A new taskforce has been established to help pilot and facilitate the establishment of a community centred, culturally safe domestic violence program for First Nations men in the Armidale region.
A Mayoral Minute was supported at the Council Meeting held yesterday Wednesday 22 September to establish that the Mayor of the day be the Council representative on the taskforce and to convey the support of Council for the current initiative to establish a First Nations Men's Behavioural Change Program.
Armidale Regional Council Mayor Ian Tiley was recently invited to participate in an online meeting of the newly established taskforce which is under the auspice of the Primary Health Network, Hunter, New England and Central West.
The Primary Care Pathways to Safety pilot is funded by the Primary Health Network and is delivered by Armidale Women's Shelter. The pilot was established to build capacity in General Practice to Recognise, Respond and Refer (RRR) Domestic Family Violence (DFV). At present Armidale has no community based DFV Men's Behaviour Change Program, and many First Nations women are reluctant to disclose DFV when there are no support programs in place.
The Taskforce will have members from a broad cross section of stakeholders including the Armidale Council, Aboriginal Medical Service, General Practitioners, Police, other agencies and interested community organisations, who can provide strategic direction and develop a sound advocacy plan to attract further funding to implement and evaluate the proposed community model.
"The taskforce Terms of Reference propose that I as Mayor be a member of the taskforce," said Mayor Ian Tiley.
"I have willingly accepted the position for the remainder of Council's term and advised the taskforce that this role should pass to the incoming Mayor after the forthcoming Council elections.
Responsibilities of the Taskforce include providing strategic and operational support to the Cultural Governance Steering Committee to enable development of a support program for Aboriginal men by Aboriginal men."
