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.