S&T's Holistic and Strength-Based Approach to Domestic & Family Violence. When Western Meets Traditional Ways
Tracks
Kookaburra Room: In-Person & Virtual via OnAIR
| Tuesday, October 21, 2025 |
| 11:35 AM - 12:05 PM |
| Kookaburra Room (M3) |
Overview
Jackie Wruck, Safe and Together Institute - Australia
Presenter
Jackie Wruck
Asia Pacific Regional Manager
Safe And Together Institute - Australia
S&T's Holistic and Strength-Based Approach to Domestic & Family Violence. When Western Meets Traditional Ways
Presentation Overview
The S&T model provides a holistic framework which addresses Family and Domestic Violence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities by demonstrating how the Aboriginal ways of being, doing, seeing is integrated into the model. This holistic approach is demonstrated through having a comprehensive assessment when mapping coercive control through a cultural lens. You will be able to see how the model can be utilized to maintain connection to culture, community and kinship systems.
It recognizes the vital roles of Elders and community leaders who are safe and how they interact with the User of Violence to maintain safety in the community and holding them accountable in traditional ways. It acknowledges the resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families impacted by intersecting issues like systemic racism, housing instability, economic disadvantage, drug and alcohol use and mental health without using this as an excuse for the violence.
It gives us the shared language which resonates with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities to be able to talk in good ways about how to keep our children safe and protected in our communities through upholding our cultural obligations to our mob.
S&T model sees the value of supporting the User of Violence to be involved in the conversations on how to keep their babies safe whilst honouring the cultural strengths of community and family and supporting each other to heal through family connections. We learn to strengthen families by involving cultural consultants and Elders in the case planning and decision-making processes by understanding and respecting cultural protocols.
Three Key Learnings:
1. Learn how to use the 3 S&T principles to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families impacted by Family and Domestic Violence.
2. Understanding the importance of respecting cultural protocols and kinship systems to help the community heal holistically.
3. Seeing the synergy of ‘When Western Ways meets Traditional Ways’ and how they hold users of violence accountable.
It recognizes the vital roles of Elders and community leaders who are safe and how they interact with the User of Violence to maintain safety in the community and holding them accountable in traditional ways. It acknowledges the resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families impacted by intersecting issues like systemic racism, housing instability, economic disadvantage, drug and alcohol use and mental health without using this as an excuse for the violence.
It gives us the shared language which resonates with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities to be able to talk in good ways about how to keep our children safe and protected in our communities through upholding our cultural obligations to our mob.
S&T model sees the value of supporting the User of Violence to be involved in the conversations on how to keep their babies safe whilst honouring the cultural strengths of community and family and supporting each other to heal through family connections. We learn to strengthen families by involving cultural consultants and Elders in the case planning and decision-making processes by understanding and respecting cultural protocols.
Three Key Learnings:
1. Learn how to use the 3 S&T principles to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families impacted by Family and Domestic Violence.
2. Understanding the importance of respecting cultural protocols and kinship systems to help the community heal holistically.
3. Seeing the synergy of ‘When Western Ways meets Traditional Ways’ and how they hold users of violence accountable.
Biography
Jackie is a proud Yindinji woman from the Cairns/Yarrabah region. Jackie has worked in the community sector for over 20 years. She worked in Child Protection, Qld Health, Community Housing, DV specialist services and in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organizations as the domestic violence specialist. Jackie has lived experience, knowledge, and understanding of domestic and family violence in the context of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and was the cultural lead for the Walking With Dads program, which is grounded in the Safe & Together Model. She is committed to the safety and well-being of children and families.
