Supporting a culturally responsive and accountable family violence sector

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures are founded on a strong social and cultural order that has sustained Aboriginal peoples’ existence for more than 60,000 years. Victorian Aboriginal communities and peoples are culturally diverse, with rich and varied heritage and histories. The ongoing impacts of colonial occupation – while having devastating effects – have not diminished Aboriginal peoples’ deep and enduring connections to culture and Country.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children experience family violence and harmful state interventions at unacceptable rates. This reality is driven by the ongoing impacts of colonisation, which includes social and structural racism that means Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people face overall higher rates of violence and increased barriers to accessing support and safety.

Non-Aboriginal services are recognised under the Dhelk Dja Partnership Agreement as critical partners in delivering services to Aboriginal people experiencing family violence. This is essential to ensuring that Aboriginal adults and children who, for various reasons, may access non-Aboriginal services have their rights upheld and receive culturally responsive services. It is the responsibility of specialist family violence services to take tangible action towards this. This action must be informed by deep engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, while recognising Aboriginal services are not responsible for correcting the wrongs of colonisation.

Building on a strong existing relationship with a positive foundation of trust and respect, an initial partnership between Djirra and Safe and Equal was formalised in 2022. In late 2024, the partnership was expanded to work more closely with Elizabeth Morgan House, benefiting from Elizabeth Morgan House’s expertise and extending the reach of sector capability building activities.

Each partner organisation share experiences of partnerships being established quickly, in response to external factors including funding opportunities. These collaborations are often not built on deep mutual understanding or a commitment to self-determination. This partnership is an opportunity to invest time, effort and resourcing into an ongoing relationship independent of any external funding arrangements, to build a strong foundation for transformational relationships into the future.

This work is resourced by Safe and Equal as a demonstration of the accountability of the peak body and their non-Aboriginal member services under the Dhelk Dja Partnership Agreement which recognises non-Aboriginal service providers as critical partners in delivering culturally safe services. It is not a funded activity under Dhelk Dja.

The first stepping stones in the project begun in February 2023. Guided by a Steering Group, co-chaired by Djirra and Safe and Equal with membership including two Aboriginal members of the Victim Survivor Advisory Council and representation from Elizabeth Morgan House, Boorndawan Willam Aboriginal Healing Service, Good Samaritans Inn, Centre Against Violence, and FVREE, together we generated:

• Insights Report
• Sector Commitment to Action
• Story of Change

Together, we are working to:

• Establish a Directions Group of family violence Aboriginal Community Controlled organisations
• Create a Collaborative Impact Framework, and
• Embed the Commitment to Action through workforce development activities.

For more details about what this looks like and how your organisation can get involved, check out the project update here.

Anna Wark is the Family Violence Partnership Lead based at Djirra and welcomes you to get in touch – awark@djirra.org.au.