Cassowary Coast Domestic and Family violence Service (CCDFVS)
The CCDFVS is to provide support for women and children affected by DFV, including those people who are currently experiencing or have experienced DFV in their lives.
The CCDFVS provides the following services to community members affected by DFV throughout the Cassowary Coast region: adult and child counselling; case management; court support; general support; assistance with DFV orders; safety planning and risk assessments; assistance with security upgrades; advocacy, information and referral services.
Domestic and Family Violence involves an ongoing pattern of behaviour by the perpetrator aimed at controlling the other person through fear. The CCDFVS works with clients to help break the cycle of violence.
Program Philosophy
Supporting women and children affected by domestic and family violence (DFV).
What is Domestic and Family Violence?
DFV is NOT ONLY CONFINED TO PHYSICAL ACTS OF VIOLENCE.
Broadly domestic violence includes;
- physical;
- sexual;
- emotional;
- psychological and
- financial abuse.
It also includes any threatening and/or controlling behaviours, including the use of spiritual or cultural beliefs, to justify violent or abusive behaviour.
DFV involves an ongoing pattern of behaviour by the perpetrator aimed at controlling the other person through fear.
It can occur within any relationship, towards any person, at any time.
The Cycle of Violence
The relationship is great, everything’s going well (Honeymoon phase).
Walking on eggshells, moody, nit picking yelling (Tension building phase).
Smashing belongings, violence, hitting, choking, rape (Acute explosion phase).
The CCDFVS works with clients to help break the cycle of violence.
What is the CCDFVS?
The goal of the CCDFVS is to provide support for women and children affected by DFV, including those people who are currently experiencing or have experienced DFV in their lives.
Services
The CCDFVS will provide the following services to community members affected by DFV throughout the Cassowary Coast region:
- adult and child counselling;
- case management;
- court support;
- crisis intervention;
- general support;
- assistance with DFV orders;
- safety planning and risk assessments;
- assistance with security upgrades;;
- advocacy • information and;
- referral services
Counselling
Counselling is a therapeutic process. It provides a compassionate, non-judgemental environment allowing individuals to express their feelings, to understand and manage identified emotions, behaviours and relationships.
Counselling aims to reduce a person’s distress, confusion and conflict in the medium and longer term. Counselling can assist a person to cope with challenges and make positive changes in their lives.
Child counselling
Children cannot be shielded from the effects of DFV and are at risk of significant harm. Children witnessing DFV consistently show higher rates of depression, anxiety, trauma symptoms, behavioural and cognitive problems than children and young people not living with DFV.
The CCDFVS ensures that child counselling services are delivered in an age appropriate manner, tailored to meet the needs of the young person.
Court Support
The CCDFVS will provide weekly court support in Innisfail (Tuesdays) and Tully (Thursdays). Court support services assist people who have experienced DFV and have to attend magistrate’s court.
The CCDFVS court support can provide:
- assistance preparing applications.
- information regarding DVO order conditions and court processes..
- emotional support during court.
- advocacy with court staff and police.
CCDFVS court support services do not provide legal advice.
Staying safely at home
The CCDFVS can provide assistance in developing options to help clients remain safely in their homes and close to social and community supports, including friends and family, school and work.
Important numbers
In an emergency dial: 000
DV Connect: 1800 811 811 (24hrs)
Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24hrs)
Men’s Line OZ: 1300 364 277 (24hrs)
Men’s Line QLD: 1800 600 636
1800 Respect: 1800 737 732 (24hrs)
Parent’s Line: 1300 30 1300
Kid’s Helpline: 1800 55 1800
Legal Aid: 1300 65 11 88
The CCDFVS is funded by the Queensland Government.
