We worked with partners towards preventing family and sexual violence
Family violence and sexual violence are a reality for many people in New Zealand and can have intergenerational impacts on individuals and families. Exposure to family or sexual violence in childhood vastly increases the risk of violence featuring in adulthood.
We continued working with the Multi-Agency Team based in the Ministry of Justice to improve services and safety for victims and to change long-standing behaviours and attitudes. The cross-agency working group is tasked with developing a connected and effective national approach to preventing family violence and sexual violence.
We want providers to be sustainably funded and services to be whānau-centred, outcomes-focused and integrated. To achieve this we have begun developing a Family Violence Funding Plan, commencing initial engagement with the sector to build a clearer understanding of the family violence services we fund. We will progress the Funding Plan next year through co-design with the sector.
Investing in family violence prevention initiatives
We want to mobilise communities and challenge the social norms that perpetuate violence. Our investment in It’s Not OK, E Tū Whānau and Pasefika Proud is supported by the Family Violence Prevention Investment Advisory Board’s assessment of these initiatives as effective models for encouraging positive social change within communities.
It’s Not OK encourages attitude and behaviour changes at the whole-of-population and community levels, and denormalising family violence through mass-media advertising, champions of change, community action and capability building.
E Tū Whānau is a kaupapa Māori community-owned family violence prevention initiative. It is designed and led by Māori and supported by MSD. A Māori Reference Group brokers this relationship and provides input and advice. E Tū Whānau has strong partnerships with whānau, hapū, iwi and community groups, and utilises community leadership and targeted resources to encourage positive community action and change. E Tū Whānau also works with refugee and migrant groups.
Pasefika Proud aims to achieve wellbeing in Pacific families by harnessing the transformative power of Pacific core cultural values and frameworks to embed violence-free, respectful relationships.
Supporting survivors of sexual violence
Over the past year we have continued to work closely with providers of specialist sexual violence services to better support survivors and prevent sexual violence. In 2016 we received funding that enabled us to offer new three-year contracts to all existing sexual harm crisis support providers from 1 July 2017. We have now filled the remaining gaps in crisis support services, which means that sexual harm crisis support services are now available throughout New Zealand. These contracts, along with the introduction of new service guidelines and reporting measures, are helping to stabilise the sexual harm prevention sector and build capacity and capability.
We have worked with the specialist sexual violence service sector to develop a new national sexual harm helpline - Safe to talk - He pai ki to korero, which was officially launched in June 2018 by the Hon Carmel Sepuloni, Minister for Social Development (centre) with Safe to talk Clinical Lead Dr Siale Foliaki (left) and Hon Peeni Henare, Associate Minister for Social Development (right). The helpline is available at all times by phone, text, email and webchat, and provides nationwide access to free confidential information and support to anyone affected by sexual harm. In the helpline's first few months, more than 1,200 people sought advice and support. The most common form of harm disclosed was historical sexual violence that had often taken place when the person was under 18 years of age.
Co-designing specialist sexual violence services
This work is in line with the recommendations of the December 2015 Social Services Committee Inquiry into the Funding of Specialist Sexual Violence Social Services[33]. We have addressed gaps in sexual harm crisis support services and have contracted providers for three years (to 30 June 2020), providing the sector with more certainty and stability.
We have also continued to develop services to mitigate harmful sexual behaviour and to support male survivors of sexual abuse. We implemented a new national sexual harm helpline, Safe to talk – He pai ki to kōrero, which provides nationwide 24/7 access to free, confidential information and support for people affected by sexual harm.
A four-year evaluation of these services is under way, with a final report expected in 2021.
A new service to respond to elder abuse and neglect
One in ten older people reports having experienced abuse.
In July 2017 we introduced the new Elder Abuse Response Service, which focuses on intervention, including immediate, intensive support. We hold 19 contracts nationally with providers (both individual and consortia) totalling $2.6 million to support older people at risk of, or experiencing, abuse.
We provide $300,000 to help fund a free and confidential 24/7 helpline, 0800 EA Not OK, which is answered by registered nurses who direct callers to their local service providers. In 2017/2018 the helpline received 548 calls, 194 of which were referred to local service providers.
Footnote
[33]. Inquiry into the funding of specialist sexual violence social services.
