Improving Responses to Family and Domestic Violence in Queensland Indigenous Communities
13 May 2008
Professor Chris Cunneen, NewSouth Global Chair in Criminology, University of New South Wales
Professor Cunneen’s seminar intended to present insights from his recent research into the use and effectiveness of Domestic Violence Protection Orders (DVPO) by Indigenous women in Queensland as a legal response mechanism to family violence particularly in rural and remote communities. This research was commissioned by the Queensland Department of Communities, and at the time of preparing the abstract and advertising material for the seminar, Professor Cunneen anticipated the research report being completed and approved by the Department of Communities. However, delays in accessing state government data and departmental requirements in relation to releasing research results required Professor Cunneen to adjust the content of his seminar to reflect only existing data in the field of family violence in Indigenous communities, including data collected by CDFVR.
Unfortunately, the necessity of this adjustment became apparent only shortly before the scheduled presentation and it was therefore impractical for the Centre to postpone the delivery of the seminar.
Professor Cunneen’s adjusted seminar presented a context for his research including a number of case studies which highlighted the problems in accessing legal support and protection, an examination of recently analysed family violence data collected by CDFVR, and commentary on the challenges and consequences of inconsistent quality in government data for the development of evidence-based policy and service provision. He concluded with a range of discussion points that aimed to explore possibilities for more effective interventions into family violence in Indigenous communities in Queensland.
Professor Cunneen has a national and international reputation as a leading criminologist specialising in Indigenous People and the Law, Juvenile Justice, Restorative Justice, Policing, Prison Issues, Hate Crime, and Human Rights. In addition to his numerous academic and research achievements, Chris served as the Chairperson of the New South Wales Juvenile Justice Advisory Council (2000-2007) and was a member of the New South Wales Aboriginal Child Sexual Assault Taskforce (2003-2006). He has conducted research work for a number of Indigenous and human rights organisations, including the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission and their National Inquiry into Racist Violence; and was a consultant to the National Inquiry into Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from Their Families.
A DVD of Professor Cunneen’s seminar is available (no charge). Please use the Resource Order Form if you would like to receive a copy.
