Community Safety

    Community Safety

    A number of factors impact on the safety of Town Campers. Addressing family and domestic violence is as essential as functional infrastructure such as lighting in open spaces and digital access. We acknowledge that there are a number of contributing factors to use of violence, such as gender inequality, physical and mental health issues, homelessness, housing overcrowding, alcohol and drug issues, education and employment issues plus socioeconomic and historic disadvantage that often contributes to serious harm in relationships.

    We therefore provide a range of programs that focus on the safety of Aboriginal community members in both Alice Springs Town Camps and Urban Alice Springs. This includes youth and adult night patrol, and the looking After the Kids program that focuses on youth patrol and outreach with young people and their families. Community safety also includes the Integrated support program (ISP) providing individuals and Town Camp communities support around alcohol and drug reduction. We also operate the Tangentyere Family Violence program (TFVPP) providing support for men, women and young people to have lives and communities free and safe from Family, Domestic and sexual violence.

    Our safety programs are heavily integrated with our Community and Emergency Assistance programs to ensure holistic support for individuals and families. Our current programs include:

    Family Violence Prevention Programs

    The Family Violence Prevention Programs engage men, women and children, to understand the drivers and contributors of Family Violence which in turn empowers and educates people to pass on the knowledge for future generations to have hope and healing.

    We can support you with:
    • Group and individual sessions for men, women and young people impacted by family violence; 
    • Referrals to appropriate agencies/pathways depending on your needs;
    • Resources; and
    • A secondary consult / referral for agencies. 
    Our programs are committed to working within the integrated response to family violence to prevent family violence in our Town Camps and in the wider Alice Springs community. We aim to raise awareness that cultural and societal change is required to assist in moving towards a safer, healthier and stronger future for our families and community.

    Men’s Behaviour Change Program 

    The Tangentyere Men’s Family Violence Prevention Program or “Marra’ka Mbarintja” (Talking straight to make change) aims to work towards the safety, wellbeing, human rights and dignity of women, children and others affected by men’s use of violence. We believe women and children have the right to enjoy safe and respectful relationships.

    The Men’s Behaviour Change Program (MBCP) offers a psycho - educational model and space for men who use violence and abuse in their intimate and family relationships. 

    If you know a client or family where family violence is an issue and the man is open to seeking support around changing his behaviour we offer:
    • Referral to appropriate services;
    • Comprehensive assessment by our specialist staff to ensure the man is group ready; and
    • Assessments for men in prison and at court.
    Groups involve two-hour weekly sessions for 16 weeks plus follow-up sessions as required. Each session is tailored to address the men’s use of violence, to accept responsibility for their use of violence and to learn ways to reduce their use of violence. 

    The Men’s Behaviour Change Program are proud to be a part of Tangentyere Council. The program adheres to and respects the rights of Indigenous Australians and understands the complexities of working in the Central Australian context. We accept referrals for all men, indigenous and non-indigenous.

    While we respect the sensitive nature of our discussions, the MBCP abides by limited confidentiality and mandatory reporting guidelines.

    Men’s Outreach, Assessment and Referral Services 

    The Men’s Outreach, Assessment and Referral Service (MOARS) is based at the Alice Springs Local Court. It works with men who have used violence against their partner or ex-partner, to reduce the risk of further family violence occurring. 

    We can help with:
    • Referrals to appropriate services including MBCP;
    • Assessments;
    • Outreach with potential or existing participants; and 
    • Case management support. 

    Our program builds links between services who work with men who use violence to provide an integrated response to family and domestic violence. This includes legal services, Department of Correctional Services, NT Police and community-based groups. 

    Tangentyere Women’s Family Safety Group 

    The Tangentyere Women’s Family Safety Group (TWFSG) was developed out of a need identified by Town Camp women for a voice and action on family and domestic violence issues. The TWFSG programs’ direction and development has been very organic and has worked from a strengths-based approach acknowledging and celebrating the skills, knowledge, history, assets, connections and relationships that Town Camp residents have.

    We focus on early intervention and primary prevention of family and domestic violence. We do this through:
    • Training Women in F&DV for family safety;
    • Supporting Aboriginal Women’s voices and views on the issues of F&DV through advocacy, activism, publicity, promotion and networking; and
    • Resource development with messages of non-violence.
    Our core members are all Aboriginal women and Town Camp residents.
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    Men’s Family Safety Group

    The Men’s Family safety group address concerns about violence, community safety and wellbeing.

    Our group is made up of senior men from the Town Camps – Our leaders have local knowledge, experience and most importantly a key understanding of the cultural strengths of their community. This group works from a “ground up” approach with the male and female community leaders leading the way to get key messages out to the community around the impact and prevention of family violence on women, children and men in their communities. 

    The Men’s Family Safety group leadership are committed to ensuring a safer and more secure environment for women and children who experience and are impacted by Family and Domestic violence. This work is so important to open up conversations about family and domestic violence that have traditionally been challenging to discuss. 

    Domestic Violence Specialist Children’s Service

    The Domestic Violence Specialist Children’s Service is designed to break the cycle of violence. This cycle is inter-generationally embedded, and we work directly with young people so that their children are born into families where safety and respect of all members of the family are prioritised. We do this by creating age-appropriate and gender-based family and domestic violence critical interventions and youth informed services.

    Aboriginal young people affected by family and domestic violence can be referred to us so that we can assist with:
    • Enhancing their awareness and understanding of the dynamics and impacts of family and domestic violence;
    • Encouraging them to develop their communication and relationships skills to be able to engage in positive, respectful relationships free of family and domestic violence; 
    • Strengthening their capacity to shape their own futures and open the way to safe, non-violent and enjoyable relationships; and
    • Strengthening their capacity to improve their wellbeing and safety, and that of others.

    Our specialist services include:
    • One to one support sessions exploring the impacts and prevention of family and domestic violence;
    • Group sessions where appropriate, including early intervention specialist programs in collaboration with schools and community centres;
    • Individual case management;
    • Advocacy;
    • Individual support in the context of the family;
    • Referrals to external service providers; and
    • Trauma informed and culturally safe therapeutic support.

    Integrated Support Program

    The Integrated Support Program (ISP) provides a holistic response to individuals, families and communities where alcohol use is causing significant harm to the individual or extended community. 

    We can assist clients to access support services that address the social determinants of health and the underlying drivers of unmanaged alcohol misuse. 
    This includes:
    • Outreach to homes and communities providing counselling, safety planning, and psychosocial support for those who are negatively affected by alcohol misuse;
    • Early intervention, harm reduction, and case planning with individuals and families; and
    • Support and advocacy for clients in accessing primary health care, mental health services, and other relevant support. 

    Night and Youth Patrol

    Our Night Patrol and Youth Patrol are culturally appropriate services that improve the safety of the community within Alice Springs and Town Camps to improve outcomes for Aboriginal people. 

    The Night Patrol assists people at risk including intoxicated people, victims of violence and homeless people by patrolling the streets and local community areas where people may come into problems with the criminal justice system. 

    The Youth Patrol focusses on vulnerable and at-risk young people and links them into services that can address their needs.

    We focus on early intervention, crime prevention and diversion, so we have a one-way, one trip policy for all clients on any given night. There are some services we cannot provide:

    • We are not a taxi service -we cannot provide transportation to people moving to/from locations as part of their daily living;
    • We are not a substitute for police or emergency services - we will not perform the functions of these services;
    • We will not support people to actively evade the police or provide transport to people where it is known there is a police warrant in place for their arrest;
    • We do not provide security services for protecting assets in the community; and
    • We do not participate in ceremonial business or hunting.

    If there is an emergency, please call 000.

    Looking After the Kids Program

    The Looking after the Kids walking alongside young people program builds community resilience through community engagement and support for vulnerable young people and their families.  

    The Looking after the Kids program is one element of the “Breaking the Cycle of Youth Crime plan” which delivers a suite of measures to make Alice Springs young people safer. Our program builds on strong community and interagency relationships to ensure best outcomes for young people by engaging and responding to young people frequenting the streets late at night.

    We can assist by:
    • Strong collaborations and partnerships;
    • Referral to appropriate services; and
    • Outreach support for young people and their families.

    Girls Can Boys Can

    The Girls Can Boys Can Project shows equal and respectful relationships between girls and boys, so that kids can thrive and grow up to be whoever they want to be and free from discrimination. 
     
    Women are more likely to experience domestic, family, and sexual violence in their lifetime than men. Violence against women occurs in society and in relationships where women and men ARE NOT EQUAL. When women also experience racism, this increases their risk of experiencing violence. Violence against women is preventable. To stop violence before it begins, children need to see and hear equal and respectful relationship between girls and boys and women and men. 
     
    The Girls Can Boys Can Project is working with parents, carers and educators of kids to create messages for books, clothing, posters and toys that show the healthy, fun, equal and respectful relationships between girls and boys, along with the strengths of Aboriginal children, families and communities.
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