Improving Women's Safety- State and Territory Forums

Health Outcomes International is undertaking the Improving Women's Safety Project. This project has been commissioned by the Commonwealth Office of the Status of Women. The aim of this project is to identify ways that women and children who are victims of domestic violence or family violence can remain safely in their homes while the perpetrator leaves.

The purpose of the Forums is to provide for the involvement of a broad range of people, organised around specific interests, issues and expertise, in considering the question of how to enable women and children to remin safely in their homes, whilst the perpetrator leaves.

The forums are structured into two rounds: three forums in the first round (women's issues; perpetrators issues and diverse community issues (CALD, Indigenous and rural/remote)); and one forum (legal issues) in the second round.

All interested people are invited to participate in the forums, so please register for the one that is of most interest to you in your state or territory. to enable the broadest participation and range of voices possible, it would be desirable for most people to attend only one of the forums, unless there are special reasons for attending multiple forums.

During the forums we will explore:

* the results of the literature review proposing strategies and identifying barriers in each of these areas;
* new concepts and ideas for consideration;
* good practice models (including tools and resources);
* risks to the safety of women associated with these strategies and ideas;
* criminal justice interventions (including legislation, policing practices, corrections); and
* issues facing each jurisdiction individually that could influence the success of these initiatives (examples include political, structural, resources, legislation, culture).

To register for a workshop (which is required in order to receive the papers and for catering purposes), please visit the website at http://www.hoi.com.au/iws/forums.htm. We will then ensure that you are sent an invitation and the details of the location of the forum, plus background papers. You need to register in order to attend. The Forums are free but numbers are needed for booking and catering purposes.

To view the dates in which the forums will be held in your state, please visit the website.

For further information