1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:02,640 Speaker 1: But we know that there has been a serious spate 2 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:05,440 Speaker 1: of domestic violence incidents over the last week in the 3 00:00:05,480 --> 00:00:08,399 Speaker 1: Northern Territory. In one incident that I did tell you 4 00:00:08,440 --> 00:00:11,680 Speaker 1: about earlier this morning, a man allegedly grabbed his partner 5 00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:15,280 Speaker 1: by the throat, tried to run her over, broke into 6 00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:19,080 Speaker 1: her home and took took her two year old girl. 7 00:00:19,560 --> 00:00:22,560 Speaker 1: In another incident, a twenty eight year old man allegedly 8 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:26,680 Speaker 1: assaulted his former partner, dragging her by the hair before 9 00:00:26,680 --> 00:00:29,520 Speaker 1: breaking one of her fingers. In a separate incident, a 10 00:00:29,560 --> 00:00:33,640 Speaker 1: fifty year old man allegedly broke his partner's jaw. Police 11 00:00:33,720 --> 00:00:37,000 Speaker 1: are pleading with people to report domestic violence and reach 12 00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:39,960 Speaker 1: out for help. Now joining me on the line is 13 00:00:40,240 --> 00:00:44,960 Speaker 1: Dawn House Executive Officer Susan Crane. Good morning to you, Susan, 14 00:00:46,080 --> 00:00:49,920 Speaker 1: Good morning, Thanks so much for your time this morning. Susan, 15 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:52,920 Speaker 1: what is your reaction to these incidents? 16 00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:58,080 Speaker 2: Well, it's very confronting, but it's not that it's anything new. 17 00:00:59,040 --> 00:01:01,920 Speaker 2: But the end of the violence and these incidents is 18 00:01:02,640 --> 00:01:04,240 Speaker 2: particularly worrying, isn't it. 19 00:01:04,440 --> 00:01:07,839 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's honestly, it's really hard to sort of hear 20 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:09,720 Speaker 1: and I know that for a lot of people listening, 21 00:01:09,720 --> 00:01:11,560 Speaker 1: it will be really hard to hear. But as you've said, 22 00:01:11,600 --> 00:01:13,120 Speaker 1: it's confronting but nothing new. 23 00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:17,360 Speaker 2: Well, no it's not. The NT's got one of the 24 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:20,480 Speaker 2: highest rates of domestic and family violence in Australia. So 25 00:01:21,040 --> 00:01:25,240 Speaker 2: that's the reason why both the NT government and agencies 26 00:01:25,280 --> 00:01:28,240 Speaker 2: like Dawn House so calling for the Commonwealth Government to 27 00:01:28,319 --> 00:01:32,760 Speaker 2: please considered funding us on needs based rather than population based. 28 00:01:33,480 --> 00:01:36,040 Speaker 1: And I think that that's a very reasonable call, you know, 29 00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:39,679 Speaker 1: like you've said that, obviously we do have high rates 30 00:01:39,720 --> 00:01:42,160 Speaker 1: of domestic violence here in the Northern Territory, so it 31 00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:44,880 Speaker 1: does make sense to me that it would be something 32 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:49,160 Speaker 1: that happens on a needs based rather than your population. 33 00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:53,480 Speaker 2: Well, that's exactly right, and we have been saying that 34 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:56,480 Speaker 2: for a long time to the Commonwealth Government. So you know, 35 00:01:56,520 --> 00:01:58,440 Speaker 2: we're hoping that at some stage of the message will 36 00:01:58,480 --> 00:02:00,720 Speaker 2: get through and they'll reconsider the way that we're funded 37 00:02:00,800 --> 00:02:04,000 Speaker 2: up here. Because agency is up here such as Dawnhouse. 38 00:02:04,560 --> 00:02:08,639 Speaker 2: We're just being hammered, you know, since the onset of COVID. 39 00:02:09,040 --> 00:02:12,080 Speaker 2: We were busy before, but we've never been so busy, 40 00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:14,440 Speaker 2: and that's been going on for the last two years. 41 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:18,160 Speaker 2: We don't have a vacancy. Ever, we've got people lined 42 00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:21,200 Speaker 2: up waiting to get into the refuge, and you know, 43 00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:24,639 Speaker 2: sometimes we can't find anywhere to place people because everywhere 44 00:02:24,720 --> 00:02:26,600 Speaker 2: is full, which is really concerning. 45 00:02:27,120 --> 00:02:29,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, what is the situation if you don't have 46 00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:32,079 Speaker 1: a place for somewhere someone and they've got nowhere else 47 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:33,160 Speaker 1: to go? What happens? 48 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:36,960 Speaker 2: Well, what we try and do is we've got some 49 00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:41,360 Speaker 2: Commonwealth money available so that we can provide accommodation to 50 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:45,760 Speaker 2: women off site, and then we try to provide outreach 51 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:49,680 Speaker 2: support to that person and their children. But sometimes, especially 52 00:02:50,200 --> 00:02:53,080 Speaker 2: in the Drive for example, it's very hard to do 53 00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:57,559 Speaker 2: that because a there's hardly any vacancy seen offside accommodation, 54 00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:00,600 Speaker 2: and be all of the hotel cost go up in 55 00:03:00,639 --> 00:03:03,320 Speaker 2: the dry season, which makes it really difficult for a 56 00:03:03,360 --> 00:03:07,560 Speaker 2: small organization like us to meet those costs. So unfortunately, 57 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:11,320 Speaker 2: sometimes we're turning people away and we can't provide them 58 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:12,760 Speaker 2: any alternative accommodation. 59 00:03:13,520 --> 00:03:17,360 Speaker 1: That must be incredibly difficult for you guys. You know, 60 00:03:17,960 --> 00:03:20,920 Speaker 1: everybody that will work, I'm sure with Dawnhouse wuld want 61 00:03:20,919 --> 00:03:23,359 Speaker 1: to be doing everything possible to try and help people. 62 00:03:24,440 --> 00:03:26,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, and that's exactly right. You know, I've got a 63 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:30,880 Speaker 2: fantastic team of really committed staff here who you know, 64 00:03:31,040 --> 00:03:35,960 Speaker 2: work tirelessly to provide support services to women and their 65 00:03:36,040 --> 00:03:39,320 Speaker 2: children escaping domestic violence. But you know, we've only got 66 00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:42,200 Speaker 2: two case managers here, so I can't keep on just 67 00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:45,440 Speaker 2: piling work more and more and more under staff because 68 00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:47,680 Speaker 2: there's only a limit as to what we can actually do. 69 00:03:47,840 --> 00:03:50,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, Susan, I know that you said you know that 70 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:55,120 Speaker 1: from COVID you've seen an increase, but have those numbers 71 00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:57,840 Speaker 1: been quite high? Have people are presenting or coming to 72 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:00,200 Speaker 1: drnhouse in recent weeks and months? Es? 73 00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:04,920 Speaker 2: Yeah? Well, I mean an example is last Monday, we 74 00:04:04,960 --> 00:04:07,960 Speaker 2: had seven referrals in one day and we were full, 75 00:04:08,960 --> 00:04:13,280 Speaker 2: so we were scrambling around trying to find some alternative 76 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:16,760 Speaker 2: accommodation for those people. I mean, sometimes we get referrals 77 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:20,160 Speaker 2: and that people don't feed our criteria because their criteria 78 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:23,320 Speaker 2: is women with children escaping domestic and family violence. So 79 00:04:23,800 --> 00:04:26,880 Speaker 2: we're unable to help women that identify as homeless, for example. 80 00:04:28,279 --> 00:04:32,640 Speaker 2: But yeah, the demand to far far outweighs the supply, 81 00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:35,359 Speaker 2: and it's been like that for years, Susan. 82 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:38,039 Speaker 1: Can you talk us through what kind of assistance is 83 00:04:38,080 --> 00:04:39,600 Speaker 1: available to victims. 84 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:44,159 Speaker 2: Yeah, there's a range of services available. So there's free 85 00:04:44,240 --> 00:04:47,719 Speaker 2: legal advice through top End Women's Legal Service and Domestic 86 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:51,920 Speaker 2: Violence Legal Service. There's shelters such as Dawnhouse. So there's 87 00:04:51,920 --> 00:04:55,040 Speaker 2: four shelters in Darwin, there's one in Noulan Boy, one 88 00:04:55,080 --> 00:04:59,640 Speaker 2: in Catherine, one in Tenant Creek, and one in Alice Springs. 89 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:03,279 Speaker 2: Some of the communities have got safe houses there. There's 90 00:05:03,320 --> 00:05:08,640 Speaker 2: twenty eight safe houses across the Northern Territory. There's agencies 91 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:12,080 Speaker 2: around which can help with emergency relief funding so that 92 00:05:12,120 --> 00:05:14,560 Speaker 2: can assist with things like food vouchers and that sort 93 00:05:14,560 --> 00:05:18,040 Speaker 2: of stuff. Women can come into the shelter and then 94 00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:22,080 Speaker 2: they'll be case managed by staff at the shelter and 95 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:24,880 Speaker 2: they can stay for up to three months of intensive support. 96 00:05:25,520 --> 00:05:29,839 Speaker 2: We can provide outreach support. We can provide someone just 97 00:05:29,960 --> 00:05:31,440 Speaker 2: that if they need to ring up and just have 98 00:05:31,520 --> 00:05:34,799 Speaker 2: a chat with somebody, we're happy to talk through things 99 00:05:34,839 --> 00:05:41,080 Speaker 2: with people. There's specialist domestic violence counselors around. There's men's 100 00:05:41,120 --> 00:05:44,360 Speaker 2: behavior change programs for men that decide they might want 101 00:05:44,360 --> 00:05:47,400 Speaker 2: to change their behavior. So there's a whole range of 102 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:51,880 Speaker 2: services available and diactively encourage not only people that are 103 00:05:51,880 --> 00:05:56,159 Speaker 2: experiencing violence themselves, but also for bystanders to be aware 104 00:05:56,200 --> 00:05:58,839 Speaker 2: of the services around so that maybe if they see 105 00:05:58,960 --> 00:06:02,320 Speaker 2: or know that there's domestic violence going on with someone 106 00:06:02,360 --> 00:06:04,560 Speaker 2: that they know they can actually provide them with some 107 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:05,600 Speaker 2: referral points. 108 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:08,919 Speaker 1: Susan, you did just spark my memory by saying that 109 00:06:08,960 --> 00:06:12,680 Speaker 1: there were those men's behavioral programs as well that are 110 00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:16,000 Speaker 1: on offer. I know that there was the changes about 111 00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:18,000 Speaker 1: a week and a half ago when it came to 112 00:06:18,080 --> 00:06:21,240 Speaker 1: mandatory sentencing, and it did impact or it does impact 113 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:27,640 Speaker 1: from my understanding, some incidents of domestic violence. From your perspective, 114 00:06:27,920 --> 00:06:30,680 Speaker 1: how will those changes make much of a difference and 115 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:32,440 Speaker 1: will they help victims? 116 00:06:34,080 --> 00:06:37,960 Speaker 2: Well, I think you know, the opportunity that magistrates have 117 00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:41,440 Speaker 2: to mandate that someone attends the men's behavior change program, 118 00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:44,520 Speaker 2: you know, could have a positive outcome for some people, 119 00:06:45,760 --> 00:06:48,120 Speaker 2: for some men that use violence. But you know, the 120 00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:50,840 Speaker 2: bottom line is that if a man's using violence against 121 00:06:50,880 --> 00:06:54,039 Speaker 2: his partner, he has to be prepared to make some 122 00:06:54,200 --> 00:06:56,560 Speaker 2: pretty big changes in the way that he behaves. So 123 00:06:57,600 --> 00:06:59,520 Speaker 2: for some people that would work, and maybe for some 124 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:00,400 Speaker 2: people that wouldn't. 125 00:07:01,040 --> 00:07:05,039 Speaker 1: And Susan, with those programs as well, I mean, you've 126 00:07:05,080 --> 00:07:08,200 Speaker 1: touched on quite a few different programs, but with the 127 00:07:08,240 --> 00:07:13,720 Speaker 1: behavioral change programs, the rates fairly high. When it comes 128 00:07:13,720 --> 00:07:17,400 Speaker 1: to you to if someone's gone through a program like that, 129 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:19,840 Speaker 1: do you generally see a change in their behavior. 130 00:07:21,280 --> 00:07:24,240 Speaker 2: That's really difficult for me to comment on because, Dawnhouse, 131 00:07:24,920 --> 00:07:28,360 Speaker 2: we don't actually run the men's behavior change program in Darwin. 132 00:07:28,400 --> 00:07:31,680 Speaker 2: That's run through Catholic Care, so they'll be the agency 133 00:07:31,760 --> 00:07:35,680 Speaker 2: that has all of the statistics. But we do have 134 00:07:36,080 --> 00:07:39,280 Speaker 2: a worker here that supports women whose partners are going 135 00:07:39,320 --> 00:07:42,800 Speaker 2: through the men's behavior Change program, and some of those 136 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:45,360 Speaker 2: women do say that they have noticed a difference in 137 00:07:45,400 --> 00:07:49,000 Speaker 2: the way that their partners have behaved after attending that program. 138 00:07:49,240 --> 00:07:51,800 Speaker 2: And then some women say they don't see any change 139 00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:54,440 Speaker 2: at all, but I don't have no that's. 140 00:07:54,360 --> 00:07:57,160 Speaker 1: Okay, no, absolutely fine, We'll make sure that we follow 141 00:07:57,240 --> 00:08:00,000 Speaker 1: that up anyway. Susan. You know a lot of people 142 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:03,040 Speaker 1: listening this morning, you know, may be fortunate enough to 143 00:08:03,680 --> 00:08:06,760 Speaker 1: not be in a relationship where there is any kind 144 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:10,440 Speaker 1: of violence, to have been raised, in families where this 145 00:08:10,520 --> 00:08:13,160 Speaker 1: is not something that's ever been an issue in their lives. 146 00:08:13,680 --> 00:08:15,840 Speaker 1: Do you think that for some out there listening this 147 00:08:15,920 --> 00:08:18,280 Speaker 1: morning that it would actually be quite a surprise if 148 00:08:18,280 --> 00:08:22,320 Speaker 1: they realized some of the people that are actually going 149 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:25,920 Speaker 1: through these really difficult situations with domestic violence. 150 00:08:27,400 --> 00:08:30,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think it is. It would be surprising because 151 00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:34,400 Speaker 2: maybe there's a general understanding out there that it's only people, 152 00:08:34,679 --> 00:08:39,640 Speaker 2: perhaps the lower socioeconomic areas that experience domestic violence. But 153 00:08:39,800 --> 00:08:43,240 Speaker 2: the statistics show that it affects everybody. There's not one 154 00:08:43,360 --> 00:08:45,920 Speaker 2: group more affected than the other. So you know, you 155 00:08:45,960 --> 00:08:48,800 Speaker 2: could have someone that's an executive director with the Northern 156 00:08:48,840 --> 00:08:53,120 Speaker 2: Territory government or someone that is clean houses. It can 157 00:08:53,160 --> 00:08:56,440 Speaker 2: affect anybody, regardless of their social standing. 158 00:08:57,400 --> 00:09:00,640 Speaker 1: Now, Susan, we obviously know that the federal budget is 159 00:09:00,679 --> 00:09:03,560 Speaker 1: being handed down tonight. Are you hoping that there is 160 00:09:03,640 --> 00:09:06,800 Speaker 1: going to be any funding or anything announced for the 161 00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:09,240 Speaker 1: Northern Territory when it comes to domestic violence. 162 00:09:10,520 --> 00:09:13,800 Speaker 2: I look absolutely there has to be, because you know 163 00:09:13,920 --> 00:09:17,200 Speaker 2: that I could just say from my service, we run 164 00:09:17,200 --> 00:09:19,240 Speaker 2: on the smell of an oily rag. We don't have 165 00:09:19,640 --> 00:09:22,840 Speaker 2: any fat in our budget at all. And what I'm 166 00:09:22,880 --> 00:09:26,000 Speaker 2: hoping is it unlike in the past where we keep 167 00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:29,160 Speaker 2: on getting these one off grants thrown at the Northern 168 00:09:29,240 --> 00:09:33,920 Speaker 2: Territory that the NT the Commonwealth government has listened and 169 00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:38,200 Speaker 2: will commit to some ongoing funding so that services such 170 00:09:38,200 --> 00:09:41,280 Speaker 2: as ours can tackle them domestic violence issue in the 171 00:09:41,280 --> 00:09:42,080 Speaker 2: Northern Territory. 172 00:09:42,760 --> 00:09:44,800 Speaker 1: I really appreciate your time this morning. I think it's 173 00:09:44,840 --> 00:09:47,840 Speaker 1: really important, you know, for people to get that insight 174 00:09:47,960 --> 00:09:50,720 Speaker 1: and certainly, you know, to understand a little bit more 175 00:09:50,800 --> 00:09:53,839 Speaker 1: about the issues that we have with domestic violence here 176 00:09:53,840 --> 00:09:55,839 Speaker 1: in the territory, Suason, is there anything else we should 177 00:09:55,840 --> 00:09:57,160 Speaker 1: be aware of before I let you go? 178 00:09:58,520 --> 00:10:00,680 Speaker 2: I guess I'll just say to people, if you're aware 179 00:10:00,720 --> 00:10:03,640 Speaker 2: that domestic is violence is going on, or you see 180 00:10:03,679 --> 00:10:07,040 Speaker 2: domestic violence happening, you know, please do something about it. 181 00:10:07,120 --> 00:10:09,520 Speaker 2: Don't just stand by and let it happen. Ring the 182 00:10:09,559 --> 00:10:12,960 Speaker 2: police intervene if it's safe, but at least do something 183 00:10:13,000 --> 00:10:15,479 Speaker 2: about it because it's everyone's responsibility. 184 00:10:15,880 --> 00:10:17,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's a really good message to end on. 185 00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:18,400 Speaker 2: Susan. 186 00:10:18,480 --> 00:10:20,960 Speaker 1: We really appreciate your time this morning. Thanks so much 187 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:21,840 Speaker 1: for speaking with us. 188 00:10:22,800 --> 00:10:24,800 Speaker 2: You're very welcome, Thank you, thank you.