By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
Magistrate says a refuge shortage is leaving family violence victims in danger…
A DANDENONG-based magistrate has called for funding to boost the number family violence refuges.
Pauline Spencer said the law was supported by a “fantastic network of services” in Dandenong to protect victims and stop perpetrators.
However she said a lack of emergency refuge in Greater Dandenong, Casey and Cardinia was a barrier to victims who needed to leave their aggressors.
“If someone needs to be placed (in housing) after family violence, we know the housing services are stretched.
“The growth in family violence reporting is stretching the system.
“The law and court is one part of the puzzle – the whole system has to be properly supported.”
According to Department of Human Services statistics, there were more than 3800 people on the Dandenong public housing waiting list.
WAYSS homelessness manager Jen Kelly said the growth in family violence reporting was “adding a dimension to an already stretched system”.
“For women moving into public housing (because of family violence), there’s just no growth in the housing system.
“It’s fine to pour more money into the family violence system but it won’t work if you don’t fund housing services.”
Ms Spencer said there were more cases coming before the courts because people were more willing to report domestic abuse and police were acting on complaints more quickly.
“It’s a good thing that people can seek protection and perpetrators know they’re being held accountable.”
Ms Spencer said police weren’t just bringing intervention orders but more often pressing criminal charges such as assault, threats to kill and damage to property.
Sometimes the perpetrator has to be jailed or refused bail to protect victims – an option that is increasingly used, Ms Spencer said.
“Often those caught for family violence don’t have any other offending but sometimes the family violence is so bad they are denied bail.
“They’ve often never been in court before, let alone the prison system – that can be a very big eye-opener for them.”
But there are also hard cases – when the perpetrator’s brutality warrants jail which would harshly punish his partner and children.
“When the perpetrator is the bread-winner, the victim might say ’if he goes to jail we’ll lose our house’.”
Experts agree that a victim is in the greatest danger when they choose to leave.
How does a magistrate keep them safe?
“The court is one part of the puzzle,” Ms Spencer said.
“We ensure the victim is linked in with family violence services to talk to confidentially.
“They will do a safety plan: if there’s violence, who do I contact? Do they have a bag packed?
“They can support a victim over time to leave, to go to where they’re safe.”
Ms Spencer said the legal system was delving more into the “underlying causes of violence”, sending perpetrators to men’s behavioural change programs.
Other parts of the sentence could include alcohol, drug, mental health and gamblers help services – all issues that can heighten the risk of family violence.
Or the perpetrators get supervised on CREDIT bail programs or on community corrections orders, including fronting the courts periodically for judicial monitoring.
Ms Spencer said it was important to “shine a light” on what was happening behind closed doors.
“Often perpetrators don’t use violence in other situations. It’s because they think they can get away with it.
“If they hold a job, they don’t assault their boss because they would be reported to police.”
The Journal’s White Ribbon campaign continues on pages 12 and 13.
