The Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research Centre (CDFVR) based at CQU Mackay has received a $50,000 grant funded by the State Government’s Office for Women.

CDFVR sought the grant to develop a comprehensive, accredited training package aimed at improving effectiveness and coordination of efforts to address violence against women. It is expected the package will be used by a wide range of agencies, both in the government and non-government sectors.

The project will nationally recognise competencies for domestic and family violence interventions and will target current gaps in resources and training, including those arising because of geographical location, or minority group status.

The process for developing the package involves collaboration with domestic and family violence sector representatives to conduct a comprehensive audit of the current training packages that are in place; ascertain gaps within the system; and identify training requirements and modes of training delivery.

CDFVR Director Heather Nancarrow said this funding will result in a final draft training package to be delivered to the Office for Women by the end of 2006.

“Work by CDFVR on finalising and accrediting the package will depend on further funding from the Office for Women through their Partnerships Grants, which are limited to $50,000 in any year," she said.

“The project gives effect to a key recommendation of the Taskforce on Women and the Criminal Code, established by the Queensland Government in 1998. The taskforce identified that women’s experience of the criminal justice system was generally negative and alienating, and that sensitive, quality and consistent responses from people involved in the system were required to address this problem,” Ms Nancarrow said.

For further information, please contact Heather Nancarrow on 4940 7834.