SPS303 Assessment 3

Individual Reflective Essay

Student Name:

Student Number:

University Name:

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Contents
Week 1.............................................................................................................................................2

Week 2.............................................................................................................................................2

Week 3.............................................................................................................................................3

Week 4.............................................................................................................................................4

Week 5.............................................................................................................................................4

Week 6.............................................................................................................................................5

Week 7.............................................................................................................................................6

Week 8.............................................................................................................................................6

Week 9.............................................................................................................................................7

Week 10...........................................................................................................................................8

References........................................................................................................................................8

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Week 1

From this week learning, it has been learned by me that family and domestic violence has
emerged as an important public health issue Australia is facing over the years. It is the human
rights violation affecting more than one third of women all over the world. Now this social
menace has been recognised as a serious problem in the country enormously adversely impacting
on the female population and societal costs. The lecturer has helped us in understanding the UN
Declaration about violence against women as gender-based act of violence causing or is likely in
causing physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to the victims – which includes
threats of harm or coercion, in life (public or in private) (Both, et al., 2019). It was further
learned by me that domestic, family, intimate partner violence, sexual harassment and sexual
assault are all termed as violence against women in Australia. A term more broad than domestic
violence, it has been understood by me from W1 reading the family violence not only is referring
to violence amidst intimate partners but also amid the members of a family say for instance,
abuse of elders and adolescent violence against parents. On further reading I learned that violent
or threatening behaviour or behaviours of any other forms showing coercion or controlling a
family member or causes family member to fear comes under family violence.

Week 2
From this week learning, it has been understood by me that utilized for supporting statistical
measurement, data analysis and analytical commentary, frameworks are a tool that is well
recognised. They are representing a way to think about an area of interest that is methodical and
meticulous; promoting standards, consistency and comparability across data collections and
amidst jurisdictions and sectors (Burelomova, et al., 2018). I learned about the principal function
of a conceptual framework revolves around mapping the terrain that surrounds an area of
interest, Domestic and Family Violence in this case. It was learned by me that Australia is yet to
attain true gender equality which has driven violence against women by further setting the
requisite social context. The lecturer has helped in developing a detailed comprehension about
gender inequality as social condition. Unequal value provided to men and women and an unequal
distribution of power, resources and opportunity amidst them characterizes gender inequality.
The impact of gender inequality can be seen on all, which also includes men. It was stressed

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during this week that right from the childhood stereotypes or ‘rules’ regarding how women and
men, girls and boys must begin, following people through to adulthood. Being present in the W2
reading it has been recognized by me that the sense of self in a child gets affected by the gender
stereotypes from a very tender age.

Week 3
During this week the lecturer helped the learners to understand why prevention works in family
and domestic violence? It was learned by me that most common and pervasive form of family
violence is intimate partner violence perpetrated against women. A critical role is played by
prevention in ending family and domestic violence. A workforce having the ability of prevent
intimate partner violence in an effective way is likely in making significant contributions in the
prevention of family and domestic violence of all forms. On studying the W3 reading, it was
understood by me that for ending family and domestic violence prevention is needed to be
applied in three levels (Smyth, et al., 2021).The first stage is primary prevention wherein
violence is prevented ahead of it starting. This can be done by bringing social and cultural
change across the community as a whole. The second way is early intervention for stopping
violence from recurrence or escalation; and the last way is tertiary prevention where crisis is
responded with information and services for providing accommodation, support, counselling and
advocacy. For practicing prevention this week participation helped me in understanding what
adds up to intimate partner violence and sexual assault, other forms of violence against women;
other forms of family and domestic violence; the generality of violence against women, which
includes the nature of FDV & sexual assault as the most pervasive forms of violence against
women.

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Week 4

My participation in this week sessions has benefitted my to develop an in-depth comprehension

about the theory of intersectionality and vulnerable populations which includes disabled, elderly,
Aboriginal, LGBTI and CALD. It has been learned by me that in community services
intersectionality is perceived as the belief that “different aspects of a person’s identity are there –
gender, class, ethnicity and cultural background, religion, disability and sexual orientation, which
could be exposing him/her to overlap forms of discrimination and marginalization. For forming
the identity and experience of an individual many factors are combined. Intersectionality is a
framework recognising identity as complicated, and individuals must not be categorised on the
basis of one aspect of their identity such as ethnicity (Frost, 2019). I further learned from W4
reading 1 and 2 that in family and domestic violence practice, it is crucial to adopt
intersectionality for assuring that the service system is equipped better for effectively responding
to the complication of family violence and the impacts on people facing intersecting forms of
discrimination and oppression contributing to the drivers of family violence. Getting the
capability of DFV system build for embedding an intersectional approach in practices is likely in
leading towards services that are more inclusive, responsive and accessible for people living with
family violence experiences.

Week 5

Attending this week session has helped me to gain learning about family and domestic violence
and the co-occurrence of substance abuse and mental health. I had learned that domestic abuse
when gets combined with drugs or alcohol addiction is more likely in escalating to a dangerous
situation that is challenging in getting away from. During this class, the lecturer stressed that
domestic violence of every type gets originated from the desire of a person to control the others.
There is a strong connection of addiction and substance abuse domestic violence. There is an
increased probability of the people inebriated from drugs or alcohol in losing control of their
inhibitions. The chance of abusive behaviour increases to a great extent under the impact of any
substance (Yates, 2019).

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It has also been learned by me from the W5 reading that a number of characteristics are shared
by addiction and domestic violence such as losing control, continuance of the behaviour even
after it lead to adverse results. In the presence of substance abuse disorder, there is a greater risk
of increase in domestic violence. Under the influence of substance, for the victims it might be
becoming challenging in determining the severity of the danger they are in actual eventually
making domestic abuse a violent cycle.

Week 6

In this week discussions were made about the prevalence and impacts of domestic and family
violence on children. It was learned by that often the direct and indirect impact of family
violence can be seen on children. It was asserted by during the learning’s that there has been an
increased insistence to get the children acknowledged as victims in their own right who might be
the victim survivors of family violence if they are its targets or not. There might be higher
chances that children in family and domestic violence are subjected to direct physical, sexual,
psychological or emotional violence or are being threatened for life, coerced and controlled by a
perpetrator’s behaviour (Katz, et al., 2020). Children living in family and domestic violence are
affected with physical and mental wellbeing, development and schooling. This has emerged as a
primary reason behind the homelessness of the Australian children. It was further understood by
me from W6 reading that often family and domestic violence co-occurs with child abuse. It also
includes sexual abuse of the child. Specific attention in policy and practice is required by this co-
occurrence. It is important to universally deliver and work the prevention strategies with children
for helping them being critical of gender standards and violence-supportive views, equipping
them with the skills for forming healthy and respectful relations in adulthood

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Week 7

This week discussions has helped me to become aware of the fact that as a community service
professional, it will be likely for me to work with clients who are living with violence at home or
have done so in the past, most of who are women and children, given the higher prevalence of
family and domestic violence in Australia. There might be the chances that the victims are
showing the signs of depression, anxiety, insomnia, flashbacks, anger, guilt or exhaustion. It is
important for the CS professionals in being appraised that when working with victim survivors’
they might be observing anxiety, depression, hypervigilance etc. which are normal responses of
the traumas they have faced to survive family and domestic violence. From the point of view of
ethics, as a CS professional one should not be discriminating or labelling the victim survivors
entrusting him/her with their experiences. On further studying the W7 reading article it has
become evident that though there has been an increase in the research with children having
experienced domestic violence, an area wherein their voices are still heard seldom in the
designing, delivering and assessment of programs for men using violence. In community
services, ethics helps the service providers in following a predictable and respectable code of
ethic. It makes them feeling confident in contributing to the agency (Lamb, et al., 2021).

Week 8

Working with the victims of family violence also leaves an impact on the community service
professionals. A number of challenges are faced by them in the need for remaining professional,
non-judgemental and ethical among various other obligations whilst practising self-care and
manage from getting affected by the family violence work. No matter how long a person has
been working as a specialist family and domestic violence professional, it could be taking a
mental, emotional and even physical toll on him/her. An increased percentage of domestic and
family violence victim and survivors are also working in this sector. This can be bringing the
added risks of them getting triggered and re-traumatised. Hence, it is important that when
working with people having being experienced and/or perpetrated family and domestic violence,
priority must be given to self care by the service providers. It is a need and not a luxury. On
further studying the W8 reading article, it has been observed that for improve the emotional well-
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being of domestic violence advocates, it is crucial to implement specified practices and policies.
This will be benefitting the advocates from an environment where co-workers are supporting
each other. Even though there prevails a trend asserting on a team approach, creating structures
should be continued by the domestic violence services emphasizing on cooperation amongst the
advocates, effective communication, and conflict resolution skills (Lattery & Goodman, 2009).

Week 9

Discussions in this week have helped me to become aware of the risk factors that escalate
violence and murder. In family and domestic violence sector, all community services
professionals are in need of extensive and continuous training to comprehend, prevent and
respond to family and domestic violence in an effective way. This training must be about the
interconnectedness of the abuse of women and children; conduct risk assessments and develop
safety plans; effects of trauma on women and children; conditions promoting recovery from
trauma; dynamics of sexual and domestic violence perpetration; risks and forms post-separation
violence can be taking; and evaluation of claims of change in the perpetrators of abuse(Kebbell,
2019). On further studying the W9 reading article, it has been understood that there are nine
national risk assessment principles for domestic and family violence, which practitioners should
be aware of. The risks of domestic and family violence are contributed by various factors that are
related with an increased probability of reoccurrence of violence, serious injury, or death, in
context of intimate partner violence by men against women. Factors like history of family and
domestic violence, separation (actual or pending), intimate partner sexual violence, non-lethal
strangulation (or choking), stalking, threats to kill, perpetrator’s accessibility to, or using of
weapons, escalation (frequency and/ or severity), coercive control etc. are indicating higher risk
of serious harm or death.

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Week 10

In this week it discussions were about family and domestic violence, threats, sexual assault and
stalking, all being against the Australian laws. Every person heedless of his/her age, ability,
ethnicity, sexuality, religion or culture, has the right for living free from abuse, and to get legal
protection. By taking FDV order, person can seek protection from family and domestic violence
where rules are set out that must be followed by the other person. This order plays an important
part in keeping the victims safe by making it illegal for the perpetrator in breaking those rules or
using or threatening to use FDV. Every State and Territory in Australia is having different
names, procedures and laws about FDV orders (Stoever, 2019). A person experiencing family
violence can also make his/her own application for an intervention order for themselves or as a
parent. Even a guardian or any other adult with their written consent can make the application on
their behalves. A form that is obtained from the court or online in few states should be completed
and submitted by the applicant for commencing his/her application. Court’s also provides
assistance to the victim survivor in this.

References

Both, L. M., Favaretto, T. C., & Freitas, L. H. M. (2019). Cycle of violence in women victims of
domestic violence: Qualitative analysis of OPD 2 interview. Brain and behavior, 9(11),
e01430.

Burelomova, A. S., Gulina, M. A., & Tikhomandritskaya, O. A. (2018). Intimate partner

violence: An overview of the existing theories, conceptual frameworks, and
definitions. Psychology in Russia: State of the art, 11(3), 128-144.

Frost, A. (2019). The vulnerability of the displaced and the dispossessed: Matching services to
migrant and indigenous populations. In Domestic and Family Violence (pp. 106-122).
Routledge.

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Katz, E., Nikupeteri, A., & Laitinen, M. (2020). When coercive control continues to harm
children: Post‐separation fathering, stalking and domestic violence.  Child abuse
review, 29(4), 310-324.

Kebbell, M. R. (2019). Risk assessment for intimate partner violence: how can the police assess
risk?. Psychology, Crime & Law, 25(8), 829-846.

Lamb, K., Humphreys, C., & Hegarty, K. (2021). Research ethics in practice: challenges of using
digital technology to embed the voices of children and young people within programs for
fathers who use domestic violence. Research Ethics, 17(2), 176-192.

Slattery, S. M., & Goodman, L. A. (2009). Secondary traumatic stress among domestic violence
advocates: Workplace risk and protective factors. Violence against women, 15(11), 1358-
1379.

Smyth, C., Cullen, P., Breckenridge, J., Cortis, N., & Valentine, K. (2021). COVID ‐19
lockdowns, intimate partner violence and coercive control. Australian journal of social
issues, 56(3), 359-373.

Stoever, J. K. (2019). Access to Safety and Justice: Service of Process in Domestic Violence
Cases. Wash. L. Rev., 94, 333.

Yates, S. (2019). “An exercise in careful diplomacy”: Talking about alcohol, drugs and family
violence. Policy Design and Practice, 2(3), 258-274.

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