Message from our CEO

This August has been monumental for us and the wider community because for the first time Federal, State and Territory governments have come together to develop a clear plan to achieve the vision of ending violence against women and children in Australia in one generation. 

This vision reflects Justice Support Centres long term vision that women and children have the right to live free from fear and violence and to be safe in their homes, workplaces, schools, in the community and online. The First Action Plan sets out a roadmap for the first five year effort towards achieving this vision. Also the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Council on family, domestic, and sexual violence led the development of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Action Plan which contains policies and measures to specifically reduce violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children.   

I found the above news release timely as this quarter also observes the International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women  – an initiative by the UN of 16 days of activism  to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls around the world. The 16 days start on 25 November and conclude on the day that commemorates the International Human Rights Day on 10 December.  The UN calls for all of us to increase awareness, galvanise advocacy efforts and share knowledge.

At Justice Support Centre I witness every day how the team work relentlessly towards ensuring people have access to justice and that women and can live free from Domestic Family Violence (DFV). To achieve the greatest impact possible the team are always asking themselves what more they can do to develop themselves and the organisation. Adding to our strides towards excellence, we're teaming up with PeeplCoach this month to further hone our team and leadership capabilities through an in-house training session for managers and teams.

In our ongoing efforts to serve clients better, we've opened a new satellite office in Campsie, specifically for the Staying Home Leaving Violence (SHLV) Burwood & Canterbury Service. With our presence now in Bankstown, Liverpool, Sydney, and Campsie, we are even more accessible to our clients and to referrals from other service providers.

Our Bankstown office also has something new to offer. A child-friendly space has been added (depicted below) which is filled with toys, books, and a comforting tepee. One client recently mentioned how the serene ambience of our office branding brought her comfort during her visit.

In this newsletter edition, you'll also find insightful articles on our Financial Counselling initiative, a day in the life of a caseworker, events our legal team has been part of, and highlights from the recent South West Sydney WDVCAS conference at Doltone House.

Here's to continued partnership and progress.

Warmest Regards

Melanie Noden, CEO of Justice Support Centre

A Day in the Life of our Dedicated Caseworkers

Ever wonder what a day in the life of our caseworkers looks like? Let us give you a glimpse into their bustling routine.

Each day our Caseworkers support and empower women to secure a safer future for themselves and their children. The Caseworker is responsible for providing individualised case management to clients who have experienced domestic and family violence in accordance with the principles of trauma informed, flexible and client centred care.

Our Caseworkers also join forces with a highly skilled team, which includes our Women’s Domestic Violence Court Assistance Service (WDVCAS), Domestic Family Violence (DFV) specialists, hearing support team, and the Safety Action Meeting (SAM) Coordinators, not to mention our unwavering partners, the NSW police and other invaluable support services. It's a collaborative effort that ensures each client’s unique needs are met with compassion and care.

The Casework service prioritises clients identified as being on “serious threat”. Therefore, most mornings begin with checking emails/messages from clients primarily for risk assessment and safety planning purposes. This routine sets the tone for the day, as Caseworkers coordinate responses, arrange referrals, and prep for crucial SAM meetings. This is followed by responding to emails from clients and other stakeholders for referrals, case coordination and follow-up tasks. Caseworkers often liaise with the SAM Coordinators in prepping for SAM meetings if a client assigned to them is listed on an upcoming SAM.

Most days, Caseworkers meticulously help clients apply for vital support programs. Whether it's the Victims Support Scheme, the Escaping Violence Payment Program, or the Red Cross's FDV Financial Assistance program, Caseworkers are always working to connect clients with the resources they need.

As the day progresses, Caseworkers wear many hats. From in-depth face-to-face chats with clients to numerous phone calls, they navigate complex needs, set achievable goals, and offer unexpected counselling moments. These connections aren’t just business – they’re deeply personal and impactful.

Additionally, Caseworkers are often engaged in securing crisis accommodation for clients ensuring no client faces the threat of homelessness. After addressing immediate safety and shelter, the focus shifts to more long-term needs – be it legal matters, family support, job opportunities, or immigration guidance.

In essence, our caseworkers adapt and respond with grace and dedication. Every day brings its own set of challenges, but their commitment never wavers.

Article content kindly provided by Pooja K

WDVCAS Conference at Doltone House

Our South West Sydney (SWS) and Sydney (SYD) Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service (WDVCAS) teams attended the annual WDVCAS conference at Doltone House during the first week of August. 

The highlight for the SWS WDVCAS team was the opportunity for the team to present on the success of a pilot program called the ‘Co-Location Pilot’ which placed Caseworkers from Justice Support Centre at the Fairfield Police Station.  This is a collaborative approach between Justice Support Centre and the Police at Fairfield Police Station, with the intention of improving responses to Domestic and Family Violence (DFV).  The DFV Specialist workers support people approaching the station for assistance with DFV matters. The SWS WDVCAS team provided a video presentation which highlighted the following key findings:

• enhanced collaboration between Justice Support Centre and the Police
• shared learnings between Justice Support Centre and the Police
• improved victim experiences
• the benefits of early intervention.

The strong foundation built by our team and with the ongoing support and collaboration from the police has been instrumental in making the project a success. This success has resulted in the Co-Location Pilot being extended for a further year, and doubled in its size by increasing the number of locations to 10 across New South Wales.

The SYD WDVCAS team found it very informative listening to speakers on various topics such as how domestic violence impacts on the elderly and younger women. Professor Carson from Macquarie University gave an update on her important research on First Nations Peoples engagement with services, while the Senior registrar of the Family Court gave a very interesting talk on the Lighthouse Project which aims to provide better support for families who have experienced violence and are now in the court system. 

Financial Counselling Support for Clients

Financial Counsellors work in not-for-profit organisations providing much needed advice and support to people in financial difficulty.

Some causes of financial difficulty:

• domestic and family violence (DFV) including financial abuse
• unemployment (or under-employment) 
• illness 
• relationship breakdown 
• low income or poverty 
• exploitive or unfair financial practices 
• addictions and mental health issues.

At Justice Support Centre we are very fortunate to have a dedicated Financial Counsellor who works with women who have experienced domestic violence (DV) at some point in their lives. Our Financial Counsellor provides guidance and supports them to manage financial hardship they may be experiencing.

To date, our Financial Counsellor has successfully assisted over 288 women since the program began in late 2020 with debt waivers, budgeting advice, repayment plans, advocacy with other services, reduction in amounts to be repaid to creditors, helping women change electricity and gas providers to get a better deal, assisting clients with accessing the Staying Connected Program, and with obtaining further advice and referrals as relevant to their particular circumstance. 

*To be eligible for this service the client must be a woman who has experienced domestic violence.

We have also recently opened our service up to take referrals from any service in southwest Sydney and the city that work with women who experience domestic violence.

Legal Team assists with Drafting of a Will 

Many of us don’t consider what might happen to us as we grow older or become unwell. Planning ahead allows people to accommodate legal, financial, health and lifestyle decisions as they get older. Below is a case study of how our Legal team assisted a client with her Will.

Case study – Loimata*
Loimata is an older woman who needed legal help to draft her Will. She could not get to our office due to her mobility issues. Loimata also needed an interpreter to help understand her options in estate planning. One of our solicitors organised to meet Loimata at her local library to make doing her Will easy for her. At each meeting, we organised an interpreter for Loimata. With our help, Loimata received accessible legal assistance she may not otherwise have had. Providing flexible and accessible legal services for vulnerable clients means they are empowered to plan ahead as they grow older. Loimata was grateful and relieved that her Will was now organised so her children could be looked after in the future. 
*Client name changed to respect privacy

Employment Law Sessions

Are you a service provider that supports migrants and other vulnerable workers?

Upskill via our new Employment Law education sessions!
Our Legal Team collaborates with volunteers, including those from the Employment Rights Legal Service (ERLS), to run education sessions on topics relating to Employment Law. These sessions aim to educate and upskill community professionals assisting vulnerable and migrant workers, and to equip them to recognise employment law issues and make informed referrals.

How does it work?
A solicitor will join your team, interagency or network to speak about workplace rights. We will tailor the session to your work and client base. For example, if you are a migrant resource centre or settlement team, we can address common forms of exploitation for migrant workers, basic work rights, warning signs of wage theft and sham contracting. 

Why host a session?
The objective of these sessions is to enhance the ability to detect workplace exploitation and unfair treatment. Our solicitors, alongside our volunteers, can conduct these sessions either in-person or virtually through platforms like Teams or Zoom. Ideal timings could be during team meetings or in-services.

What can I learn about?

• Workplace Rights: A comprehensive look into entitlements such as minimum wage, unfair dismissal, leave and domestic violence leave.
• Discrimination in Employment: Delving into discrimination due to race, age, disability, sex, sexual harassment and exploring possible remedies
• Underpayment: Understanding minimum pay rates, identifying underpayment, and recovering owed amounts.

Interested in these training opportunities? Please contact us!

Donate today!

Everyone deserves to be safe. Everyone deserves support.

When you donate to Justice Support Centre, your funds go to services that support women and children experiencing domestic and family violence and people with legal problems in South West Sydney. We appreciate your ongoing support.