Court carries heavy burden

IN the space of two-and-a-half years more than 15,000 matters have been through the Southport Domestic and Family Violence Court.

The figure reveals a staggering amount of work being done by the court, whether it’s criminal proceedings or putting in protective applications for victims.

The numbers show that, from September 1, 2015, to the end of February 2018, the courts dealt with 4293 domestic violence order breaches, 166 strangulation offences, 2740 other offences and 8372 applications.

While the court dealt with more than 500 matters each month, the Domestic Violence Prevention Centre Gold Coast had 4415 contacts with 1029 victims in March alone.

CEO Rosemary O’Malley said in March they assisted in 719 matters through the courts, helping 66 women previously unknown to the service.

“From our point of view the fact 233 of the 279 women DVPC supported at court received direct legal support from duty solicitors and the Gold Coast Community Legal Service is a positive sign,” Ms O’Malley said.

“Prior to September 2015 when the Southport Specialist DV Court was set up it was usually the case that women did not have legal representation. There is no comparison with the court today to just over two-and-a-half years ago prior to the specialist court.

“Today, matters are heard by three specialist DV magistrates (previously they were often heard by judicial registrars). There is a dedicated DV registry with well-trained and DV-informed staff, and the support room for women has been relocated and refurbished into a spacious contemporary waiting area with a safe place for children to play.

“The increased volume (of victims through court) is hopefully a good sign with more women feeling safer to come forward to apply for domestic violence orders and having more faith in the system.

“Additionally, since February 2016 the Gold Coast has been fortunate to have the DV taskforce which is now auditing every DV callout.

“We have gone to from having two DV co-ordinators on the Gold Coast to the taskforce of 12 officers auditing, following-up, and case-managing high-risk aggrieved and respondents.”

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Di Farmer did not respond by deadline.

The Department of Justice and Attorney-General said the court was continuing to improve its services for victims and their families.