Page 3039 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 14 September 1993
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VIOLENCE - NATIONAL COMMITTEE
Progress Report
Debate resumed from 19 August 1993, on motion by Mr Berry:
That the Assembly takes note of the paper.
MS SZUTY (8.42): Madam Speaker, I find the support and positive response of the Government in this, its second report on the implementation of the recommendations of the "Violence, Directions for Australia" report of 1990, a very encouraging sign that we are indeed tackling violence in our society seriously. Madam Speaker, this is an extremely informative report which covers a wide range of issues concerning violence. I will not address all of them. There are, however, some issues from the first government response which are not carried forward into the second government response, and I would like to comment on and to elicit information on some of these areas.
The Government has noted in both of its progress reports that it supports the evaluation of policies and programs. Yet at recommendation 9, which discusses education for parenthood, the responses discuss programs which have been in place for some time, without giving any indication of what evaluation has occurred or whether the programs meet the criteria set down in the recommendation - that is, education for parenthood. It appears that the programs discussed are about childbirth and the early days of parenting. Midcall, which is extolled in the second paragraph, really only takes a mother through until the time she would have been discharged had she stayed in hospital.
I do recognise that there are other courses available, and I feel that these measures are positive. However, the intention of the original report was for a focus beyond childbirth and for a continuum of education. Community health centres may never see a parent who needs support, as child health clinics keep contact with mothers for only a relatively short period, and then only if they remain in stable accommodation. While the services available are to be commended, perhaps the Government could look further at the recommendation with a view to integrating more parenting material into antenatal classes.
At recommendation 14 the committee addressed institutions which offer health and welfare training in the recognition, treatment and management of victims of violence. In 1991 the ACT Government stated:
A number of non-government organisations and government agencies assist with the provision of such training, but any further enhancement of these services may require the examination of additional resources.
In 1992 we have support for the recommendation, but no advice as to whether there has been any consideration of expanding services, or any investigation of the need for additional resources. If enhancement has not been seen as necessary, that decision should be explained. Perhaps the Chief Minister might do that in her response to this particular debate.
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