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A new report is calling on Government agencies to change their approach toward helping family violence victims, to prevent deaths.

An outdated attitude towards family violence, held by some Government agencies, is failing victims and triggering inadequate responses, a committee has found. 

The Family Violence Death Review Committee's fifth annual report says agencies need to take the onus off victims to keep themselves safe. 

The committee is an independent body that advises the Health Quality and Safety Commission on measure to reduce family violence deaths. 

Hagen Hopkins

National's Minister for Social Development Anne Tolley, has welcomed the Family Violence Death Review Committee's fifth annual report.

Its report called for a number of changes to the way victims were dealt with, including a stop to questions over what victims were doing to keep themselves safe from abusive partners. 

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It also recommended practitioners provide long-term assistance to victims "rather than one-off safety advice", and called for "more focus on the person using violence, in addition to the victim".

KIRK HARGREAVES/FAIRFAX NZ

Justice Minister Amy Adams said New Zealand's family violence statistics were "something none of us should be happy to accept".

Changing the behaviours of perpertrators was the most effective way to prevent family violence, it found.

Committee co-chair Professor Dawn Elder said collective thinking on family violence needed to change. 

It was not a series of isolated incidents affecting an individual victim. Rather, family violence was "a pattern of abusive behaviour used by an individual and between individuals that can have multiple victims".

Agencies were culpable for some of this thinking, which had led to ineffective responses in the past. 

"Victims do ask for help – often repeatedly – but our [committee] reviews indicate that they often need to get a more helpful and informed response. There are many barriers to help-seeking that need to be identified and understood," Elder said.

Some organisations still did not see the link between intimate partner abuse and child abuse. 

"If a person is abusing a child, [committee] reviews have found they are likely to be abusing the child's primary carer as well.

Also where there is intimate partner abuse and children are present in the home, then by definition there has been exposure to emotional abuse and the children are at increased risk of being physically abused as well.

"These are entangled forms of family violence and must always be identified and addressed together."

The report said women in New Zealand experienced a higher rate of violence from their partners than in 14 other OECD countries. Over a 10 year period, there were 312 family violence deaths in this country. 

Co-chair Professor Denise Wilson said agencies needed to work together much more. 

That included the Ministries of Health, Social Development, Justice and Police, as well as Corrections Te Puni Kokiri and a number of Non-Government organisations. 

A ministerial group on family and sexual violence, led by Justice Minister Amy Adams and Social Development Minister Anne Tolley, was "encouraging". 

Both Ministers welcomed the report, and agreed with its findings. 

"The report identifies that our family violence system is one formed from default rather than design and highlights the opportunity that transformational change presents," said Adams. 

An attitude shift needed to occur across all agencies and New Zealand.

"I think it's far too easy across large tracts of New Zealand, to ignore and turn a blind eye to the fact that our family violence stats are appalling, and some of the worst in the world." 

Tolley said tackling and reducing domestic violence was a top Government priority.

The Government spent $1.4 billion in this area. Tolley said a review of that spending found "we need to improve, and that while good work was being done there is fragmentation and duplication of some services".

No single action would solve issues, it required wholesale change over a number of years, she said.

A paper would be going to Cabinet in the next few weeks outlining the whole of Government strategy.

Need Help?

If any of the issues raised here are personal for you and you would like to talk to someone, you can contact the following services for information or help. They are all free.

New Zealand Police

111

If you have immediate safety concerns for yourself or anyone else, dial 111 and ask for Police.

Are You Ok? Helpline

0800 456 450

The helpline can provide you with information and put you in touch with services in your own region for those experiencing or perpetrating family violence. The helpline operates every day of the year and is open from 9am to 11pm.

Child, Youth & Family

0508 FAMILY 0508 326 459

Fax: 09 914 1211 Email: cyfcallcentre@cyf.govt.nz

If you think a child is in immediate danger – phone the Police on 111. If you suspect child abuse or neglect, or are worried about a child or young person, you can call our free phone number 24 hours a day, any day of the year, and talk to one of our social workers. You can also send a notification to us by fax or email.

Women's Refuge

0800 REFUGE, 0800 733 843

If you're a victim or are concerned about someone you know, you can call Women's Refuge helpline for information, advice and support about family violence. The helpline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

 - Stuff