DVassist

DVassist spent last week in Carnarvon delivering a variety of specialist family and domestic violence (FDV) workshops to frontline and specialist staff. We covered the basic dynamics of FDV, sought to understand women’s help-seeking for FDV, learned more about risk assessment, risk management and safety planning, and delved into understanding coercive control more and its insidious impacts. We also delivered three workshops that helped participants understand trauma and trauma-informed responses, de-escalation techniques and, most importantly, talked about vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue and burnout. We must always talk about self-care and support those working on the frontline to maintain their mental health and well-being. A big thank you to Julee from Carnarvon Family Support Services, our community partner. She did a great job organising attendees, provided a venue for us along with delicious morning teas and lunches! Participants shared the incredible value of face-to-face training, interacting with others, and learning together by sharing experiences and stories. They went away extremely eager to put knowledge and skills into practice in their various roles that support those experiencing FDV in Carnarvon. Thank you for all that you do in your community!

Family and domestic violence (FDV) can have lifelong impacts. Recovery from FDV is an ongoing process which includes short-term and long-term goals. Timely support for clients who have experienced violence enables them to create safety for themselves and their children and to begin to rebuild their sense of self. #

There is just two days left of 16 Days in WA! The 2024 campaign theme is Stopping Family and Domestic Violence: Play Your Part.

Today we’re reinforcing the message that we all have a responsibility to stop family and domestic violence. Communities across regional, rural and remote Western Australia host a variety of community events, trainings, and workshops to show support for the 16 Days in WA campaign.

To find an event near you, you can go to https://loom.ly/S-nKfEc

Some ways you can take part in the campaign including:
- Sharing messages on social media
- Taking the time to learn more about how to recognise family and domestic violence
- Researching support available in your local community

Let’s all make a commitment to help keep your family and community safe.

A reminder to people living in the Goldfields region!!! DVassist is back in Kalgoorlie this week, delivering some workshops as part of the 16 days in WA and the Extending on the Possible: Support Worker Forum 2024. Our first workshop is on Tuesday, 10th December - this is an exciting and hands-on ideas workshop where people can learn more about primary prevention and come up with some solution-focused projects or initiatives for their community. A FREE lunch is provided for this workshop from 12-1 pm. We encourage all participants to wear orange as this is Human Rights Day and the last of the 16 days in WA. Get your name in if you haven’t already – don’t miss this great opportunity to take action to prevent family and domestic violence.

Workshops focus on ideas and solutions to prevent DV Developing ideas and solutions to prevent violence before it starts will be the focus of special workshops in Kalgoorlie-Boulder next week.

Family and Domestic Violence can be hard to understand and define. At times, people may identify a friend or family member (or themselves) are experiencing abuse, however, are unsure on how to support them. As a part of the 16 days in WA campaign, DVassist ran a community workshop to help participants understand domestic violence and how to help a friend, family member or co-worker, who they suspect may be experiencing violence. We also to completed workshops with frontline workers across the sector in Albany which brought fruitful conversation on how to assess and manage risk with clients, and how to effectively conduct safety plans. The FDV workshops finished with understanding vicarious trauma and sustainable ways to maintain self-care while working in high-risk roles. A big Thank you to Anglicare WA Albany, who helped to organise the events and kindly provided office space for the training. Everyone was very friendly and welcoming. Thank you Albany, we are looking forward to future training and community engagement.