DHF Annual Report 2009 - NT Health Digital Library - Northern ...

Performance Measure2008-09Actual2009-10Estimate2009-10 2010-11Actual EstimateQuantityIncident of new sexual assault cases receivingsupport 1 577 995 1068 720Number of family violence counselling services8 8 8 91 From July 2009 to March 2010, data relating to the ‘incidents of new sexual assault casesreceiving support’ included cases from both Sexual Assault Referral Centres and the MobileOutreach Service which has resulted in an inflated figure. In March 2010 when the Mobile OutreachService was expanded to include therapeutic services for children suffering trauma from all forms ofchild abuse and neglect rather than purely sexual abuse, the data was separated and will bereported separately in future annual reports.Key AchievementsTwo additional counsellor positions for the Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC) (oneeach in Alice Springs and Darwin) were created to address the rising demand for servicesresulting from increasing referrals.The development of co-located Police Child Soft Interview Room facilities at Alice Springsand Darwin SARC provides for more seamless service delivery to children who have beensexually abused.Community open days held by the Alice Springs and Tennant Creek SARC servicesprovided an opportunity for other service providers and community members to view thenew premises.The Mobile Outreach Service Plus has been expanded to provide a therapeutic serviceto Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children living in remote areas who are sufferingtrauma as a result of sexual abuse as well as all other forms of child abuse and neglect. Angurugu. The Women’s Safe Place commenced operations in July 2009 and the Men’sSafe Place opened in March 2010. Safe Places employ local people from the community andare more than a crisis accommodation service. Their primary function within the communityis to serve as a hub for family violence education and intervention as well as family andindividual wellbeing.The ‘Be Someone’ campaign was launched on White Ribbon Day on 25 November2009 and encourages witnesses of domestic violence to report incidences to the Police.The campaign featured television and radio commercials and press advertisements.Childrens Commissionerprovisions contained in the Care and Protection of Children Act and has been operationalfor just over a two year period. The Commissioner’s primary functions include ensuring thewellbeing of protected children by investigating complaints related to the provision of servicesto protected children and monitoring the administration of the Act, in so far as it relates toprotected children. The Commissioner is also required to monitor the implementation of anyGovernment decision arising from the ‘Inquiry into the Protection of Aboriginal Children fromSexual Abuse’ (Little Children are Sacred Report).Department Health and Families 107