Family Violence Policy and Practice - Literature review Example

Heading: People living in rural or isolated areas with reference to the aboriginals Your name: Course name: Professors’ name: Date Introduction According to Neville (2008), family violence refers to the repeated violence, threats, force, or control by an individuals on one or more family members, or against a person with whom they have, or had a close relationship. Here, violence conduct does not only include physical attacks, but also control and power tactics employed along a scale in a concert of one another, such as, sexual assault, threats, psychological torment, emotional torment, property damage, economic control, social isolation, and behavior that causes one to live in great fear. Family violence happens in any close relationship, and it even includes those in the same-sex associations. Some of the affected groups include transgender, persons with disabilities, and the elderly people. Although any family member can perpetrate it, men are the common perpetrators of domestic violence. The male perpetrators are most likely to be a woman’s present or ex-partner against children and women. Among the aboriginal communities living in isolated or remote areas, there are numerous cases concerning family violence always reported. Consequently, there are several adverse effects, which this crime leaves on the aboriginal victims, mostly children and women (Summers 2002). Effects To start with, Mitchell (2011), and Virueda and Payne (2010) suggest homicide as one of the effects of family violence among aboriginals in rural areas. In most cases, family violence among these communities leads to homicide. The Australian Institute of Criminology, in conjunction with National Homicide Monitoring Program (NHMP) observes patterns and trends of homicide cases all over the Australian jurisdictions. According to the programs, 55% of women homicide victims had their intimate partners as perpetrators as compared to the male homicide that was only 11%. There were also 31% of the homicide cases involving close partners as perpetrators (Virueda & Payne 2010). Secondly, NSW Department of Health (2011) demonstrates that domestic violence among aboriginal communities causes serious health issues. Family violence has serious and persistent influences on mental and physical health. Physical injury is usual due to family violence. Thirdly, domestic violence has adverse effects on children in the aboriginal communities. Adolescents and children that live with family violence are a great risk of facing physical, emotional, and sexual assault (National Youth Commission 2008). Researchers recognize that family violence together with parental mental issues, and parental substance use as factors often related to child neglect and abuse. Research also suggest that exposure of children to family violence in the aboriginal communities have a likelihood of experiencing anxiety, trauma, depression, enhanced aggression, loneliness, peer conflict, low self-esteem, antisocial conduct, school difficulties, poor cognitive function, low social competence, temperament, and more substance abuse (Mitchell 2011; Neville 2008). Thirdly, National Youth Commission (2008) says that family violence can cause homelessness among its victims among aboriginal communities in isolated or remote areas. Family is one of the natural gateways to homelessness among aboriginal women. Homeless women population in the region is now a group of multiple and complex needs because of alcohol and drug dependency, disability, and mental issues. According to the information by the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program, which the Australian government major program, aboriginals are the most represented. Between 2008 and 2009, there were 25% of indigenous women supported because they were escaping from family violence (Mitchell 2011). Lastly, domestic violence affects the victims’ economic status. This is because they get many responsibilities that require adequate financing. This can also disrupt the victims’ lives over a short and long term. In fact, majority of the female victims are poor because of family violence. For those women working, or financially stable, there is a likelihood of having their work history disrupted, and more of them engage in part-time and casual work to earn a living. Barriers to reporting As Mulroney (2003) reports, aboriginal women that face family violence are more probable to handle the issues alone, or share with their family and friends, without seeking external support from relevant authorities. This lack of disclosure could be due to isolation, fear, shame, and lack of support. According to early studies, 20% of women contact domestic violence incidents to relevant services. Moreover, only 25% of women experiencing family violence contact police whenever need arise. According to Mitchell (2011), among the indigenous communities, there is a high proportion of non-disclosure among the family violence victims. Some of the reasons for not reporting the cases by aboriginal communities include fear of the consequences and repercussions, specifically in small, isolated, and interconnected communities where there is no maintenance of anonymity. Such victims also fail to disclose their violent experiences from their partners to the authorities because they distrust and fear the police, government agencies, and the justice system. Several aboriginal people face anxiety whenever they need to engage welfare agencies and the police. Besides, Willis (2011) maintains that aboriginal victims of family violence do not disclose their problems with authorities because of cultural coercion and considerations. This implies that the interrelatedness between indigenous community and the obligations and rules, may be operating against reporting of such cases. For instance, factors like responsibility and shame for the maintenance of family can cause them to internalize their suffering. Additionally, they fail to disclose their problems because they are unaware of support services, or that they cannot access them. Mitchell (2011) holds that indigenous individuals face violence at rates that naturally are double or more than those that the non-indigenous communities face, and these rates are higher in isolated or remote areas. This implies that more aboriginal women than the non-indigenous ones experience more victimization and violence. For instance, NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research information as from 2001 and 2010 demonstrate that the rates of family violence disclosed to the police are six times higher for aboriginal women than the for the non-indigenous women. In terms of male cases, the aboriginals have an over-representation as compared to the other males. Policies and programs Various programs and policies are available in Australia for handling family violence among aboriginal communities in Australia (Blagg 2008). To begin with, there is a program that engages boys and men in public action to fight male violence among aboriginals. Through the White Ribbon campaign, an international male-dominated movement seeks to stop male violence women. The strategy’s basis is on the supposition that men play a constructive role in the prevention of domestic violence against women, and the fact that majority of them are gentle (Mitchell 2011). Other justifications for this strategy include the fact that male peers shape men’s behavior and attitudes; male groups provide safety and space for the members to talk; and that male educators serve as role models for others through the practice no-violent demonstrating and masculinity expressions. Besides, men are probable to perceive other men as more persuasive and credible. This strategy is also suitable because when men work together, they demonstrate responsibility for fight against violence against children and women (Mitchell 2011). In addition, Mitchell (2011) asserts that perpetrator programs also help in the fight against family violence. This intends to minimize the risk of the prospective perpetrators from further committing violent acts. This will stop violence by changing the behaviors and attitudes of the perpetrators. Some of the approaches applied in these programs include counseling, narrative therapy, behavior change, solution-based strategies, anger management, and goal setting. Another program used in the prevention of family violence involves Safe at Home Programs, which work an incorporated, multi-agency strategy. This program supposes that violence perpetrators must are responsible for their mistakes. The model further advocates for the removal of the perpetrators from their homes but allow children and women to remain to at home. Recommendations In order to prevent family violence among aboriginals, it is imperative that the government put in place various strategies, such as, perpetrator programs, Safe at Home Programs, and involvement of boys and men (Mitchell 2011). Nevertheless, these programs are inadequate for total curbing of family violence. Firstly, it is necessary for the government to introduce a law that protects women, children, and any other person from family violence. This recommendation is crucial in that it will help in the prevention of domestic violence cases among the rural or remote aboriginals. Secondly, the government should introduce an Aboriginal Civic Education Against Family Violence Program, which intends to educate people on the importance of peaceful coexistence among partners in family relationship, as well as teach people on the negative effects of family violence. This recommendation is worth implementing because it will help in the reduction of domestic violence among aboriginals and other indigenous communities. Conclusion Research illustrate that family violence is prevalent among remote aboriginals compared to other communities in Australia (Schmider and Nancarrow 2007). This has adverse effects on the victims including poor health conditions, poor economic status, homelessness, and homicide. Family violence among aboriginal communities have negative effects on children including depression, substance abuse, aggression, trauma, loneliness, peer conflicts, low social performance, poor cognition, and low self-esteem among others. Most of the aboriginal victims of family violence do not disclose such cases due to distrust and fear of police, government agencies, and justice system; fear of consequences and repercussions; shame; and inaccessibility and unawareness about support systems. Moreover, policies and practices used by government and other agencies include Safe At Home Programs, Perpetrator Programs, and Involvement of Boys and Men programs. In addition to these, the government should introduce a law that protects aboriginal family violence victims, as well as introduce an Aboriginal Civic Education Against Family Violence Program. These suggestions are crucial in the effective prevention of family violence among isolated or remote aboriginal communities in Australia. References Blagg, H 2008, Crime, Aboriginality and the Decolonisation of Justice, Hawkins Press, Sydney. Mitchell, L 2011, Domestic violence in Australia—an overview of the issues, Parliament of Australia. Retrieved on May 30, 2012, from http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/BN/2011-2012/DVAustralia Mulroney, J 2003, Australian Statistics on Domestic Violence, Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse. Pp. 1-22. http://www.adfvc.unsw.edu.au/PDF%20files/Statistics_final.pdf National Youth Commission, 2008, Australia’s homeless youth: a report of the National Youth Commission Inquiry into Youth Homelessness, National Youth Commission, Brunswick Victoria, 2008, , pp., 7, 89, 92, retrieved on May 24, 2012 from http://www.nyc.net.au/files/Australias_Homeless_Youth.pdf Neville, L 2008, Practice Guidelines: Women and children’s family violence counseling and support programs, Safety, dignity, empowerment and human rights, pp. 1-70. http://www.secasa.com.au/infosheet/practice-guidelines-women-and-children-fv-counsell-support.pdf NSW Department of Health, 2011, Aboriginal family health strategy 2011–2016: responding to family violence in Aboriginal communities, NSW Department of Health, Sydney, p. 7, retrieved on May 30, 2012 from http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/pubs/2011/pdf/aboriginal_family_health_.pdf Schmider, J & Nancarrow, H 2007, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Family Violence, Facts and Figures. Pp. 1-16. http://www.noviolence.com.au/public/factsheets/indigenousfactsheet.pdf Summers, RW 2002, Domestic Violence: A Global View, Greenwood Publishing Group, Melbourne. Virueda, M & Payne, J 2010, Homicide in Australia: 2007–08: National Homicide Monitoring Program annual report, Monitoring report, no. 13, AIC, Canberra, 2010, retrieved May 24, 2012 from http://www.aic.gov.au/documents/8/9/D/%7B89DEDC2D-3349-457C-9B3A-9AD9DAFA7256%7Dmr13_003.pdf Willis, M 2011, Non-disclosure of violence in Indigenous communities, Trends and issues in crime and criminal justice, no. 405, AIC, Canberra, retrieved on May 24, 2012, from http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/current%20series/tandi/401-420/tandi405.aspx Read More