CRDVS is a community agency funded by the Queensland State Government Department of Communities to respond to adults and children whose lives have been touched by domestic and family violence.We provide a range of services, including group work, individual counselling and court assistance. We are active in early intervention and prevention strategies through various community education and awareness raising initiatives.
The Centre Against Violence provides a specialised program for men who are using violence in their relationships. This program is funded by the Australian Government Department of Families and Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.
Vision
Mission Statement To be a service which embraces diversity, and contributes to the awareness and prevention of domestic and family violence. This will be achieved through the provision of safe, accessible and appropriate services that promote support and education within our community.
Philosophy The philosophy of the Caboolture Regional Domestic Violence Service Inc. is the fundamental beliefs which govern the delivery of appropriate services to clients.
The use of violence or abuse of any type by one person towards another is totally unacceptable.
People have the right to be treated in a non-judgemental manner, with dignity and respect and recognition of the worth of all cultures and creeds.
Clients' confidence will be respected at all times except where legal requirements prevail.
People are entitled to basic quality of life and to reach their fullest potential and to access community resources to achieve this.
Caboolture Regional Domestic Violence Service Inc. provides an environment where people (including children) are provided the information and support to make independent informed choices about their lives.
Aims
To provide physical, emotional and psychological support to those affected by domestic and family violence, and provide a referral service for perpetrators within our community.
To implement a comprehensive education program to raise community awareness of domestic and family violence and the related issues, with particular regard to the misconceptions arising from social and cultural beliefs about domestic and family violence, and the ramifications of domestic and family violence for those directly affected, and the wider community.
To research, develop and implement preventative and responsive strategies to domestic and family violence within the communities of Caboolture, Redcliffe, Pine Rivers and Kilcoy.
To nurture, develop and advocate on behalf of those affected by domestic and family violence, by providing support and facilitating access to appropriate services.
To advocate for the establishment and maintenance of relevant emergency and crisis response services for domestic and family violence within the CRDVS catchment area.
To promote and facilitate models of multi-agency case coordination to enhance an integrated response to domestic and family violence by all agencies across Government and non– Government within the CRDVS catchment area.
To act as a lead agency to recommend relevant improvements to the broader justice system response with particular regard to the criminality of domestic and family violence.
Values
The CRDVS acknowledges that all people have the right to be safe and free from violence at all times.
The work of CRDVS is guided by feminist philosophy.
The work of the CRDVS is undertaken within a human rights framework.
The CRDVS provides services to the community based on equity, irrespective of people’s sexuality, gender, culture, age, ability or religion.
The CRDVS delivers innovative, creative, responsive, flexible, and relevant programs within available resources.
The CRDVS is non-judgmental, compassionate, and respectful of the diversity of healing processes and pathways to empowerment.
The work of CRDVS is based on evidence of best practice.
The CRDVS balances its work between the healing needs of individuals and the prevention of domestic and family violence in the community.
The CRDVS works with a range of partners in the community to address domestic and family violence.
Her Story
The Caboolture Domestic Violence Service was funded in 1992, one of the first round of domestic violence services funded by the Queensland State Government under the Domestic Violence Initiatives Program.
Since then the Service has expanded and in 1996 a child witness counsellor was employed. Originally auspiced by Caboolture Community Care Inc, the Service became incorporated on the 11th November 1997, and was renamed Caboolture Regional Domestic Violence Service Inc (CRDVS). At this time CRDVS expanded to have a regional focus including Caboolture, Kilcoy, Pine Rivers and Redcliffe local government areas.
In 1999 CRDVS was successful in gaining further funding to provide court assistance in the four North Brisbane Magistrates Courts of Caboolture, Petrie, Redcliffe and Sandgate.
CRDVS conducted a Coordinated Community Response (CCR) to Domestic Violence Project between July 1999 and December 2000. The project evaluation revealed enhanced practitioner knowledge and development of links between services, and the cross agency trial of a domestic violence perpetrator program. The sustainability of this project was limited in the longer term by a lack of recurrent funding. This project laid the foundation for later CCR initiatives in this region commencing in 2005.
In 2001 in conjunction with the Queensland Police Service in the region, the Kids in Domestic Violence Situations (KIDVS) Faxback project was launched. This project was extremely successful in its aims to enhance awareness of the effects of witnessing domestic violence on children. The KIDVS faxback project was awarded a Police Commissioner's Silver Lantern Award in 2002. CRDVS and QPS have further developed this initiative as the Integrated Response to Domestic Violence (IR2DV) program, to continue offering support to people who have experienced domestic and family violence.
In May 2003, CRDVS was again successful in gaining additional funding to extend service delivery to people experiencing domestic and family violence in spousal, intimate personal , family and informal care relationships, in accordance with the expanded definition of domestic relationships under the amendments to the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act, passed in 2003. This funding was used to establish the Centre Against Violence.
CRDVS has engaged in several high profile campaigns to highlight the effects of domestic and family violence on all people, particularly children. This has included cinema advertising which attracted a Queensland Domestic Violence Prevention Award in 1999 , school campaigns, art competitions, community mailouts, community forums, shopping centre campaigns and numerous partnerships with local and state organizations, networks, businesses and bodies.
The most recent campaigns include “Footsteps to Stop Violence”, a school based badge making project; “Where You Go I Go - Footsteps Towards a Future Without Violence”, a grassroots community arts project; and “Want to Know a Secret” a campaign in collaboration with the Coordinated Community Response to Domestic Violence.
In 2005 the Queensland Police Service invited CRDVS to be a lead agency in a new CCR initiative for the region.
In 2006 CRDVS, as part of the Pine Rivers, Redcliffe and Caboolture Family and Community Consortium, received funding from the Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. The Specialised Family Violence allocation of this funding is used by the Centre Against Violence to facilitate Men Acting Responsibly, a group program for men who are using violence in their relationships.
Since its inception in 1992, CRDVS has seen a steady growth in the request for service, and has grown to meet this demand. This growth has demanded extra staffing, change of premises and creativity in our response.
Organisational Structure
CRDVS is a community based organisation which receives recurrent funding from the Department of Communities through the domestic violence initiatives program. CRDVS is administered by a voluntary management committee comprised of members of the local community. See below for organisational chart.
CRDVS welcomes complaints and compliments. Please contact us to discuss this further.
Our Friends
This service is generously supported by many private individuals, companies and organisations. We especially acknowledge the ongoing support of the Zonta Club of Caboolture.
Confidentiality
Confidentiality at CRDVS is considered “team based” which means that all counsellors and workers at this Service may have access to information about your circumstance, to enhance our service provision. This will not occur if you identify that there is a staff member here that has an ethical responsibility not to be involved in your matter.
CRDVS will keep records of your interaction with us (case notes). These records are stored securely. These notes record relevant aspects of our conversations with you. We will not record our personal assumptions or make assessment of your situation. It is important for you to be aware that these notes can be subpoenaed by a court. Your right to confidentiality will be respected at all times. We will not discuss your situation without your consent, except in limited circumstances.
Confidentiality may be limited in some circumstances. These limitations are in accordance with Practice Standards for working with people experiencing domestic violence, and CRDVS policies on confidentiality. These documents are available at your request. Please see below.
Duty of Care / Protection of Children. This service is not part of Department of Child Safety, however we do have a policy of reporting cases where we believe there is child abuse or neglect taking place, or if your children are at risk of harm. We will always endeavour to undertake any reporting in collaboration with you.
Duty of Care. This Service has a duty of care to notify relevant authorities (Hospital, Mental Health or Police) if we believe that you are at immediate risk of harming yourself or another person in the community. Again, we will always endeavour to do this with your collaboration, or knowledge.
Subpoena from a Court. Your file can be subpoenaed by a court.
Practice Standards
Services provided by the Caboolture Regional Domestic Violence Service Inc. and The Centre Against Violence aims to work within the relevant State and Federal Government practice standards.
CRDVS upholds the right to privacy and security for people who access this service. This is limited in some circumstances. Please see information on 'Confidentiality' contained in this site.
