Project Rita: An Integrated Approach to Addressing Technology Facilitated Abuse
Tracks
Room 2: In-Person Only
| Tuesday, November 26, 2024 |
| 2:45 PM - 3:15 PM |
| Room 2 |
Overview
Sarah Vuzem & Grant Killen, YFS Ltd
Speaker
Mr Grant Killen
Managing Director
Concentric Concepts
Project Rita: An Integrated Approach to Addressing Technology Facilitated Abuse
Biography
Grant began his career as a Royal Australian Navy Clearance Diver and participated in several overseas deployments before fulfilling contracts for the US State Department in Iraq.
In 2005, Grant joined the Queensland Police where he worked and instructed within a variety of specialist positions, including the Explosive Ordnance Response Team (EORT), and Close Personal Protection Teams who are responsible for the safety and security of political figures and visiting dignitaries.
Grant moved on from the Police, and consulted as a senior security and crisis management advisor in the mining, oil and gas industries. Grant was pivotal in developing comprehensive security and emergency management capabilities in challenging, high-risk environments.
After observing a lack of tangible safety and security solutions in the family and domestic violence sector, Grant formed Concentric Concepts.
In the years since the inception of Concentric Concepts, Grant has forged an exceptional reputation within the family and domestic violence sector, known specifically for his professionalism, and empathy towards victim survivors.
Grant understands the needs of people in crisis, and the requirements to provide an immediate response
Ms Sarah Vuzem
Client Service Manager
YFS Ltd
Project Rita: An Integrated Approach to Addressing Technology Facilitated Abuse
Abstract
Project RITA is an action research partnership project between YFS, CommBank and security experts Concentric Concepts to develop, trial and evaluate responses to technology facilitated abuse. The initiative uses an integrated approach to support the safety and wellbeing of victim/survivors and improve sector ability to recognise and respond to technology facilitated abuse.
Project RITA draws on expertise from the domestic and family violence sector and security sector to provide an integrated response that includes education and awareness training, checking mobile devices, home and vehicle sweeps, home vulnerability assessments, in-home safety planning and security upgrades, coupled with wrap around safety planning and case work.
The initiative has been running since January 2024. Early outcomes indicate the approach is achieving good results. Participants report greater awareness of how to use devices safely and increased confidence from knowing their device was safe.
Sector training is improving risk assessment, early identification of tech abuse, and safety planning, risk mitigations, improving Police responses and pathways from detecting technology facilitated abuse to prosecutions, via an evidence pathway.
This presentation uses case studies to exemplify technology facilitated abuse and responses. It will highlight key learnings related to integrated service responses and identify opportunities for broader system changes that would see better results for people impacted by technology facilitated abuse.
Key Learnings:
1. Integrated responses to technology facilitated abuse are effective.
2. Technology facilitated abuse is pervasive and evolving.
3. There are many opportunities to improve system responses through experience and evidence.
Project RITA draws on expertise from the domestic and family violence sector and security sector to provide an integrated response that includes education and awareness training, checking mobile devices, home and vehicle sweeps, home vulnerability assessments, in-home safety planning and security upgrades, coupled with wrap around safety planning and case work.
The initiative has been running since January 2024. Early outcomes indicate the approach is achieving good results. Participants report greater awareness of how to use devices safely and increased confidence from knowing their device was safe.
Sector training is improving risk assessment, early identification of tech abuse, and safety planning, risk mitigations, improving Police responses and pathways from detecting technology facilitated abuse to prosecutions, via an evidence pathway.
This presentation uses case studies to exemplify technology facilitated abuse and responses. It will highlight key learnings related to integrated service responses and identify opportunities for broader system changes that would see better results for people impacted by technology facilitated abuse.
Key Learnings:
1. Integrated responses to technology facilitated abuse are effective.
2. Technology facilitated abuse is pervasive and evolving.
3. There are many opportunities to improve system responses through experience and evidence.
Biography
Sarah Vuzem is the Client Service Manager for domestic and family violence services at YFS in Logan and surrounding areas. Sarah has more than 15 years experience in working with victim/survivors. She manages a portfolio of domestic and family violence services including crisis response and case management support services, children’s counselling, a team of embedded workers, a peer education program, and a men’s behaviour change program. Sarah is leading the local response to technology facilitated abuse through YFS’ Project Rita initiative.
