Family Violence and Sexual Violence Service Provider Update - October 2021
October 08, 2021 at 5:08 PM
7 October 2021
Kia ora koutou,
Welcome to your newsletter with news about the Ministry of Social Development’s work to better support people experiencing family violence and sexual violence. We also like sharing relevant news from sector colleagues. Thank you for all your efforts looking after whānau who need support in your communities.
Times are tough for many of you, your teams and your clients since the arrival of the Delta COVID-19 variant. The ongoing situation in Auckland remains a particular concern and we’ll be feeling the impacts into the future.
We want you to know we appreciate and thank you for your mahi and ongoing commitment to the people, whānau and communities we serve. We know you are making a difference for many people.
Nāku iti noa, nā
Mark Henderson
General Manager Safe Strong Families & Communities
Congratulations to the Kainga Pasifika Services aiga for establishing the first community service by Pasifika, for Pasifika in Hawke’s Bay. Their ‘mother organisation’ DOVE Hawke’s Bay Family Violence Prevention secured a Whānau Resilience contract in July 2019, with a focus on Pasifika. This led to developing Kainga Pasifika Services as a standalone trust and then to the trust’s Level 2 Social Sector Accreditation.
Kainga Pasifika Services have worked hard to become the only Pacific social service in Hawke’s Bay with Level 2 Social Sector Accreditation. This means the trust can now contract with government agencies, with their first contract to deliver Whānau Resilience for MSD having been handed over from Dove Hawkes Bay.
Kainga Pasifika Services’ first big milestone was achieving charitable trust status in January 2021. With funding from MSD’s Community Capability and Resilience Fund (CCRF), the new trust worked with MSD to appoint five trustees, develop policies, set up infrastructure and systems (computers, a client management system and phones) and to lease their new home, co-located with the Catholic Church for Aubert Centre in Flaxmere, Hastings. A website is coming soon.
Their recent Level 2 Social Sector Accreditation provides a firm base for Kainga Pasifika Services to build from and there’s a lot of future development potential. For example they have just signed a contract with Pasifika Futures to provide a core Whānau Ora service for Pacific peoples in the Hawke’s Bay. MSD secured specific funding to support all Whānau Resilience providers without level 2 status, to help them attain this during the design phase.
The team are already providing driver licensing training and are about to take possession of a customised car to teach driving in. Offering this practical life skill complements their existing programmes promoting and supporting safe and healthy relationships and saying no to family violence.
We wish Tevita Faka’osi, Malcolm Byford and everyone at Kainga Pasifika Services every success as you deliver your Whānau Resilience service and introduce Whānau Ora later this year.
The Kainga Pasifika Services model was created by Tevita Faka’osi. It is based on a Pasifika outlook on safe and healthy relationships in three main areas of our lives: relationships, culture and spirituality. At the centre is mo’ui kakato – wellbeing. Kainga Pasifika Services use this model in their work with Pacific communities and families in Hawke’s Bay
Introducing Marlborough’s new EARS providers
Maataa Waka SVS team from left: Malcolm Pittman, Cathryn Walker, Afi Leota, Corinne Stocks, Mike Nowacki, Sharlene Eden
We are elated to introduce two new EARS providers in the Marlborough region: Maataa Waka Ki Te Tau Ihu Trust (Maataa Waka) and Te Hauora O Ngāti Rārua Ltd (Ngāti Rārua). Elder Abuse Response Services (EARS) focuses on the immediate needs of people aged 65 and over who are experiencing, or at risk of experiencing (or perceived to be experiencing), abuse and neglect.
Maataa Waka, who have been operating for over 20 years in Te Tau Ihu, has a holistic, Kaupapa Māori, and whānau-centred approach. With a strong connection to the Blenheim community, Maataa Waka aims to empower men and women to identify strategies for keeping themselves and their whānau safe and free from family violence. Alongside one on one support, their new programme Poipoia Kāumatua HUB, which is commencing in October 2021, highlights whakawhānaungatanga as a key component of socialisation for Kāumatua wellbeing. This programme will initially be held once a month and will have the potential to grow if the need is there. Maataa Waka commenced EARS service delivery on 1 December 2020.
Ngāti Rārua is the only Iwi Health and Social Service provider in Wairau and has been operating for 21 years. They are a long-standing Kaupapa Māori provider in Marlborough, and well experienced in delivering holistic services to kaumātua. Their service delivery will focus on becoming a whānau ora wrap around service for all whānau involved. This ensures the client is supported, and can also provide intervention of future violence by educating and empowering the client and their whanau. Ngāti Rārua commenced service delivery in July 2021.
Both providers have a formal relationship, and work together to deliver their services. Two providers in the Marlborough region will be beneficial to the users of the service and their whānau due to the combined connections and experience from both providers. This will also allow each provider to focus on their areas of expertise. Two providers delivering EARS services in the Marlborough region is a great opportunity for MSD to test how well this approach works for any future procurement.
Funding for iwi and NGO representatives to take part in regional family violence governance meetings
Family violence governance meetings usually happen in regions each month — these are often chaired by the Police or iwi. However not all governance groups have involved family violence NGOs or iwi.
MSD is making new funding available for iwi and NGO representatives to get involved regularly in regional governance meetings. This will mean strategic planning or other regional initiatives will be informed by and progressed with the guidance or input needed from these key groups.
New funding available
The allocated funding for iwi and NGO participation in regional governance throughout Aotearoa New Zealand is $400,000, for each financial year. Based on guidance from the State Services Commission, we've set a daily meeting fee of $360 + GST for any NGO or iwi representative who attends a regional governance meeting.
As the regional governance groups vary significantly across the country, we've left it open for individuals, NGOs and iwi to apply for this funding, as relevant for each region.
Groups can apply for a year's worth of funding at a time (eg 12 x $360 = $4,320). We've emailed all family violence providers to advise them this grant is available and will be looking to -re-engaging with both providers and iwi early next year to ensure that we are reaching all communities.
Feedback needed from Pacific people working in the sexual violence sector
MSD has funded a research project into the Pacific sexual violence workforce in Aotearoa New Zealand. The research seeks to understand their demographics, experiences in the sector, support needs, and aspirations. It is open to any Pacific staff, either currently or previously working in the sexual violence sector. The project is led by a team of Pacific researchers from the University of Auckland, the University of Waikato, and Tapasa mo Aiga.
The research consists of two parts: a quick online survey, and talanoa sessions which can be done online. Participation is voluntary, and people are free to take part in either or both components.
In August, Stuff, in association with NZ On Air, launched a second series of Breaking Silence articles about the terrible impact of family violence on our whānau and communities.
The complete series of eight episodes became available on Saturday 21 August, for viewing on a Stuff Breaking Silenceinteractive site. Promos with links to the interactive site were shared on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn, together with the trailer for Breaking Silence.
Four feature articles written by Stuff journalists accompanied the series launch.
Magnetic Pictures, producers of the series, are inviting people to ‘like’ their Magnetic Pictures Facebook page and share their posts. Juanita Edwards (Executive Producer, Magnetic Pictures) asked us to share a heartfelt “thank you so much!”, in anticipation our sector will help spread the word.
“We want to thank everyone who’s been involved in making this important series, with our deepest thanks going out to each of our wonderful and brave real-life contributors, many of whom have become friends,” Juanita says.
“The sharing of their stories will help inspire and bring change, creating greater empathy and understanding. Without their stories, Breaking Silence would not exist.
“We have much more work to do in this space and, like you, we are committed to turning the tide on one of our country’s biggest challenges. Change is possible for all of us,” Juanita says.
MSD’s Social Action team have been pleased to help support, with others, the Breaking Silence production team’sresearch process for both Breaking Silence series. We wish the team every success with reaching the widest possible audience across Aotearoa New Zealand.
She is not your rehab — Matt and Sarah Brown release book
Community partners of MSD’s It’s not OK campaign, Matt and Sarah Brown recently celebrated the launch of their first published book She is not your rehab, on Monday 12 July.
The book has had a very positive reception and was the bestselling non-fiction book in Aotearoa New Zealand following its launch. It held that #1 position in the weeks following its launch and is being very well received and reviewed.
In the book, Matt bravely shares his own story and his healing journey. He talks about the people, concepts and ideas that have helped him heal and gives readers the tools they need to begin their own journeys. Matt's story about growing up in a home of sexual and domestic violence will give men tools to heal from their trauma, like he has done. Matt and Sarah are working particularly closely to help Māori and Pacific men - they will also be launching a book club within prisons.
The book launch was a display of enriched cultural celebration, creativity, and community connection. The night was filled with a variety of performances, vulnerability, and the sense of hope through healing.
We’re working on the next phase of our It’s Not OK campaign!
It’s Not OK has been serving communities for over a decade and it’s time for us to review our resources.
From Monday 30 August, you will have noticed you were no longer able to download or order resources from our It’s Not OK website. We’ll be back soon with new and refreshed tools to help you support your community.
ACC launches Sexual violence prevention initiative
ACC is investing $44.9 million over four years to establish a fit-for-purpose sexual violence primary prevention system, Minister for ACC Carmel Sepuloni announced.
The new Te-Tiriti-informed primary prevention system will provide long-term, sustained investment and enhance our Government’s effort to prevent sexual violence. The package includes $11.715 million of targeted investment for kaupapa Māori approaches. It will enhance the primary prevention system in Aotearoa New Zealand.
General Responses to Family Violenceservices Questionnaire
MSD is working towards a future where providers are sustainably funded to create safer working environments for staff and better outcomes for people affected by family violence.
As part of this work we asked all providers funded under MSD’s General Responses to Family Violenceservices to answer a questionnaire about their services by 30 July 2021.
The questionnaire offered an opportunity for these providers to let us know what they do, how they do it, and what is needed for this service.
Thank you to the high number of providers who participated
We received almost 100 responses to this contracts questionnaire.
We are pleased with this high response rate and would like to extend our gratitude to everyone who participated. Participation enables MSD to gain a deeper understanding of how we can better support people experiencing family violence.
Results will be shared with you
We are in the process of collating and summarising the results. Once the results have been collated, we will share the key themes, feedback and insights with you.
This information will be used to provide evidence and learnings to inform how MSD can better support people experiencing family violence.
