Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

It is understood that the meaning of ‘family’ is wider in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Family, for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, is of utmost importance and can not be disregarded in domestic and family violence situations.

It may be necessary to involve police to get domestic violence to stop.

What will police do?

When police officers arrive at a domestic or family violence incident their first priority will be the safety of the people involved.

The parties are likely to be separated so they are able to speak to the police privately.

Police are allowed to enter a residence when there is a domestic violence occurring, and on some occasions may find it necessary to take the person using domestic violence into custody for up to four hours. They may be released after this time.

Police action may include an application for a domestic violence order.

A domestic violence order is a way of protecting a person by ordering the aggressive person to be of good behaviour and to stop their violent or abusive behaviour.

What will happen if police apply for an order?

An order does not mean a family has to be divided.

The court proceedings for a domestic violence order are civil and a respondent on a domestic violence order will not receive a criminal record, and they will not be imprisoned, at the stage when the order is issued.

If a family wants to remain together, but has a problem with violence, they can still seek the assistance of the police.

Importantly, calling the police does not necessarily mean that children will be removed from their homes.

The police have a responsibility to report to the Department of Child Safety when a child witnesses or lives in a place where domestic violence occurred; this is carried out with every domestic violence incident.

What happens if the order is breached?

If a domestic violence order is breached the matter may result in punishment.

A breach of an order means the conditions, such as not committing domestic violence and being of good behaviour towards the aggrieved (or person who is subjected to domestic and family violence), are being ignored or disobeyed.

This can mean the respondent can face a range of punishment options including fines or terms of imprisonment.

The penalties are meant to deter the respondent from being violent towards the aggrieved, and make the violence stop.

Do you need help, support or advice?

There are many services available to people who are involved in domestic or family violence.

General services may be accessed by calling DVConnect on 1800 811 811 for women affected by domestic and family violence, or for men involved in domestic and family violence on 1800 600 636.

Alternatively, if a woman is a affected by domestic and family violence and would like to deal with a group who specifically provide assistance for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people they may contact;

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Legal and Advocacy Service Telephone: 07 3844 2450

Are you a woman experiencing or committing domestic violence?
Telephone DV Connect Women’s Service toll-free 24 hours/seven days: 1800 811 811.
(Not recorded on your phone bill)
(http://www.dvconnect.org.au/)

Are you a man experiencing or committing domestic violence?
Telephone DV Connect Men’s Service toll-free 9am to midnight/seven days:1800 600 636
(Not recorded on your phone bill)
(http://www.dvconnect.org.au/mensline/default.asp)

Do not speak English?

Please telephone Immigrant Women's Support Service (IWSS): 07 3846 3490
http://www.iwss.org.au

Interpreting and Translating Service: 131 450