Best practice framework
WELLINGTON: The Government has released two guides setting out best practice for dealing with family violence.
The documents mark the third stage of Te Aorerekura, a 25year strategy to end family and sexual violence in New Zealand.
Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence Marama Davidson unveiled them in front of sector stakeholders at the Beehive today.
They gave both specialist family and sexual violence organisations and general workforces the tools to respond appropriately, she said.
‘‘Let’s face it, people working right across government, local government, education, health, law, courts and even retail and hospitality are impacted by family violence.
‘‘And we all benefit from the knowledge reflected in these frameworks to know that we’re providing the right response every time it is needed.’’
The two guides are titled the Specialist Family Violence Organisational Standards (SOS) and the Family Violence Entry to Expert Capability Framework (E2E). The SOS sets out standards needed for organisations delivering specialist family violence services while the E2E sets out requirements to operate safely and effectively at entry, enhanced or expert levels.
The aim of both is to help people who need help access it more easily knowing they are being guided by those who are equipped to do so.
Davidson said it was thanks to input from experts, female leaders, survivors, disabled and rainbow communities that the guides were now in place.
Women’s Refuge chief executive Dr Ang Jury said the guides cemented a shared understanding of what family violence was and how to respond to it.
‘‘. . . There is going to be no excuse now for people who say, ‘Well, I didn’t know what was an appropriate response’.’’
Dr Jury said Women’s Refuge was already actively implementing both frameworks and said she wanted to see them applied in the court system.
National Network of Family Violence Services chief executive Merran Lawler said the Government now had to back up the guides with investment. — RNZ