❓ Hon Giz Watson inquires about the provision of culturally appropriate victim support services to remote Aboriginal communities, including frequency of visits, distribution of materials, staffing, referral protocols, contract details, and evidence of effectiveness. The Attorney General provides detailed responses regarding these aspects.
AnsweredQoN 6292Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Which remote Aboriginal Communities are visited and how frequently?
(2) In which organizations at which communities have the following been distributed, -
(a) culturally appropriate written materials; and
(b) video?
(3) How does the senior Aboriginal Services Officer ensure culturally appropriate support services are consistently provided to Aboriginal victims/child witnesses from a variety of different cultures and practices throughout regional Western Australia?
(4) How many Aboriginal Staff are employed by Victim Support Service and Child Witness Service contractors to provide culturally appropriate victim support and child witness preparation in regional/remote areas?
(5) In respect of referrals for criminal injuries compensation assistance to Legal Aid Western Australia and Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia, -
(a) what protocols are in place for ensuring a smooth referral; and
(b) if Legal Aid Western Australia and Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia cannot assist (for example due to conflict of interests or lack of resources) how is it ensured that victims have access to culturally appropriate legal assistance to apply for criminal injuries compensation?
(6) In relation to each contract that has been purchased, -
(a) where is the service located;
(b) what type of services have been purchased; and
(c) what is the value of the contract?
(7) What evidence is there that the measures taken have been effective in assisting the victims?
(2) In which organizations at which communities have the following been distributed, -
(a) culturally appropriate written materials; and
(b) video?
(3) How does the senior Aboriginal Services Officer ensure culturally appropriate support services are consistently provided to Aboriginal victims/child witnesses from a variety of different cultures and practices throughout regional Western Australia?
(4) How many Aboriginal Staff are employed by Victim Support Service and Child Witness Service contractors to provide culturally appropriate victim support and child witness preparation in regional/remote areas?
(5) In respect of referrals for criminal injuries compensation assistance to Legal Aid Western Australia and Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia, -
(a) what protocols are in place for ensuring a smooth referral; and
(b) if Legal Aid Western Australia and Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia cannot assist (for example due to conflict of interests or lack of resources) how is it ensured that victims have access to culturally appropriate legal assistance to apply for criminal injuries compensation?
(6) In relation to each contract that has been purchased, -
(a) where is the service located;
(b) what type of services have been purchased; and
(c) what is the value of the contract?
(7) What evidence is there that the measures taken have been effective in assisting the victims?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
29 May 2008
Responded by
Minister for Child Protection representing the Attorney General
Response time
23 days
1.
o Halls Creek - monthly
o Warmun and Balgo - Visits are dependent on weather conditions. Four visits have occurred to each community since January.
o Kalumburu and Oombulgarri - Bimonthly. Kalumburu has had three additional visits in response to the needs of child witnesses in the past three months.
o Fitzroy Crossing, Mindi Rardi, Kumangki, Bayula, Mowanjum, and PandanusPark- monthly
o Jarimadanga, Kamparrmi, Jimbalakudunj, Noonkanbah and Looma - Bimonthly. Additional visits are made in response to requests to assist specific victims and child witnesses if an urgent response is required
o Lombadina, Djarindjin and One Arm Point - bimonthly
o Bidydanga - bimonthly
o Roebourne - weekly
o Yalgoo, Meekatharra, MountMagnetand Cue - Visits are made in response to requests to assist specific victims and child witnesses. Regular bimonthly visits are due to commence in the second half of 2008.
o Leonora, Laverton and Warburton - Bimonthly
o Warakurna and Blackstone - Visits are made in response to requests to assist specific victims and child witnesses or at the request of the community councils. Since January each community has been visited once
2. a)
Culturally appropriate materials outlining the services of Victim Support and Child Witness (VS&CWS) are distributed to all 13 VS&CWS locations throughout the State for use in their direct client contact. These materials are also provided to local community councils, health services and police.
b)
The Aboriginal specific witness preparation video is designed to be used as an audio visual aid by victim support workers. It is available in all regional VS&CWS offices and the workers take the video and other written material on community visits.
3.
The Aboriginal Services Officer (ASO) consults with regional workers on specific cases and local indigenous issues. The ASO consults widely within the Aboriginal communities across Western Australiato enhance engagement and encourage referrals between VS&CWS and Aboriginal agencies such as the Aboriginal Medical Service, local community councils and community elders. The ASO consults with regional workers on specific cases, and through her community contacts, assists them in addressing local indigenous issues. The ASO also trains all VS&CWS workers according to the principles of engagement contained in the Commonwealth Government's Reconciliation Statement. She also provides community education aimed at increasing awareness of victim services to Aboriginal communities.
4.
There is one Aboriginal VS&CWS worker based at Kununurra. In other regions, in addition to support from the ASO, non-indigenous workers liaise with, and have visited, communities with regional court based Aboriginal Liaison Officers.
5. a)
There is no formal referral protocol with Legal Aid Western Australia (LAWA) or the Aboriginal Legal Service (ALS) but Aboriginal victims of crime are advised of their entitlement to apply for compensation and are given written material by the VS&CWS worker. All regional staff have developed networks with local legal agencies to assist the referral process.
b)
Wherever possible, clients are referred to local community legal centres, such as the Kimberley Community Legal Service. Victim support workers will liaise with their local ALS or LAWA lawyers to advocate for assistance in the absence of other alternatives.
6. a)
Contracted VS&CWS are currently located in Kununurra, Derby, Broome, Karratha, Carnarvon, Geraldton, Bunbury, Albany, Esperance and Kalgoorlie. Due to demand, Bunbury and Geraldton have separate contracts for the provision of VS&CWS. In all other centres, these contracts are combined.
b)
The type of services purchased include:
· the direct provision of non-evidential preparation of child witnesses. This includes providing support for the children and their families;
· trauma debriefing, counselling, court preparation and support, advocacy, referral to other agencies, assistance with Victim Impact Statements and providing information about the criminal justice process;
· liaison with other relevant government and non-government agencies; and
· assistance with the recruitment, selection, training and ongoing supervision and support of volunteers who assist in court support functions.
c)
Service Annual Cost of Contract
AlbanyVS&CWS $97,500
Esperance VS&CWS $37,026
KalgoorlieVS&CWS $89,017
Bunbury VSS $52,650
Bunbury CWS $82,875
Geraldton VSS $51,480
Geraldton CWS $59,576
Carnarvon VS&CWS $59,705
Karratha VS&CWS $59,670
Broome VS&CWS $82,875
DerbyVS&CWS $49,920
Kununurra VS&CWS $124,800
7.
The children who were required as witnesses provided effective evidence in pre-recordings and trials as a result of the extensive preparation and support they received.
There has been direct positive feedback to workers from the children and their families.
Positive feedback has been received from major stakeholders such as the prosecutors and Police.
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o Halls Creek - monthly
o Warmun and Balgo - Visits are dependent on weather conditions. Four visits have occurred to each community since January.
o Kalumburu and Oombulgarri - Bimonthly. Kalumburu has had three additional visits in response to the needs of child witnesses in the past three months.
o Fitzroy Crossing, Mindi Rardi, Kumangki, Bayula, Mowanjum, and PandanusPark- monthly
o Jarimadanga, Kamparrmi, Jimbalakudunj, Noonkanbah and Looma - Bimonthly. Additional visits are made in response to requests to assist specific victims and child witnesses if an urgent response is required
o Lombadina, Djarindjin and One Arm Point - bimonthly
o Bidydanga - bimonthly
o Roebourne - weekly
o Yalgoo, Meekatharra, MountMagnetand Cue - Visits are made in response to requests to assist specific victims and child witnesses. Regular bimonthly visits are due to commence in the second half of 2008.
o Leonora, Laverton and Warburton - Bimonthly
o Warakurna and Blackstone - Visits are made in response to requests to assist specific victims and child witnesses or at the request of the community councils. Since January each community has been visited once
2. a)
Culturally appropriate materials outlining the services of Victim Support and Child Witness (VS&CWS) are distributed to all 13 VS&CWS locations throughout the State for use in their direct client contact. These materials are also provided to local community councils, health services and police.
b)
The Aboriginal specific witness preparation video is designed to be used as an audio visual aid by victim support workers. It is available in all regional VS&CWS offices and the workers take the video and other written material on community visits.
3.
The Aboriginal Services Officer (ASO) consults with regional workers on specific cases and local indigenous issues. The ASO consults widely within the Aboriginal communities across Western Australiato enhance engagement and encourage referrals between VS&CWS and Aboriginal agencies such as the Aboriginal Medical Service, local community councils and community elders. The ASO consults with regional workers on specific cases, and through her community contacts, assists them in addressing local indigenous issues. The ASO also trains all VS&CWS workers according to the principles of engagement contained in the Commonwealth Government's Reconciliation Statement. She also provides community education aimed at increasing awareness of victim services to Aboriginal communities.
4.
There is one Aboriginal VS&CWS worker based at Kununurra. In other regions, in addition to support from the ASO, non-indigenous workers liaise with, and have visited, communities with regional court based Aboriginal Liaison Officers.
5. a)
There is no formal referral protocol with Legal Aid Western Australia (LAWA) or the Aboriginal Legal Service (ALS) but Aboriginal victims of crime are advised of their entitlement to apply for compensation and are given written material by the VS&CWS worker. All regional staff have developed networks with local legal agencies to assist the referral process.
b)
Wherever possible, clients are referred to local community legal centres, such as the Kimberley Community Legal Service. Victim support workers will liaise with their local ALS or LAWA lawyers to advocate for assistance in the absence of other alternatives.
6. a)
Contracted VS&CWS are currently located in Kununurra, Derby, Broome, Karratha, Carnarvon, Geraldton, Bunbury, Albany, Esperance and Kalgoorlie. Due to demand, Bunbury and Geraldton have separate contracts for the provision of VS&CWS. In all other centres, these contracts are combined.
b)
The type of services purchased include:
· the direct provision of non-evidential preparation of child witnesses. This includes providing support for the children and their families;
· trauma debriefing, counselling, court preparation and support, advocacy, referral to other agencies, assistance with Victim Impact Statements and providing information about the criminal justice process;
· liaison with other relevant government and non-government agencies; and
· assistance with the recruitment, selection, training and ongoing supervision and support of volunteers who assist in court support functions.
c)
Service Annual Cost of Contract
AlbanyVS&CWS $97,500
Esperance VS&CWS $37,026
KalgoorlieVS&CWS $89,017
Bunbury VSS $52,650
Bunbury CWS $82,875
Geraldton VSS $51,480
Geraldton CWS $59,576
Carnarvon VS&CWS $59,705
Karratha VS&CWS $59,670
Broome VS&CWS $82,875
DerbyVS&CWS $49,920
Kununurra VS&CWS $124,800
7.
The children who were required as witnesses provided effective evidence in pre-recordings and trials as a result of the extensive preparation and support they received.
There has been direct positive feedback to workers from the children and their families.
Positive feedback has been received from major stakeholders such as the prosecutors and Police.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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