Research Reveals Hawke’s Bay Success Against Family Violence

Research Reveals Hawke’s Bay Success in Curbing Family Violence

EIT research has found DOVE’s services are effective in reducing the problem of family violence in Hawke’s Bay.

Eastern Police District records have shown call-out rates for family violence are above the national average. Nationally, an estimated one in three women has been the victim of family violence, and the World Health Organisation points out that the harm can last a lifetime and span generations.

EIT’s School of Education and Social Sciences was asked to evaluate the effectiveness of education, support and counselling services and programmes delivered by DOVE Hawke’s Bay.

DOVE Hawke’s Bay manager Malcolm Byford says the recently-released report established that the community-based agency was making a worthwhile and positive contribution. As a result of its interventions and programmes, victims reported feeling safer and perpetrators said they were less violent towards their families.

Mr Byford said the report’s release was timely given DOVE Hawke’s Bay, established in 1993, had recently undergone a major restructuring and was looking to further develop its role.

“We will be incorporating the report’s recommendations into our strategic planning and in particular taking on board the need to consider our services for youth, which were reduced because of funding constraints.”

Mr Byford said there was scant research undertaken nationwide to investigate the effectiveness of programmes and agencies working in the area of family violence.

“Such research is pretty uncommon in New Zealand. It is significant for DOVE in particular, while also informing like organisations of the effectiveness of our work. That’s something we can all build on, nationally and overseas as well.”

Head of the Hawke’s Bay Family Violence Police Team Detective Sergeant Darren Pritchard says the “very comprehensive and thorough” report highlighted the important part DOVE Hawke’s Bay played in the key areas of victim safety and offender accountability.

“Family violence is not solely owned by one group but rather the entire community. I have met a number of perpetrators of family violence who have sincerely wanted to stop their violence. This is supported by EIT’s research.”

EIT research team leader Penny Ehrhardt says the report’s findings were welcomed by LIVE Hawke’s Bay, a collaboration of 34 local agencies working together to end family violence in Hawke’s Bay.

The seven EIT researchers who collected interview data from men, women and young people found that DOVE’s clients spanned the socio-economic and cultural range.

Sixty percent listed between 2008 and 2010 were men and 40 percent women. Most were aged between the mid-20s and 40 with the most common age 32-33. At least one client was over 81.

The research revealed that many of DOVE’s clients were grappling with issues such as high levels of past trauma. Alcohol and other drug issues were often linked to family violence, with the desire to be free of alcohol, drugs and violence expressed as a single concept.

A desire to break the cycle of intergenerational family violence and improve outcomes for their children was frequently mentioned as a motivator for change for both men and women.

ENDS

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