Building the Evidence for Family Violence Policy Reform: The Work of Specialist Women’s Refuges in Victoria, Australia

Abstract

While specialist women’s refuges have been central to responses to family violence since the 1970s, their work is under-researched. Little is known outside the family violence sector about the support they provide and how it assists women and children. There have been some critiques of their work but there is limited knowledge of the constraints women’s refuges face. Based on interviews and focus groups with 100 professional stakeholders and twenty-two service users, this article analyses the work of women’s refuges in the Australian state of Victoria in an effort to inform policy reform. The research found that refuges’ underpinning gendered analysis, focus on safety and support and advocacy to ensure women’s human rights are met have much to offer further developments in responding to family violence. In doing so, the article contributes to critical debates about the operation of refuges and the need for specialist family violence services.

‘You’re having us on … that’s what it felt like.’: Frontline Workers Navigating the Introduction of Moral Commitments to Domestic Abuse Support within a Statutory Homelessness System

“…This framing centres women's citizenship, and hence understands abuse as a gender based human rights violation. This approach has its roots in the early feminist movement, which explicitly challenged the idea that a woman's experience of abuse resulted from her own culpability (Sweet, 2021;Murray et al, 2022). It rejects a narrative of disempowerment associated with victimhood (Meyers, 2011), rather recognising abuse as caused by gender-based structural violence (Sweet, 2015).…”

“…However, the legally enforceable rights of those who have experienced domestic abuse to other forms of help and support aside from punitive action toward perpetrators has not substantially improved despite these declarations of moral obligation. The resources available to the domestic abuse sector have been especially affected by ongoing public sector cuts (Charles and Mackay, 2013;Ishkanian, 2014;Murray et al, 2022). This means that the practical reality of service provision for those who have experienced abuse, even within a human rights orientation, may be very different to the empowerment-based intentions of policy and legislation.…”

“…The Guidance also stresses the importance of intersecting marginalisations in addressing domestic abuse (see para 5.63, 6.17-6.20). Recognising the importance of homelessness services as locations where those who have experienced domestic abuse may present, alongside the difficulties faced in disclosing abuse (Murray et al, 2022), homelessness services are encouraged to adopt an 'Ask and Act' approach: frontline staff are charged with being aware of the possibility and impact of domestic abuse upon applicants and expected to take appropriate action, including, but not limited to, use of specialist referrals.…”

“…First, domestic abuse services are critically underfunded compared to homelessness services and often unable to meet demand. This especially affects applicants with complex needs, and with additional loci of marginalisation (Murray et al, 2022). Second, provision offered by domestic abuse services seldom mirrors that available in the homelessness sector: it is primarily a temporary crisis response.…”

“…Drawing upon well-developed feminist understandings of societal harm as instigated, amplified and sustained through gender-based structural disempowerment, domestic abuse is recognised internationally as a moral violation Gedalof, 2018;Murray et al, 2022). This is reflected in strategic policy and legislative frameworks such as the Istanbul Convention (Council of Europe, 2011), the Violence Against Women Act 2013).…”