Making the justice system safer for victim survivors remains a priority for all courts and tribunals.
In this full-day program, you will explore the dynamics of family violence and how to assess and respond to risk in your courtroom.
You will deepen your understanding of:
- the dynamics of coercive control
- risk assessment for family violence
- ways to appropriately communicate with people who use violence
- trauma – and how to use a trauma-informed approach in your courtroom.
Speakers.
Southport Specialist Domestic and Family Violence Court
Magistrate Colin Strofield
Magistrate Strofield was appointed as a Magistrate in March 2008. After a short period in the Brisbane Magistrates’ Court His Honour transferred to the Charleville Magistrates’ Court for two years. In April 2011 His Honour was transferred to the Holland Park Magistrates’ Court. On 1 September 2015 Magistrate Strofield undertook the role of Magistrate at the Specialist Domestic and Family Violence Court at Southport. Currently His Honour sits in the Specialist Domestic Violence Court in Brisbane. Prior to his appointment he was the legal advisor to the Commissioner of the Police Service for 13 years.
Southport Specialist Domestic and Family Violence Court
Magistrate Colin Strofield
Magistrate Strofield was appointed as a Magistrate in March 2008. After a short period in the Brisbane Magistrates’ Court His Honour transferred to the Charleville Magistrates’ Court for two years. In April 2011 His Honour was transferred to the Holland Park Magistrates’ Court. On 1 September 2015 Magistrate Strofield undertook the role of Magistrate at the Specialist Domestic and Family Violence Court at Southport. Currently His Honour sits in the Specialist Domestic Violence Court in Brisbane. Prior to his appointment he was the legal advisor to the Commissioner of the Police Service for 13 years.
Magistrates' Court of Victoria
Magistrate Stella Stuthridge
Magistrate Stuthridge is currently the Regional Coordinating Magistrate for Broadmeadows Magistrates Court and a Family Violence Lead Magistrate. Her Honour has been a Magistrate and Coroner since 2009. She has an Honours Degree in Law from La Trobe University. Her Honour completed her Master’s in International Criminal Law, at Monash University in 2011 and completed an Executive Development Program at Stanford University in 2016. Magistrate Stuthridge has been active in Law Reform committees including the Sexual Assault Reform Committee 2006-2009 and the Criminal Law and Procedure Reform Committee 2006-2009. Her Honour was Chair of the Law Institute Criminal Law Committee for many years and have held Senior positions on several Boards, including the Law Institute of Victoria. She was Supervising Magistrate for Family Violence in 2020-2021.
Magistrates' Court of Victoria
Magistrate Stella Stuthridge
Magistrate Stuthridge is currently the Regional Coordinating Magistrate for Broadmeadows Magistrates Court and a Family Violence Lead Magistrate. Her Honour has been a Magistrate and Coroner since 2009. She has an Honours Degree in Law from La Trobe University. Her Honour completed her Master’s in International Criminal Law, at Monash University in 2011 and completed an Executive Development Program at Stanford University in 2016. Magistrate Stuthridge has been active in Law Reform committees including the Sexual Assault Reform Committee 2006-2009 and the Criminal Law and Procedure Reform Committee 2006-2009. Her Honour was Chair of the Law Institute Criminal Law Committee for many years and have held Senior positions on several Boards, including the Law Institute of Victoria. She was Supervising Magistrate for Family Violence in 2020-2021.
The Metis Centre
Dr Marilyn Metta
Dr Marilyn Metta is the Director and Founder of The Metis Centre, a social justice organisation working to address gender inequality and promote women and children’s safety and wellbeing. Marilyn has over 22 years’ experience working as a trauma-integrated counsellor and facilitator with culturally diverse and First Nations communities.
Marilyn is a leading expert in domestic abuse, coercive control, trauma recovery, gender and cultural diversity, and social justice. As an award-winning author and researcher, she has published widely on these social justice issues.
She is the Founder and Chairperson of Mettamorphosis Inc, a not-for-profit charitable organisation working to provide access to education and promote safety and wellbeing of marginalised young people.
She has been awarded the 2021 Westpac Social Change Fellowship for her Feeling Safe and Free initiative, which is an innovative trauma-integrated program for young people on personal and relational safety. The initiative has been awarded 2022 QBE Foundation Local Grant for Inclusion and 2021 Westpac Safer Children, Safer Communities Impact Seed Funding.
The Metis Centre
Dr Marilyn Metta
Dr Marilyn Metta is the Director and Founder of The Metis Centre, a social justice organisation working to address gender inequality and promote women and children’s safety and wellbeing. Marilyn has over 22 years’ experience working as a trauma-integrated counsellor and facilitator with culturally diverse and First Nations communities.
Marilyn is a leading expert in domestic abuse, coercive control, trauma recovery, gender and cultural diversity, and social justice. As an award-winning author and researcher, she has published widely on these social justice issues.
She is the Founder and Chairperson of Mettamorphosis Inc, a not-for-profit charitable organisation working to provide access to education and promote safety and wellbeing of marginalised young people.
She has been awarded the 2021 Westpac Social Change Fellowship for her Feeling Safe and Free initiative, which is an innovative trauma-integrated program for young people on personal and relational safety. The initiative has been awarded 2022 QBE Foundation Local Grant for Inclusion and 2021 Westpac Safer Children, Safer Communities Impact Seed Funding.
Victorian Multicultural Commissioner and Co-founder Not One More Niki
Tarang Chawla
Tarang Chawla is a recovering lawyer and activist, who co-founded Not One More Niki, dedicated to ending violence against women and children in memory of his sister Nikita. He serves as a Commissioner at the Victorian Multicultural Commissioner, sits on several government and NGO boards, and is a sessional academic at Monash University. Tarang produced and hosted the award-winning podcast 'There's No Place Like Home' on domestic abuse. He is a former Young Australian of the Year Finalist and his work has featured in all major Australian media outlets.
Victorian Multicultural Commissioner and Co-founder Not One More Niki
Tarang Chawla
Tarang Chawla is a recovering lawyer and activist, who co-founded Not One More Niki, dedicated to ending violence against women and children in memory of his sister Nikita. He serves as a Commissioner at the Victorian Multicultural Commissioner, sits on several government and NGO boards, and is a sessional academic at Monash University. Tarang produced and hosted the award-winning podcast 'There's No Place Like Home' on domestic abuse. He is a former Young Australian of the Year Finalist and his work has featured in all major Australian media outlets.
Manager, Workforce Policy & Practice, Safe & Equal
Ellen McGregor
Leading a team within Safe & Equal’s Sector Development Unit, Ellen oversees a range of strategic projects intended to foster best practice and grow the capacity of Victoria’s family violence workforce.
Prior to joining Safe and Equal, Ellen spent six years working directly with both adult and child victim survivors at Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre. She held various roles from case manager to senior practitioner and program lead. She led both Safe Steps’ crisis case management program and residential refuge and has extensive experience advocating for victim survivors experiencing family violence crisis.
Manager, Workforce Policy & Practice, Safe & Equal
Ellen McGregor
Leading a team within Safe & Equal’s Sector Development Unit, Ellen oversees a range of strategic projects intended to foster best practice and grow the capacity of Victoria’s family violence workforce.
Prior to joining Safe and Equal, Ellen spent six years working directly with both adult and child victim survivors at Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre. She held various roles from case manager to senior practitioner and program lead. She led both Safe Steps’ crisis case management program and residential refuge and has extensive experience advocating for victim survivors experiencing family violence crisis.
Sector Development Advisor, Safe & Equal
Jessica Wilson
Working within the Sector Development Unit, Jessica supports workforce and practice development in the specialist family violence sector with a portfolio that focuses on supporting refuges, development of the MARAM children and young person focused practice guides and reviewing the Capability Frameworks.
Jessica has worked in the family violence sector for 11 years in various roles, including working directly with victim survivors of family violence, coordinating the RAMP program, training, supporting the health sector to align to MARAM and building the capacity of refuges to accommodate and care for family animals.
Sector Development Advisor, Safe & Equal
Jessica Wilson
Working within the Sector Development Unit, Jessica supports workforce and practice development in the specialist family violence sector with a portfolio that focuses on supporting refuges, development of the MARAM children and young person focused practice guides and reviewing the Capability Frameworks.
Jessica has worked in the family violence sector for 11 years in various roles, including working directly with victim survivors of family violence, coordinating the RAMP program, training, supporting the health sector to align to MARAM and building the capacity of refuges to accommodate and care for family animals.
Counsellor, No To Violence
Denise McAloon
Denise McAloon works for No To Violence which is the Peak Body in Victoria for the prevention of male family Violence. Denise has 15 years’ experience working with men, including directly as a family violence counsellor, and as a co-facilitator of Men’s Behaviour Change Programs. She currently leads a team of Family violence counsellors who work within the family court system. Denise has also worked with women experiencing family violence.
Counsellor, No To Violence
Denise McAloon
Denise McAloon works for No To Violence which is the Peak Body in Victoria for the prevention of male family Violence. Denise has 15 years’ experience working with men, including directly as a family violence counsellor, and as a co-facilitator of Men’s Behaviour Change Programs. She currently leads a team of Family violence counsellors who work within the family court system. Denise has also worked with women experiencing family violence.
MARAM Practice Development Lead, No to Violence
Aasha Roy
Aasha is the MARAM Practice Development Lead with the Sector Development Team at No to Violence. She has completed a Bachelor of Psychology and has worked in direct practice, both with victim-survivors and men using family violence, for the last 5.5 years at a Specialist Family Violence Organisation and most recently as Team Leader at The Orange Door Loddon. Aasha supports the family violence service sector to implement key MARAM reforms in Victoria and works closely with other peak bodies, key state-wide service providers and Government to build capacity in the service system. Aasha plays a major role in promoting a learning culture that integrates evidence-based practice and critical reflection and provides advice and direction to both internal and external stakeholders.
MARAM Practice Development Lead, No to Violence
Aasha Roy
Aasha is the MARAM Practice Development Lead with the Sector Development Team at No to Violence. She has completed a Bachelor of Psychology and has worked in direct practice, both with victim-survivors and men using family violence, for the last 5.5 years at a Specialist Family Violence Organisation and most recently as Team Leader at The Orange Door Loddon. Aasha supports the family violence service sector to implement key MARAM reforms in Victoria and works closely with other peak bodies, key state-wide service providers and Government to build capacity in the service system. Aasha plays a major role in promoting a learning culture that integrates evidence-based practice and critical reflection and provides advice and direction to both internal and external stakeholders.