New Programs
Strong Aboriginal women & improving legal access project
Given the high level of violence experienced by Aboriginal women, this suite of educational programs has been developed to improve access to services for assistance with domestic, family and sexual violence. It will also encourage women to engage with the legal process. The programs recognise the strength, resilience and capacity of Aboriginal women and have been developed to provide support to enable them to continue their role in sustaining families and communities.
This project was initiated by the NSW Strategy to Reduce Violence Against Women Department of Community Services and the Education Centre Against Violence NSW Health, funded by the Department of Families, Housing Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.
Strong black women: Understanding domestic violence
Target Aboriginal women
Description This course examines common community attitudes and the nature, extent and dynamics of domestic
violence. The indicators and the impact of violence on women, children and young people will also be explored. It will
provide community members with an understanding of supportive responses that promote and prioritise the safety of
women, children and young people and places the responsibility for violence entirely with the perpetrator. This course
also looks at what communities can do to begin to address the problem and explores strategies to prevent further
violence from occurring.
Strong black women: An educational program about sexual assault
Target Aboriginal women
Description Aboriginal communities have recognised for some time that sexual assault is an issue affecting many
people. Knowing what to do about it can be difficult and overwhelming. This course examines some issues for
Aboriginal women who have been sexually assaulted in the past or more recently. This includes definitions and
statistics, the dynamics of sexual assault, information about offenders and the impact of media reporting. Topics
will include the effects of sexual assault, survival strategies used by victims/ survivors, legal issues and the rights of
Aboriginal people who are victims of crime. This course also looks at what communities can do to begin to address
the problem and explores strategies to prevent further violence from occurring.
Strong black women: Accessing the law
Target Aboriginal women
Description Aboriginal women experience higher rates of domestic and family violence and homicide rates than
other Australian women. Just under half of all homicides of Aboriginal women are the result of family violence. This
program aims to break down the barriers that prevent Aboriginal women from accessing courts/legal services for
assistance with domestic, family and sexual violence. It seeks to improve Aboriginal women’s access by introducing
them to the court and the legal system (i.e. the physical location and staff) and by demystifying legal language. It will
encourage participants to become more familiar and confident with the process. It will also engage legal personnel to
raise their awareness and improve cultural sensitivity in service delivery. The program will strengthen relationships and
participant understanding through interactive role plays and moot courts.
This project is targeted to identify Aboriginal communities in NSW. Please contact the Education Centre Against Violence for more information.