Victoria government logo

Ensure therapeutic interventions are available for all women in prison

Recommendation:
184
Status:
Implemented

Who is leading the change

  • Department of Justice and Community Safety

Corrections Victoria ensure that therapeutic interventions such as individual counselling and group-based programs such as Out of the Dark are available for all women in prison who have experienced family violence.

  • Our work on this recommendation involves:

    • Expanding delivery of contracted non-government organisation programs to female prisoners who are victim survivors of family violence. This includes the ‘Out of the Dark’ program and individual counselling sessions.

    Work completed by March 2017:

    • the Out of the Dark program was extended for a two year period. An expansion of service delivery at the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre and Tarrengower Prison has increased the number of women accessing these services.
    • the provision of sexual assault counselling was extended for a two year period, and the service delivery scope expanded to include specialist trauma counselling relating to family violence related trauma, including:
      • managing symptoms
      • trauma recovery
      • empowerment programs
      • physical therapies
    • funding was provided in the 2016-17 State Budget to ensure the expanded programs and services for women victims of family violence continue to be delivered in 2017-18. Funding has not been provided to continue the expanded programs beyond 2017-18

    In July 2017, service delivery capacity for specialist trauma counselling was extended to women exiting prison from remand or being supervised by Community Correctional Services post-release. This was also funded in the 2016-17 State Budget to be delivered in 2017-18, but funding has not been provided to continue it beyond 2017-18.

  • This recommendation is implemented.

  • Implemented.

Reviewed 17 May 2020

Was this page helpful?