Webinar: Working with complexity

Evidence shows that domestic and family violence (DFV) often occurs with challenges of mental health (MH) and alcohol and other drugs (AOD).

In the context of families, these issues significantly impact children, however, in adult-focused services there is a tendency for the needs of children to become invisible. A holistic, collaborative and inter-agency approach is needed to address these complex intersecting issues and work with all members of the family. The Safe & Together ModelTM (developed by David Mandel) is a multi-disciplinary and inter-agency collaboration across the service system. As a starting point, it aims to keep children safe and together with the non-offending parent. This model is currently implemented across some jurisdictions in Australia, in child protection services and adult DFV, MH and AOD services.

This webinar launches a suite of interconnected research, the Safe & Together Addressing ComplexitY (STACY) and Safe & Together addressing ComplexitY for children (STACY for Children) along with accompanying resources, including two STACY practice guides. STACY for Children was developed in collaboration with the Queensland Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women, and jointly funded by ANROWS and the Queensland Government. These projects investigated whether the Safe & Together Model, where implemented holistically across services, leads to better outcomes for children and families living at the intersection of DFV and parental challenges of AOD and/or MH.

Drawing on the research projects, the panel of researchers, practitioners and policymakers will discuss, including:

• how the Safe & Together Model works in practice in adult-focused services
• the impact of collaborative, holistic practice in addressing DFV and keeping children safe
• why an authorising environment is needed to support organisational and practice change
• future directions for research, and policy and service change.

There will also be a live Q&A.

This webinar is designed for:

• policymakers, practice design decision makers, practitioners and researchers working in domestic and family violence, mental health, alcohol and other drugs and child protection services

The webinar is free to attend and the recording will also be available on the ANROWS website.

Enquiries: [email protected]

Presenters

Cathy Humphreys
Cathy Humphreys is Professor of Social Work at University of Melbourne. Her program of research crosses two major areas: children in out of home care; and domestic violence and family violence. With Professor Kelsey Hegarty she co-directs the Research Alliance to End Violence Against Women and Their Children (MAEVe), an inter-disciplinary centre to progress research on domestic and family violence. Research on fathering and domestic violence and the collaborative processes between Child Protection and specialist FV services are current research areas. Cathy was a social work practitioner for 16 years prior to becoming an academic. Cathy led the STACY and STACY for Children research projects.

Julieann Cork
Julieann Cork is the Regional Executive Director, Moreton Region at the Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women in Queensland. Prior to beginning her current role in September 2016, Julieann was the Regional Director, Child and Family Services, North Coast Region for six years. She joined the Department of Child Safety in 1999 following work as a Clinical Social Worker in the Mater Hospitals, Brisbane. Julieann has held leadership roles across a wide range of the department’s business areas, including strategic policy, program development, service development, legislative and funding reform units.

Anne Tidyman
Anne Tidyman has a background in nursing, public housing, community development, out-of-home care and Alcohol and other drugs and Family services. She has volunteered and worked in the community sector for over 20 years with a special interest in working with vulnerable families and communities. Currently, Anne managers Child and Family Services at Odyssey House Victoria. Anne has presented at many Child/Family, AOD and Family Violence related conferences and forums in Australia and overseas about AOD, Family Violence and/or innovative practice with children/families experiencing trauma. She has publications with Dr Menka Tsantefski (Griffith University and formerly University of Melbourne) and has completed specialist training in Family violence, she is an Accredited Parenting Under Pressure Therapist; Group Facilitator Caring Dads and My Kids and Me. Anne was a member of the Program Advisory Group for the STACY Project.

Lorna McNamara
Lorna’s background is in mental health, drug and alcohol and disability service delivery. She has been Director of the Prevention and Response to Violence Abuse and Neglect (PARVAN) Unit, Government Relations Branch since June 2015.

Lorna has extensive experience in managing complex statewide programs in public health policy that have included strategy and policy development and implementation, service system re-design, research and evaluation. Lorna also has extensive relevant experience in education and training. Prior to her current role, Lorna was the Director of the Education Centre Against Violence at NSW Health for approximately thirteen years. Lorna has published a range of academic articles and chapters on improving service responses to those impacted by violence abuse and neglect and is an Honorary Associate in the Faculty of Education and Social Work University of Sydney.

Facilitated by:

Michele Robinson
Michele joined ANROWS in 2017 as the Director, Evidence to Action. Michele leads the translation and dissemination of research at ANROWS to support the take-up of evidence into policy and practice, to reduce violence against women and their children. This role builds on Michele’s 18 years of experience in leadership roles developing advice and strategies on research, knowledge partnerships and exchange in a diverse range of sectors, including the prevention of violence against women and their children.