WHWSS Evaluation
Women’s Health and Wellbeing Support Services: An Evaluation Dr Liane McDermott, Senior Research Officer
Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research, CQUniversity
In 2018, the Queensland Government initiated the funding of a new service response to support women’s longer-term recovery from their experiences of domestic and family violence (DFV). This was in recognition of the multiple and complex effects DFV can have on women, and the gap in service delivery identified by the Queensland Government’s Special Taskforce on Domestic and Family Violence. The Taskforce recommended the development of ‘nonresidential support programs to assist victims to live independently and not be compelled to return to violent/controlling relationships’ (Queensland Government, 2015, p. 248). The former Queensland Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women aimed to address this gap by providing funding to existing organisations working in DFV, sexual violence, and/or women’s health so they could assist women, including young women, to achieve social and economic independence and recover from their experiences of DFV. This included actively assisting women and their children to access a range of support services to meet their longer-term needs and to support their ongoing journey from crisis to recovery. Service delivery included (but was not limited to): •
assistance to access or maintain safe and affordable housing (e.g., advocacy support to assist agencies such as Rent Connect maintain compromised tenancies in the private market);
•
delivery of recovery and wellbeing support groups;
•
assistance to access relevant health services to ensure ongoing health and wellbeing (e.g., women’s health
services, in-patient drug and alcohol rehabilitation services, or support to access services to improve mental health); •
parenting support;
•
practical assistance to re-enter the labour market or maintain employment; and
•
advocacy and support to access and sustain financial independence (e.g., accessing Centrelink, facilitating referrals for financial assistance or debt management).
The QCDFVR was commissioned to undertake an evaluation (in 2019-2020 conducted by Dr Sue Carswell and Dr Liane McDermott), of 7 organisations working across 10 sites in Queensland. The organisations were those newly funded to provide Women’s Health and Wellbeing Support Services (WHWSS). Here, we present the key findings which provide an overview of the services provided by the WHWSS providers and identify emerging good practices to support the recovery of women (and their children) from gender-based violence.
Delivery of services to address longer-term recovery needs Women and their children require different kinds of support at different times to address crisis-related and longer-term recovery needs. Research on the needs of survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) found, At times of crisis, safety is the major concern for victims (adults and children) along with ensuring that they have access to services to meet any health, safety, and practical needs. For victims of IPV, their short-term needs may include support with protection orders and legal matters;
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