2023 Overcoming Indigenous Family Violence Forum (Two Day Forum)
The Australian Government's commitment to Target 13 of Closing the Gap has seen a shift in legislation and policy surrounding Indigenous family violence. However, amid nation-wide conversations on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, what matters most is that institutional change has a positive impact on grassroots communities.
The 2023 Overcoming Indigenous Family Violence Forum will bring community leaders and organisations together with government organisations, legal services, law enforcement, social services, cultural healers and Elders to share their practices and approaches to building trust within communities, approaching family violence with culturally-safe and trauma-informed practice, utilising early-intervention tactics and rehabilitating people who use violence.
Join us in Gimuy/Cairns to connect and yarn with your peers from across Australia, share your personal and professional experiences and challenges, participate in cultural healing activities, stay updated on policy changes relevant to you, and learn new and traditional practices that leaders are implementing within their organisations and communities.
Cultural Safety: We recognise that family violence is a deeply personal and emotional subject, and that at times the forum will be mentally and emotionally taxing. A separate healing room will be accessible onsite for the duration of the forum, and a team of Indigenous counsellors will be available if at any time you need to take a break or have a confidential chat.
**Aventedge would like acknowledge the traditional owners of this country, and pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging**
REASONS TO ATTEND
- Improve your family violence prevention tactics by hearing from organisations implementing early-intervention initiatives
- Understand how current federal and state family violence policies may help or hinder Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
- Learn to integrate spiritual and cultural healing into your current practice through art therapy
- Build constructive collaborative relationships with external service providers to best support families affected by family violence
- Recognise the urgent need for resources that address wellbeing, housing and rehabilitation for men who use violence
- Hear about the power of cultural art and storytelling in healing from trauma and breaking cycles of family violence from art therapists and Indigenous artists
- Connect with peers from across Australia who share your challenges and experiences
- Recognise frequently overlooked forms of abuse like technology facilitated abuse and financial abuse and how they are affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Those responsible for designing and delivering Indigenous family violence policies, programmes and services from:
- ACCHOs
- Not-for-Profits
- Family Violence Support Centres
- Family Violence Shelters
- Community Organisations and Foundations
- State and Federal Government
- Local Councils
- Police and ambulance services
Forum Day One | 20 June 2023
08:30
Welcome to Country
08:45
Chairperson's Introduction
SECTOR OVERVIEW
08:55
A national plan for Australia to end family, domestic and sexual violence, with an emphasis on
incorporating the perspectives and experiences of First Nations peoples.
Hon. Malarndirri McCarthy, Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians, Assistant Minister for Indigenous
Health, Parliament of Australia (Virtual)
09:00
Queensland’s Family Violence Sector Overview - Challenges and Opportunities
Kathleen Wincen, Chief Executive Officer, Aboriginal Family Legal Services Queensland (Maruma-li-mari)
Wynetta Dewis, Chief Executive Officer, Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Services
09:30
Fireside Chat with Dixie Link-Gordon and Christine Robinson
Dixie Link-Gordon, Program Coordinator, Aboriginal Women’s Advisory Network (AWAN)
Christine Robinson, Coordinator, Wirringa Baiya Aboriginal Women’s Legal Centre
10:00
Morning Tea
10:30
Re-thinking patriarchal constructs around gender in solutions to family violence
Devon Cuimara, Chief Executive Officer, Aboriginal Males’ Healing Centre
GOVERNMENT AND POLICY
11:00
Fireside Chat: Exploring Effective Approaches to Reducing Family Violence Rates in Alice Springs
Michael Liddle, Codes 4 Life Program Manager, Desert Knowledge Australia
PC Clarke, Chief Executive Officer, Central Australian Aboriginal Family Legal Unit (CAAFLU)
11:30
Responding to technology facilitated abuse in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
Emma Milliss, Indigenous Programs Training Lead, e-Safety Women
12:00
Lunch
01:30
Yarning Circles
Yarning Circles will run for 45 minutes and delegates will be able to choose one to attend.
EARLY INTERVENTION
02:30
Case Study: Doing Business Differently - Mallee Family Care's Early Help Program
Janet Bonython, Team Leader, Mallee Family Care
Calvin Henry, Manager of Family & Youth Services, Murray Valley Aboriginal Cooperative
Rhiannan Macinnes, Family Services, Murray Valley Aboriginal Cooperative
03:00
Afternoon Tea
SOCIAL WORK AND CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES
03:45
Prioritising families in child protection services
Corina Martin, Chief Executive Officer, Aboriginal Family Legal Services
04:15
Case Study: “Safe Wayz” and New Street Services – Working with children and young people with
Problematic or Sexually Harmful Behaviour
Julie Shelley, Aboriginal Clinical Advisor, New Street Services, Child and Young People Sexual Safety Program, Sydney Children’s Hospital Network
04:45
Advocating for family focused practice and a commitment to cultural change within mainstream and government social work services and human services agencies
Annette Smith, Director, Children Need a Happy Home
05:15
Chairperson's Closing Address and End of Day One
Forum Day One | 20 June 2023
08:30
Registration and Welcome Coffee
09:00
Chairperson’s Opening Address
LEGAL SERVICES AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
09:10
Creating a safer and more accessible legal system for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women
Nerita Waight, Chief Executive Officer, Victorian Aboriginal Legal Services
09:40
Fostering trust and collaboration between community and law enforcement to reduce rates of family
violence
Ashlee Wone, Director – Policy and Impact, Just Reinvest NSW
Superintendent Greg Moore, Commander - Incident & Emergency Management Command, NSW Police
TRAINING AND CAPACITY BUILDING
10:10
Empowering frontline workers to ensure best practice when working with families affected by violence
Elliejean Singh, Chief Executive Officer, Boorndawan William Aboriginal Healing Services
10:40
Morning Tea
CHILDREN AND YOUTH
11:10
Developing and implementing culturally responsive strength-based youth mentoring programs for early intervention and family violence prevention
Leyla Quartermaine, Deputy Executive Officer, Koorie Youth Council
11:40
Providing trauma-informed support and care to indigenous children and youth who have experienced
family violence
Marlene Plunkett, Board Chairperson, Mungabareena Aboriginal Corporation
CULTURAL AND SPIRITUAL HEALING
12:10
Reinforcing positive Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander identity as an integral aspect of healing
and breaking cycles of family violence amongst men
Jack Bulman, Chief Executive Officer, Mibbinbah Spirit Healing
12:40
Lunch
01:50
Yarning Circles
Yarning Circles will run for 45 minutes and delegates will be able to choose one to attend to.
02:50
Lived experience: Overcoming substance abuse as a result of family violence through connection to
culture
Glenn Collis, Senior Drug and Alcohol Counsellor, The Glen Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre
03:20
Afternoon Tea
03:50
The importance of female connection in empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to break cycles of violence
Aunty Bino Toby, Case Management Practice Manager and Cultural Advice Manager, Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Services
04:20
Anchor Panel: Healing trauma from family violence and breaking cycles of violence through cultural art
and storytelling
Marlene Plunkett, Board Chairperson, Mungabareena Aboriginal Corporation
Kabushka Ngemba, Artist and Workshop Facilitator
Emma Gentle, Art Therapist, Gunawirra
Tarsha Davis, Program Manager, The Torch
05:10
Chairperson’s closing address
05:20
End of Day Two
Wynetta Dewis is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Service (QIFVLS). Wynetta commenced with QIFVLS in 2011 in the role of Project Officer and, throughout the years, has moved through various positions within the organisation from Community Development Manager to General Manager, progressing to the role of Chief Executive Officer, which she has occupied for the past three years.
A proud Torres Strait Islander woman, Wynetta has family connections from Boigu Island and Horn Island in the Torres Straits. Wynetta has over twenty years' experience in management and project management roles.
Wynetta is the Chair of the National Family Violence Prevention Legal Services, the national peak body for family violence prevention legal services, which QIFVLS is a member organisation. Wynetta chairs Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Prevention Group, established through the Department of Justice and Attorney-General. She is a member of the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Coalition (QATSIC) and the Joint Council Representative for Queensland on Closing the Gap.
Kathleen Wincen is a Budjiti woman from South West Queensland, a Solicitor and Community Engagement Professional with more than two decades of successful experience in positions supporting the recognition and achievement of disadvantaged and First Nations communities.
As a committed advocate, Kathleen delivered the Seniors Legal and Support Service for Senior Australian’s experiencing Elder Abuse, in Toowoomba and surrounding regions for over three years through her role where she worked as a Solicitor.
Kathleen is recognised consistently for performance excellence and contributions to success in Community Legal, University and Private Sectors, as well as her Volunteer Roles within the community.
Her volunteer roles include committee membership on the Darling Downs Health Service Boards in various positions, a member of the Department of Justice and Attorney-General- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Assistance Forum and she was also a Community Legal Centre - Queensland, First Nations Group Member.
Mary Corina Martin OAM is a Mulgyin Jaru/Kitja and Gooniyandi woman born and raised in Broome, Western Australia. Her qualifications include a Bachelor of Marketing and Media and Bachelor of Law. Corina was admitted to the Supreme Court of Western Australia as a barrister and solicitor in 2006. She was the Principal Legal Officer of the Aboriginal Family Legal Service before becoming the Chief Executive Officer. In 2022 Corina was awarded the Indigenous Lawyer of the Year Award at the Women in Law Awards, and in 2023 she was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the Law. Corina has extensive experience in the family violence sector and has sat on numerous executive Boards and Committees dedicated to improving access to legal assistance and preventing family violence in Western Australia.
