2004 winners
Individual | School-based initiative | Community organisation | Partnerships | Government
Following is a summary of projects that received an award in 2004. These initiatives demonstrate the significant contribution made by individuals, community groups, government and non-government organisations in the prevention of domestic and family violence in Queensland.
Individual
Heather Oakes: raising community awareness of domestic violence
Heather Oakes has been a committed and enthusiastic volunteer counsellor for community organisation 'Sandbag' for the past three years. Her commitment to educating people about domestic violence and how to prevent it has put the issue of domestic and family violence on the agenda of many groups within the community. Heather has also been involved with 'Voices of Hope', a support and action group for women who have experienced domestic and family violence.
School-based initiative
Maroochydore State School: a workplace response
Maroochydore State School has developed a strong relationship with the local women's refuge to facilitate the provision of a safe and stable environment for children who have left their homes due to domestic and family violence. In collaboration with the refuge, such children are provided with school uniforms and other basic items to help them settle in to the school community quickly and seamlessly. The school has also developed a system designed to protect the privacy of those children who have been involved in a domestic violence situation. The school take steps to ensure the affected child's destination school is not revealed if domestic and family violence has occurred.
Maroochydore State School also operates a 'non-custodial parent register', which provides non-custodial parents with access to their child's report cards, test results and school newsletters without having to go through their estranged partner, reducing the risk of potentially conflictual situations that can disrupt the lives of students.
Community organisation
Kowanyama Justice Group Inc: mediating in community
Mediating in Community is an initiative of the Kowanyama Justice Group, which includes men and women from three different clan groups - Kunjen, Kokoberra and Kikomnjena -each with their own language and 'country'. The initiative was developed in response to the need for a community education program of relevance to the community. Through mediation and dispute resolution, 'Mediating in Community' aims to lower levels of community violence and convey the message that all families are entitled to live a peaceful life. The initiative has the support of many groups/organisations within the community including the Council, Police, School and Elders.
Partnerships
Ipswich Jets Rugby League Football Club and the Ipswich Domestic Violence Strategies Group: there is no excuse for abuse Ipswich Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Week 2003
This initiative involved Ipswich Jets football players working with members of the Ipswich Domestic Violence Strategies Group for three days at the Ipswich show during Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Week 2003. Activities staged during the show included a football-throwing competition, an activity where young people could write anti-violence messages on a large banner and the distribution of showbags containing information on domestic violence. These activities successfully linked sport/sporting personalities with messages of non-violence and provided information for young people about healthy relationships.
The Ipswich Domestic Violence Strategies Group includes members from Queensland Police, Health, Housing and various local government and non-government agencies.
Government
Legal Aid Queensland: diversity counts - legal information for women project
Women's Legal Aid, within Legal Aid Queensland, produced a set of resources for Filipino women living in rural and remote areas of Queensland, which aimed to provide them with information on accessing legal services - particularly in relation to domestic violence. The colourful pocket-sized cards and brochures provided information about domestic and family violence support services and the legal system in Queensland. The aim of the resources was to break down the barriers Filipino women commonly face when accessing information about domestic violence. These resources were printed in both English and Tagalog. While aimed at Filipino women, these resources could be translated into other languages for use by other communities.
Last updated: 24 June 2008.