Alternative and Improved Responses to Domestic and Family Violence In Queensland Indigenous Communities

This report addresses the issue of whether the legal system is responding adequately to domestic and family violence against Indigenous people. More specifically it assesses the effectiveness of domestic violence protection orders for Indigenous clients and proposes recommendations for change. The research has been commissioned by the Violence Prevention Unit in the Department of Communities, and was developed in consultation with the Violence Prevention Unit (VPU). At the time the research was commissioned there was no routine data available on the number of domestic and family violence protection orders being made for Indigenous victims of violence. An assumption underpinning the research was that Indigenous women were not using domestic and family violence protection orders to an extent that might be expected given the level of reported violence. The aims of the research were as follows: • determine what data is available in relation to the use of domestic violence orders by Indigenous clients • determine whether domestic violence orders are an adequate and effective legal mechanism to respond to violence against Indigenous clients, particularly in rural and remote areas • propose potential models for more effective interventions in responding to domestic and family violence in Indigenous communities, and determine whether they require legislative or non-legislative change