GARP ceased on December 18, 2006. To date, further funding has not been secured to continue this Project. Download the final Evaluation Report here. Goodna Assisted Referrals Project (GARP) is a pilot project being directed as a joint partnership between Ipswich Women's Centre Against Domestic Violence (IWCADV), Goodna Police Station and DVconnect Mensline. GARP is an initiative of the Ipswich Integrated Response to Domestic Violence, with IWCADV making application for funding and fulfilling the role of project coordinator and administration. The funding application was successful from the National Community Grants Program, National Community Crime Prevention Programme (NCCPP), and Attorney Generals Department under the Community Safety Stream. The pilot program has been funded by NCCPP for a 12-month trial utilising a 'fax-back' model. The funding amounted to a total of $ 81,000 and is utilized for a part-time GARP worker, administration requirements and development of resources to inform and support victims and members of the Goodna community. The GARP partners are trialing this new way of working and responding to domestic violence in the Goodna police station area. GARP flows on in spirit from the signing of a protocol by the members of the Ipswich Integrated Response to Domestic Violence. Further to this, the Ipswich Integrated Response to Domestic Violence continued its commitment to responding to domestic violence effectively, by commissioning a feasibility study. Anne Elliot from Encompass Family & Community Pty Ltd., was engaged in 2004 as the consultant to conduct a feasibility study for the Ipswich region. The purpose of this feasibility study was to ascertain a current snapshot of domestic and family violence within the region. The Ipswich Integrated Response to Domestic Violence member agencies were interviewed to determine what was happening in the region. An outcome of the feasibility study was the recommendation to test a pilot project, but within only one area of the Ipswich catchment, due to issues of service response capacity. The agreed area was the Goodna Police division, with agreed principles for the working partnership. The GARP partners agreed on several key principles to the partnership. As per the Regional Domestic and Family Violence Protocol signed by members of the Ipswich Integrated Response to Domestic and Family Violence, the partners agree to:
Further to this, GARP has five key objectives. At the GARP Steering Committee meeting 24th February, 2005, the following goals of GARP were agreed to and were reflected in the NCCPP funding application. The objectives are: Objective 1: To establish and trial a process of Police Assisted Referral for victims of domestic and family violence to relevant support services. Objective 2: To increase the safety and support of victims of domestic and family violence through a coordinated Police and support agency response. Objective 3: To link victims of domestic and family violence who may otherwise not contact services into appropriate supports through a coordinated Police and support agency response. Objective 4: To reduce the level of repeat victimisation by domestic and family violence in the Goodna region through a coordinated Police and support agency response. Objective 5: To promote within the community the capacity of Police, community agencies, and community members to respond effectively to the issue of domestic and family violence. GARP was officially launched on 6th September, 2005 in the St. Ives Shopping Centre, outside the office of Joann Miller, MP, for Goodna. A flyer was handed out to community members in the vicinity of the Shopping Centre, to draw attention to this new partnership and the new response being offered to victims of domestic and family violence. A copy of the GARP launch flyer can be found at the following link: GARP info flyer. The turn-out for the launch was wonderful, with some photos demonstrating the community response and involvement in finding out about GARP. A copy of the GARP launch photos can be found at the following link: GARP Launch Photos. The new partnership has meant new changes for Goodna police, DVconnect Mensline and IWCADV, by way of working and responding to victims of domestic and family violcne. An example of this is by both IWCADV and DVconnect Mensline having made commitments to respond to each GARP referred fax, by the next business day. The aim of this is to meet the needs of victims of domestic and family violence, whilst the current incident is requiring appropriate information, and may lead to further support or assistance. GARP has a focus on victim safety, both female and male, and a mid-way evaluation has gauged that over 50% of victims have not had previous contact with a service. From this, victim safety can be measured as starting to meet the second and third objective. For further details, a copy of the first progress report to NCCPP can be found at the following link: First Progress Report. A number of resources have been developed for the purpose of GARP. In particular, a community information booklet has been designed to inform the community of the purpose of GARP, how GARP works, and who does GARP apply to. For a copy of the community information booklet can be found at the following link: Community Information Booklet. GARP will be formally evaluated at the end of September, 2006 by Anne Elliott of Encompass Family & Community for the 12 month pilot project. It will be at this time, that Goodna police, DVconnect Mensline and IWCADV will discuss the future of GARP upon reviewing the final evaluation report completed by Anne. For further information, please contact Rachel O'Connell or Amy Stockwell from
Ipswich Women's Centre Against Domestic Violence on (07) 3816 3000.
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Goodna Assisted Referrals Project
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