Progress, Trends and Challenges in Australian Responses to Domestic Violence

• NCJ Number: 191151
• Author(s): Lesley Laing
• Date Published: 2000
• Length: 16 pages
• Corporate Author: Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse
• Sale Source: Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: Australia
• Note: Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse Issues Paper 1; downloaded September 6, 2001

Annotation

This paper reviews Australian government responses to domestic assault and family violence over the past 25 years and discusses trends in responses and current issues that provide challenges and opportunities for new directions.

Abstract

The impetus for the development of contemporary responses to domestic assault came from the movement to establish shelters for battered women. The early movement against domestic violence emphasized efforts to move the issue from the private to the public sphere and particularly to emphasize its criminal nature. The most important reason for seeking government funding was to force the government to recognize its responsibility to meet the specific needs of homeless women escaping violence. Collaboration between women inside and outside the government bureaucracy was responsible for the progress achieved. The Federal Government became increasingly involved during the second half of the 1980’s. The issue of domestic assault now has a prominent place on the agenda of all State and territory governments and the Federal Government. Current issues include law reform, the emphasis on civil protection orders, the impact of domestic violence on children, the role of the child protection system, family law, efforts to increase the responsiveness of general services, access to services, the facilitation of empowerment, and the role of programs for perpetrators of domestic assault. 104 references