Sector supported and strengthened through new service

The Queensland Government has announced a new service has been established to better support those working in the complex domestic, family and sexual violence sector.

The service will be delivered by the Healing Foundation, in partnership with Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS), to provide professional development across a range of areas to strengthen sector capability.

The service will deliver skills development in case management and counselling and training in human resourcing, organisational leadership and governance to support service delivery focused on client support. Initiatives will also help to increase the size of the workforce and prevent skill and staff shortages into the future.

The partnership will address working with vulnerable groups including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people with a disability. Crucially, it maintains a strong connection to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture through the Healing Foundation.

A series of sector forums were held in July to discuss workforce issues, challenges and opportunities and consider the best way to deliver local and statewide solutions. The feedback will be used to shape the agenda of the service.

The new service supports the Queensland Government’s commitment to better develop the capability and capacity of the domestic and family violence sector workforce, a key priority highlighted in the Not Now Not Ever report.