[On-screen text: This video was produced on the lands of the Wurundjeri people, and we wish to acknowledge them as Traditional Owners. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present and Aboriginal Elders of other communities viewing this video.
[On-screen text (title): Victim Survivor Risk management including safety planning at intermediate level]
CLINICIAN:
Christina, we've talked about how afraid you are at the moment about John's behaviour, and we've talked about how serious the risk is and my concern for your and Davina’s safety.
[On-screen text: Multiple risk factors have been identified, including several serious evidence-based risk factors]
CLINICIAN:
How safe do you feel going home today?
[On-screen text: The client’s self-assessed level of fear is extremely high, even if she feels safe to go home]
CHRISTINA:
I feel okay. Like what I said before, John goes quiet and nice for a week or so before he gets worse again.
CLINICIAN:
You know John better than anyone. Can we talk about some options if he makes you feel very afraid again?
[On-screen text: Victim survivors are best placed to assess and
manage their own risk]
CHRISTINA:
Yeah.
CLINICIAN:
What kinds of things have you done in the past to keep you and Davina safe?
[On-screen text: Explore and build on what the victim survivor is already doing]
CHRISTINA:
I have called the police before, but not this time. Not in a long time. I'm just worried that if I do anything, he will get me deported.
CLINCIAN:
There are services with specific skills in family violence and visas.
[On-screen text: In applying an intersectional lens, the client’s
immigration status is identified as a barrier to her safety]
CLINICIAN:
There's one called ‘In Touch’ that we could talk to about your options. We could call them together, how does that sound?
[On-screen text: In applying an intersectional lens, the clinician
recognises that one of the greatest barriers to the client’s safety is their immigration status]
CHRISTINA
That sounds great. I just can't call for help if it means there's a chance I would get deported. But you can call them, right? Just… I just need to go soon because I need to pick up Davina.
CLINCIAN:
Yeah, I understand. We can give them a call today and arrange a time to talk to them together the next time you come in?
And remember with any of the services we talk about you have the right to use an interpreter.
[On-screen text: The client is from a culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) community and has a right to an interpreter]
CHRISTINA:
That's good to know. Thank you.
CLINCIAN:
If you were feeling very unsafe, and calling 000 for the police wasn't an option, where could you go?
CHRISTINA:
Maybe the hospital?
CLINCIAN:
The hospital’s a great idea. There are social workers there that you could talk to about John and your safety.
CHRISTINA:
Okay.
CLINCIAN:
There are other places that you can call if you're feeling very afraid. Would you feel safe having those written down?
[On-screen text: Check it is safe for the victim survivor to take
information or other support items with them]
CHRISTINA:
Oh, no, no. John always looks at my phone. If he saw anything about any of this, it would be very bad.
CLINCIAN:
Okay. What do you think would work best for you?
CHRISTINA:
I don't know. I don't know.
CLINCIAN:
We could arrange another phone for you. Do you have somewhere safe that you could hide it?
CHRISTINA:
Yeah, I think so. I can hide it at the back of a cupboard in Davina’s room. John never goes there.
[On-screen text: Explore practical options for safety planning that work for the victim survivor]
CLINCIAN:
Okay. Great. We’ll arrange another phone for you and a SIM card. Let's talk about some of the other support options now.
The first service I'd like to talk to you about is the 24/7 crisis service for people experiencing family violence called ‘Safe Steps’. If you have to leave home in a hurry, they are available
any time of day.
CHRISTINA:
Okay. Yeah.
CLINCIAN:
Another service that you could call is your local family violence service. They’re specialists in this area and they could continue working with you on your safety planning process. I’d continue to work with you as well and we could work as a team to support you. I could give you their details or we could call them together to make a referral?
CHRISTINA:
Yeah, it would be good to do it together, but not today.
I really have to go very soon to pick up Davina
[On-screen text: Explore options to remain more safely in
the home, including calling triple zero]
CLINCIAN:
I know. But just before you go, just quickly, I know your family are overseas and they don't know what's going on at home.
Is there anybody else that you know that you could talk to who you feel safe with and trust?
[On-screen text: Safety planning around risk factor identified: Isolation. Identifying other friends or family members]
CHRISTINA:
Yeah, there's this... another mum at the park, Ellen. She's always very friendly and sometimes we get coffee. She lives a few doors away. I think she suspects things are not okay for me. She once told me that if I needed someone to talk to, she's happy to listen.
CLINCIAN:
Okay, so Ellen’s somebody that you could reach out to?
CHRISTINA:
Yeah, I think so. We have each other's phone numbers. It's just that John doesn't like me calling her. I can give her the new number.
CLINCIAN:
Okay. Another thing that would be good to do would be to have copies of important documents in a bag in case you had to leave in a hurry. Are there any important prescriptions that you and Davina have?
CHRISTINA:
Yes. Davina’s asthma medication.
[On-screen text: Identifying key items for an “escape bag”
as part of safety planning]
CLINCIAN:
It would also be good to put in some clothes. Anything else important for Davina, some toys?
CHRISTINA:
Yeah.
CLINCIAN:
When you're talking to your neighbour, Ellen, do you think you could ask her if you could leave the bag at her place for emergencies?
CHRISTINA:
Yeah, that would be a good idea. I can do that. I think I would feel better if I can ask her to keep something for me. Yes.
CLINCIAN:
I know you've got to go. I've made a note of everything we've talked about today, and we'll put that together in your safety plan. I know you can't take that with you, but I'll keep it here. And I'd really like to make another time to see you soon so we can organise that phone for you and talk to these services together.
[On-screen text: Making sure steps are taken to follow up
on safety planning]
CHRISTINA:
Thank you very much. That will be very helpful.
CLINCIAN:
Thank you.
[On-screen text: For further information on intermediate risk assessment for victim survivors, please view Responsibility 4
of the MARAM Practice Guides at vic.gov.au/maram-victim-survivor-practice-guides]
[Logo: Family Safety Victoria]
[Logo: Victoria State Government]
Updated