Rebuilding, Strengthening and Educating

creating hope for our community

Jannawi’s work responds to an increasing incidence in Australia of child abuse and family violence. According to the most recent statistics:

16% OF
WOMEN

from age 15 on experienced physical assualt by their partner, and 5% of women experienced sexual assault by their partner.

ABS Findings

11% OF
PEOPLE

reported witnessing a physical assault on their mother by a partner during their childhood.

ABS Findings

1 IN 32 CHILDREN

received child protection services and 67% of children who received child protection services were repeat clients.

AIHW Report

30,600
CHILDREN

have been in out-of-home care for 2 years or more.

Govt. Services Report

The traditional solution to child abuse has been to remove children from their homes and families, which breaks up the family – often forever. Children who are placed into care often suffer isolation and sometimes further neglect and abuse.

Jannawi helps to stop child abuse and provides a safe place for abused children. We offer child protection counselling to children and families to address the root causes of child abuse and contribute to a better future for children, families and communities.

POLICY SUBMISSIONS

At Jannawi we believe in the power of information and experience to improve how our society responds to children and families in need. We regularly contribute to government policy processes and other important public discussions.

Submission to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse

Submission to the Parliamentary inquiry into a better family law system to support and protect those affected by family violence (submission 51)

EVALUATIONS

Jannawi Family Centre is successfully achieving its objective of keeping children safe, happy and healthy, and has strong support from its clients and the child protection sector, according to an interim evaluation of its approach.

The study, by researchers at the University of Sydney’s School of Education and Social Work, found, “A key outcome for families was preventing the removal of children into out-of-home-care or achieving restoration of their children as the result of working with Jannawi. Family members also described how Jannawi had facilitated safe and consistent contact between parents and children, when children were not in their parent’s care.”

The findings, based on interviews with parents, children, staff and partner organisations, form part of a national research project to determine the service needs of children and families living with domestic and family violence, led by the University of Melbourne. The interim report also found:

Jannawi’s direct engagement with children means workers can better support their needs, wellbeing and safety;
Engagement with men who perpetrate violence helps Jannawi hold them accountable and work with them towards changing their behaviours;
Families with complex needs benefit from Jannawi’s integrated services that include assessment, counselling, case management, safety planning, early childhood and developmental assessments, advocacy, therapeutic groups, playgroups, educational and recreational programs and supervised contact visits;
Jannawi works respectfully with First Nations and culturally, linguistically and religiously diverse families, including through its culturally diverse and multilingual staff;
Jannawi is recognised for its expertise and capacity-building, including training, student placements, workshops and interagency meetings and consultation with other agencies to support the most complex family situations.

The research is being conducted in partnership with the US-based Safe and Together Institute and will be completed later in 2021.