Tailoring responses to meet the needs of vulnerable Queenslanders
We are committed to improving the safety of all survivors and people experiencing domestic and family violence (DFV), regardless of age, ability, cultural background or sexual orientation.
We are building the evidence base to inform the development of strategies to enhance protection and support for particular groups of people who are at higher risk of experiencing DFV, or who may face greater challenges and barriers in accessing support.
Review into elder abuse
In response to recommendation 11 in the Not now, not ever report (the NNNE report) the former Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services commissioned 2 reviews to examine the prevalence, characteristics and data relating to elder abuse in Queensland.
The Review into the prevalence and characteristics of elder abuse in Queensland report by Curtin University (Curtin Report) includes a review of policy, legislative and service responses to elder abuse in Queensland. It provides a snapshot of the context and evidence base to better understand the prevalence and characteristics of elder abuse in Queensland.
The Queensland Government Statistician’s Office’s Elder abuse, Queensland, September 2016 report (QGSO report) includes an examination of existing data and data collections held by Queensland Government agencies and funded services. It includes findings on data collections that provide information about service provision, resource capacity and service utilisation.
The Queensland Government update (QG update) outlines key findings of the Curtin Report and actions and responses to those findings, many of which have been delivered or will be delivered as part of other commitments, including those at the national level.
Review to address the impacts of DFV on people with disability
In accordance with recommendation 10 in the NNNE report, People with Disability Australia (PwDA) were commissioned to conduct research to better understand the impact of DFV on people with disability.
The Review to address the impacts of domestic and family violence on people with disability report (PDF) (or DOCX) highlighted that people with disability disproportionately experience violence in their homes and that a broader range of people can be responsible for that violence. The review highlighted the need to:
- bolster preventative DFV approaches for people with disability
- build the capacity of the sector
- establish responsive approaches to address the impact of DFV against people with disability
- build the evidence around the intersection between DFV and people with disability.
We have developed Queensland’s plan to respond to domestic and family violence against people with disability (the plan), which represents a cross-government commitment to address the issue of DFV committed against people with a disability, now and into the future. This plan consists of both immediate strategies to improve responses as well as laying the groundwork to build understanding to inform future work.
Download the easy read version of Queensland's plan to respond to domestic and family violence against people with disability (PDF) (or DOCX).
Reshaping our approach to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander DFV
We have committed to a new way of working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, families and communities in the spirit of reconciliation to address the causes, prevalence and impacts of DFV.
We have developed Queensland’s framework for action—Reshaping our approach to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander DFV.
Find out more about the approach.
Queensland language services guidelines
Professionals working with vulnerable or traumatised clients are often at risk of experiencing ongoing stress, burnout, compassion fatigue and work-induced trauma. Work-induced trauma can also be experienced by those from the broader DFV support network, including interpreters.
Based on recommendation 44 in the NNNE report, the former Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services reviewed the Queensland language services guidelines to include information about briefing interpreters before communication with the customer occurs. This applies to DFV cases where the interpreter may experience trauma as a result of the engagement.