Mt Isa

I was invited by DV DRAG (Death Review Action Group) Queensland, to speak at a Forum in Mt Isa on Monday 2nd March 2009.






Over 30 people attended the Forum to hear about the domestic homicide review process and how it can reduce and prevent the domestic violence related deaths of women. People were also keen to hear about the DVCC campaign particularly the flower laying ceremonies and how rural and regional areas conducted their own ceremonies and presentations of red roses to local Members.


An important part of DV DRAG campaign has been to get the message out to remote areas and consult with them on how remote communities can participate in a future review process. It was fantastic to connect with not only the workers in the Mt Isa area but also to hear about the integrated response they have developed as a community in responding to women and children affected by domestic violence. My thanks to Shirley Slann for her work in pulling the forum together and her hospitality.

Betty Green
DVCC

Reducing Family Homicide

The Domestic Violence Homicide forum “Reducing Family Homicide: Learning from Loss” was held in Adelaide at Flinders University on 19th February 2009. Key aims of the forum were to inform participants of a research project Dr Elspeth McInnes will be undertaking. Dr McInnes will undertake a review of domestic violence related homicides in South Australia in the period 2004-2010. She will analyse records relating to the domestic violence deaths of women and children, explore help seeking efforts, system responses and the way in which they are represented in agency records. A further aim was to establish a lobby group to campaign the South Australian Government to establish a Domestic Violence homicide review process.


Participants were keen to also hear about the work and campaigns of the NSW Domestic Violence Coalition. DVCC members will be pleased to know that at a Rally to be held in Adelaide on March 26th people have been asked to each bring a Red Rose to remember the most recent domestic violence murders of women and children. I am told the South Australian Attorney General will address the rally.