Five changes domestic violence experts say could make the Northern Territory safer for women

Australia Broadcast Center

15 hours ago

The Northern Territory has the highest rates of family and domestic violence in Australia, with a rate of intimate partner homicide seven times the national average.
With just a handful of DV shelters — including some that can turn away up to 200 women each month — the ABC asked experts in the sector how the territory could become a safer place for women, children and families.
Those on the front line know there are no quick fixes, especially in a jurisdiction where cultural diversity, remoteness and significant disadvantage add to the challenges.
But these experts have identified five key areas for change.
Centralised intake. ( ABC News: Jess Henderson )
Ana Aitcheson, chief executive of Darwin shelter Dawn House, says when a woman is in crisis and looking for help, the onus is generally on her to find support.
Ms Aitcheson says a centralised intake system could act as "one port of call" for those seeking support.
She says a centralised centre, which could then direct women to appropriate organisations with availability, will help prevent victims from "[falling] through the gaps".
Ms Aitcheson says that without it women are left on hold, bouncing around from service to service.
"If a woman needs support and she calls us for example and we're at a capacity … we give her a phone number for another organisation. They're the same, another phone number, and that's just very time consuming," she said. Safe housing Safe housing icon. ( ABC News: Jess Henderson )
Holly Gurruwiwi, an advocate with lived experience of DV, says the territory needs more safe housing to help address family and domestic violence.
The NT has the highest rates of overcrowding in Australia, with remote Aboriginal communities significantly impacted.
These housing conditions have been found to increase family conflict and emotional and behavioural issues for young children.
For many territory women who want to leave violent relationships, there's often nowhere to go.
"There are people in communities who do know how to keep their family safe, but the option is between safety and homeless," Ms Gurruwiwi said. DV training DV training icon. ( ABC News: Jess Henderson )
Since leaving her own violent relationship in 2016, Ms Gurruwiwi has been using her experience to educate first responders about different kinds of violence through a culturally and trauma-informed lens.
The PARt (prevent, assist, respond training) program, developed by Tangentyere Council Aboriginal Coproration, trains NT police recruits and some health workers.
Ms Gurruwiwi and co-manager of Tangentyere's family safety and social services division, Maree Corbo, are calling for the program to be adopted more broadly.
"Definitely security guards, because we know security guards are dealing with this day in and day out," Ms Gurruwiwi said.
Ms Corbo says it's a matter of getting all different sectors like health, courts, police and corrections "speaking the same language" on domestic violence. Men's rehabilitation Men's rehabilitation icon. ( ABC News: Jess Henderson )
Ms Corbo says investing in more men's behaviour change programs should be a top priority for the NT government.
As the manager of Tangentyere Council's men's behaviour change program in Alice Springs, Ms Corbo says these programs help keep perpetrators "in view" and educated on their use of violence and its impact.
To reach men who aren't bailed and able to attend a rehabilitation program in their community, she says there should be more collaboration with correctional services.
Ms Corbo says Tangentyere once ran a men's behaviour change program that followed men from prison to their release into the community, noting it's "one of the highest risk times" for recidivism.
But resourcing challenges have prevented the organisation from continuing that model. Funding sustainability Funding sustainability icon. ( ABC News: Jess Henderson )
To make any meaningful change, all of the experts agreed that more timely, consistent and strategically-placed funding at both national and territory levels was key.
Ms Aitcheson says whenever there's a change in government, the sector goes "right back to the consult stage".
She wants to see changes implemented and funded as soon as possible.
Ms Gurruwiwi wants the federal government to take "a greater seat at the table" when it comes to funding programs in a jurisdiction with the country's highest rates of domestic violence.
The NT government has committed $36 million of ongoing annual funding to the sector, which started rolling out this year.
Ms Corbo says that could lead to some light at the end of the tunnel.
"It's really important having five-year funding, [so] we know what we're dealing with, we know who we can employ, what we're doing with it and how we can improve the programs," she said.
Advocates like Holly Gurruwiwi are still calling on the NT government to accept the recommendations and "implement them all entirely".