the past quarter century.

Abstract

"Domestic violence" is an abuse of power perpetrated mainly (but not only) by men against women both in relationship and after separation. The term "family violence" is used to refer to violence in Indigenous communities, because this term is viewed by many Indigenous people as more in keeping with a holistic approach to understanding violence. Domestic violence was named as a public and political matter by second wave feminism, a social movement that originated in the late 1960's and early 1970's. The impetus for the development of contemporary responses to domestic violence came from the women's refuge movement. The first women's refuge in Australia was established by a group of feminists in Sydney in 1974. Within months of opening, the refuge sought funding from the Federal Government. Within a year, the Federal Government provided funding for the 11 refuges then in operation; however, in 1976, the Federal Government began the process of handing funding responsibility over to State governments. Since 1985, women's refuges have been funded under the joint Commonwealth/State/Territory Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP). Throughout the 1980's, State and Territory governments responded to the call for action against domestic violence, commissioning reports that explored the dimensions of the problem and developing blueprints for action. A new stage in Australia's response to domestic violence was reached during the second half of the 1980's, with increased involvement of the Federal Government. Some current issues in the response to domestic violence are how to use both civil and criminal law to counter it; the impact of domestic violence on children; the provision of generalist services such as safe, affordable housing, income support, and health care; access to services for various groups; the empowerment of victims; and treatment programs for perpetrators. 7 notes and 104 references