Promoting safety for migrant and refugee women, children and families

We promote culturally responsive, evidence-based and community informed responses to domestic, family and sexual violence in NSW, including in regional and rural areas.

The Centre collaborates across women’s safety, multicultural and settlement sectors in NSW to enhance quality, safe and culturally responsive domestic, family and sexual violence services and community-based responses.

Our tailored approach involves:

• case management and collaborative practice support
• community engagement: lived experience advice, supporting social responders and community education
• sector capacity building, engagement and training
• consultation, research, policy advice and advocacy to drive systemic change.

We work across four focus areas: primary prevention, early intervention, response, and recovery and healing.

Culturally responsive practice

We understand the importance of ensuring that domestic, family and sexual violence responses meet the needs of communities in all their diversity. Our work is grounded in cultural responsiveness and informed by evidence and community insights.

The Centre combines expertise in culturally responsive practice and a deep understanding of how different forms of violence can impact women, children and families from multicultural communities, as well as the specific challenges they may face in seeking help.

We work with victim survivors and communities to address these complex issues. We also collaborate with other services to provide appropriate support to migrant and refugee women, children and families.

Individuals

We provide specialist, culturally responsive support to migrant and refugee women and children who are at risk of, or experiencing, domestic, family and sexual violence. This includes:

• Support for immediate safety.
• Collaborative, culturally responsive and holistic case management.
• Counselling and recovery support.
• Support for socio-economic participation and community connection, and referrals to appropriate services.

Communities

We work with multicultural communities to support them with the knowledge and resources to effectively recognise, respond to, and prevent domestic, family and sexual violence. This includes:

• Community engagement and education on the drivers of domestic, family and sexual violence and available support services.
• Empowering communities as social responders.
• Supporting communities to lead positive change in attitudes towards gender equality and healthy relationships.

Sector and service delivery

• Expert advice and capacity building on cultural responsiveness in the context of family, domestic and sexual violence.
• Collaborative practice support, working with practitioners across sectors.
• Promoting cross-sector collaboration and developing evidence to enhance policy and practice responses.