A Gendered Criminal Law Service: Addressing the Criminalisation of Victims of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence
Tracks
Room 4: In-Person Only
| Tuesday, November 26, 2024 |
| 11:30 AM - 11:50 AM |
| Room 4 |
Overview
Julianna Marshall, Tania Collins & Amanda Lambden, Central Australian Women's Legal Service
Speaker
Tania Collins
A Gendered Criminal Law Service: Addressing the Criminalisation of Victims of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence
Abstract
Central Australian Women’s Legal Service developed a Health Justice Partnership program, supported by a multi-disciplinary Domestic Violence Unit in 2016 to respond to increasing rates of DFSV in Central Australia and the Barkly. The main health partner has been Alice Springs Hospital (ASH). Over 8 years, ASH and CAWLS have explored different models of partnership focused on enhancing the confidence and capacity of the health sector to identify and respond to disclosures of DFSV in a hospital setting, and increase access to trauma-informed legal and socio-legal services for women at risk of DFSV. In 2024, CAWLS began a pilot project to expand health justice approaches to general practitioners and allied health, including in remote communities. This is funded through the Primary Health Network Local Link project, and includes the establishment of a secondary consult service. At the same time, CAWLS was funded to assist with the role of out DFSV Clinical Guidelines within ASH and Tennant Creek Hospital. CAWLS will share learnings from the different models, insights into patient outcomes and how health justice partnership approaches can contribute to a whole-of-health response to DFSV across both private, public and ACCHO sectors. The learnings presented will help other organisations develop approaches to implementing similar model with an understanding of how to approach contextual modifications required to meet the needs of the target cohorts.
Biography
Tania Collins decided to become a lawyer at the age of 6 when she sadly found out that there were already female tank drivers so she could not be the first female tank driver as she had desired! During High School she loved debating and public speaking becoming the Rostrum voice of Youth National Champion in 1987 representing South Australia. Whilst at University, Tania immersed herself in Social Justice volunteer work, working as a youth worker, as a volunteer with the Sansbury Association at Yatala Labour Prison and Amnesty International. During her volunteering, she met the Amazing Alice Dixon, who was a tireless advocate for Aboriginal justice, due to the death of her son Kingsley whilst in custody. Tania was inspired by Alice, and has since had the privilege of working as a lawyer for Aboriginal peoples in East Arnhem Land, Port Augusta and Alice Springs in various capacities, including complex mental health and unfitness to plead matters and acted as Counsel in numerous jury trials for serious offending. Tania is grateful to commence her 26th year of practice as a Senior Criminal Defence Lawyer at CAWLS, working on behalf of female defendants in the criminal justice space.
Amanda Lambden
A Gendered Criminal Law Service: Addressing the Criminalisation of Victims of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence
Abstract
Central Australian Women’s Legal Service developed a Health Justice Partnership program, supported by a multi-disciplinary Domestic Violence Unit in 2016 to respond to increasing rates of DFSV in Central Australia and the Barkly. The main health partner has been Alice Springs Hospital (ASH). Over 8 years, ASH and CAWLS have explored different models of partnership focused on enhancing the confidence and capacity of the health sector to identify and respond to disclosures of DFSV in a hospital setting, and increase access to trauma-informed legal and socio-legal services for women at risk of DFSV. In 2024, CAWLS began a pilot project to expand health justice approaches to general practitioners and allied health, including in remote communities. This is funded through the Primary Health Network Local Link project, and includes the establishment of a secondary consult service. At the same time, CAWLS was funded to assist with the role of out DFSV Clinical Guidelines within ASH and Tennant Creek Hospital. CAWLS will share learnings from the different models, insights into patient outcomes and how health justice partnership approaches can contribute to a whole-of-health response to DFSV across both private, public and ACCHO sectors. The learnings presented will help other organisations develop approaches to implementing similar model with an understanding of how to approach contextual modifications required to meet the needs of the target cohorts.
Biography
Amanda Lambden is a senior criminal lawyer at the Central Australian Women’s Legal Service. She has been a Solicitor and Barrister for over 25 years, specialising in criminal defence in the NT and SA. Amanda has held positions at Katherine Regional Aboriginal Legal Aid Service (KRALIS), the Legal Services Commission in South Australia and the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement (ALRM), where she worked as the Criminal Practice Manager from 2007. Amanda then began her own practice in 2008, specialising in criminal defence. Her extensive experience includes representation of accused persons in all general criminal law, at all stages of proceedings; appearing before the Court of Criminal Appeal, Supreme Court, District Court, Magistrates Court and Youth Court, along with specialist courts including the Treatment Intervention Court, Nunga Court, Family Violence Court, Early Resolution Court, and Mental Incompetence. In 2017 Amanda returned as Criminal Practice Director for Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement. In this role she restructured the Criminal Section ensuring that ALRM clients were represented from Arrest to Parole. During this time she also oversaw the commencement of the “Custody Notification” Service. In April 2024 Amanda moved to Alice Springs to work for CAWLS and assist in the development of a Specialist Criminal Service for women.
Ms Julianna Marshall
Policy and Education Manager
Central Australian Women's Legal Service
A Gendered Criminal Law Service: Addressing the Criminalisation of Victims of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence
Abstract
Central Australian Women’s Legal Service developed a Health Justice Partnership program, supported by a multi-disciplinary Domestic Violence Unit in 2016 to respond to increasing rates of DFSV in Central Australia and the Barkly. The main health partner has been Alice Springs Hospital (ASH). Over 8 years, ASH and CAWLS have explored different models of partnership focused on enhancing the confidence and capacity of the health sector to identify and respond to disclosures of DFSV in a hospital setting, and increase access to trauma-informed legal and socio-legal services for women at risk of DFSV. In 2024, CAWLS began a pilot project to expand health justice approaches to general practitioners and allied health, including in remote communities. This is funded through the Primary Health Network Local Link project, and includes the establishment of a secondary consult service. At the same time, CAWLS was funded to assist with the role of out DFSV Clinical Guidelines within ASH and Tennant Creek Hospital. CAWLS will share learnings from the different models, insights into patient outcomes and how health justice partnership approaches can contribute to a whole-of-health response to DFSV across both private, public and ACCHO sectors. The learnings presented will help other organisations develop approaches to implementing similar model with an understanding of how to approach contextual modifications required to meet the needs of the target cohorts.
Biography
Julianna is Manager, Policy & Education at the Central Australian Women’s Legal Service. An advocate for human rights, she holds an LLB and a BA, and is working through a Master of Public and International Law. She has held roles at the Judicial College of Victoria, Court of Appeal, Government House, La Trobe University and Russell Kennedy. She is an appointed member of the NT Crimes Victims Advisory Committee and Law Reform Committee,& has served as Co-convenor of Women’s Legal Services Australia and Assistant Convenor of Victorian Women Lawyers. She regularly delivers training on identifying and responding to DFSV.
