New domestic violence co-responder model trial starts

A new co-responder model trial in Alice Springs has commenced in partnership with the Commonwealth and Territory governments with the aim of offering greater support to victim survivors of domestic and family violence (DFV) and providing earlier intervention for people who have committed DFV.

This initiative is being run between the Department of Territory Families, Housing and Communities, Northern Territory Police, and specialist domestic, family and sexual violence (DFSV) organisations, Women's Safety Services of Central Australia (WoSSCA) and Tangentyere Council Aboriginal Corporation.

Funding for the new model is being provided through the Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence Responses National Partnership Agreement, with a portion of the funding being provided by the Australian Government.

Following the Police response to DFV incidents in Alice Springs, 3 specialists from these organisations will work with victim survivors to provide support and encourage perpetrators to partake in behaviour change programs.

These specialist support workers will be based at the Alice Springs Police Station and will be able to provide advice to police in real time. These workers will be funded through the Commonwealth's frontline worker initiative.

This new model will strengthen the integrated approach required by multiple agencies to address DFV and will see the workers provide specialist assistance and advice to Police in relation to DFV.

Consultation on the model occurred with key stakeholders in Alice Springs, and the guidelines have been developed collaboratively and approved by WoSSCA, Tangentyere Council, the Department of Territory Families, Housing and Communities and NT Police.

The model will also be reviewed to see if it can be rolled out in other parts of the Territory.

This investment covers initiatives that both prevent and respond to DFSV including reforms in health, justice, policing, behaviour change programs, and reducing the impacts of violence on victim survivors, including children.