Greater Melbourne Network Bulletin
- vicflpn
- Jun 3
- 6 min read
Social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) is a holistic concept that is the foundation for mental and physical health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It recognises the importance of connection to Country, culture, spirituality and ancestry. This paper summarises the evidence on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s experiences of a range of diverse programs that address social and emotional wellbeing. It also looks at what the success factors were for participants in these programs. The paper provides some considerations for practitioners and other professionals working to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s health and social and emotional wellbeing. These general considerations may be applied to a variety of health, social and wellbeing programs and services.
Key messages
Improving non-Indigenous services and organisations’ engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is critical to helping address the ongoing social, economic and health inequities experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
A key aspect of improving service responses to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is understanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) models and integrating them into practice.
The research evidence, from the perspectives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, highlights the importance of designing and delivering SEWB programs that are:
culturally safe
holistic
take a strengths-based approach.
Program activities that contribute to positive SEWB include:
arts-based programs
connection to culture activities
activities that provide opportunities for yarning/storytelling, mentoring from Elders or other community members and skills building.
In its report the Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs Inquiry Committee found that ‘services which support victim-survivors of family, domestic and sexual violence (FDSV) to navigate separation safely and to resolve legal issues fairly require adequate, ongoing and sustainable funding.
‘It is unacceptable that overburdened critical services are forced to turn away people, who may be in absolute crisis, due to funding constraints.’
We made a submission to the committee in July 2024. Program Manager Bernadette Grandinetti from our Family Law team appeared before the committee in August. She spoke about our submission and the experiences of our client, Michelle.
Our submission is reflected in committee recommendations to:
adopt nationally harmonised legal definitions of family, domestic and sexual violence (FDSV)
improve police responses to reports of FDSV, minimising risks of misidentification of victim-survivors as the predominant aggressor and systems abuse
develop comprehensive, culturally safe, and trauma-informed training and resources for judicial officers and legal professionals
increase legal aid payments so that private practitioners can provide legal aid effectively and sustainably
make court proceedings safer by supporting all victim-survivors to attend court hearings remotely if they wish, and
ensure there are safe entrances and waiting areas, and safety protocols in all courts for victim survivors in FDSV matters.
The committee’s report included an extract from Michelle’s story, highlighting our concerns that not all family law courts have adequate safety features for victim-survivors of FDSV.
Across Australia, we have a skewed view of what violence in intimate relationships actually looks like. What comes to mind is physical violence, or sexual violence – something that is much easier to categorise as “not okay”.
But that type of behaviour typically doesn’t appear out of thin air. It usually follows non-physical violence – insidious behaviour that breaks down a person’s boundaries, instincts and self-esteem to gain control over their independence, autonomy and judgement. This is also known as coercive control.
What is coercive control?
Coercive control is a pattern of ongoing, continuous abuse over time that’s often covert and difficult to identify. It’s used by a person to control, dominate and intimidate another person, usually an intimate partner.
Coercive control can describe non-physical abuse (psychological, emotional, financial, cultural, spiritual), as well as physical and sexual abuse. It is a key element of family violence and violence against women and embodies the gendered drivers of men’s violence.
While coercive control may coincide with physical or sexual violence, it can be an extremely harmful feature of a violent relationship long before any physical violence takes place. It is not less serious when it is not physical.
This non-physical abuse is predominantly experienced by women and perpetrated by men – but it can happen in any kind of relationship. It can happen in intimate relationships, in families, between parents and children (and adult children and their older parents), and in other carer relationships.
Men’s mental health issues can remain unrecognised and unaddressed for many reasons. Some key barriers that prevent men from seeking support include:
Social norms and cultural expectations pressure men to appear strong, stoic, and independent.
Early experiences and role models may teach men to cope with problems alone or use unhealthy coping mechanisms such as alcohol and drugs.
Feeling ashamed or embarrassed to seek out support for mental health issues.
Limited understanding or awareness of the signs and symptoms of mental health issues.
Traditional attitudes and phrases like ‘get over it’ or ‘pull your socks up’ have long dismissed mental health concerns as temporary or nothing to worry about. While there’s growing recognition that mental health is as important as physical health, these outdated views can still make it harder for men to acknowledge when they’re struggling.
Some men are not familiar with the warning signs that they are facing mental health challenges, which need attention. Understanding common signs can help prevent small issues from developing into something more serious. Below, we explore some common men’s mental health challenges and how to recognise when it is time to get support.
Common men mental health issues include: Loneliness, stress, depression and, anxiety.
The Family Law Amendment Act 2024 (Cth) commences on 10 June 2025.As a result, there will be changes to some family law court forms. Some changes are substantive, for example if new questions have been added to forms. A number of forms have minor changes only, where sections of the Act have changed, and references need to be updated.The table below includes a link to a copy of each of the updated forms and a summary of the key changes. Early copies of the forms are being provided to assist the profession and the public to become familiar with the changes. These versions of the forms should not be filed until 10 June 2025. The updated forms will be published for use in the forms section of the Courts’ website on 10 June 2025.
Summary of Changes
Change in terminology to use ‘financial or property proceedings’ to align with the Family Law Act.
Change in affidavit instructions for financial or property proceedings to include reference to the impact of family violence in new subsections 79 (4)/90SM (4) and 79 (5)/90SM (5), if relied upon.
Changes to instructions to:
explain when and how to seek a 60I exemption
reflect the new requirement for the Court to reject an application for parenting orders if no exemption is granted
Rewording and simplification of questions regarding exemption sought
New definition of ‘pet’ to reflect the inclusion of companion animal as property under the Family Law Act.
New question 72 under Part H for parties to provide details on the effect of family violence on contributions in relation to the division of property to include new subsections 79 (4)(ca) and 90SM (4)(ca) of the Act, with a ‘prefer not to say’ option.
Changes to question 73 under Part H for parties to provide details on the division of property and their current and future circumstances to include considerations under new subsections 79(5) and 90SM (5) of the Family Law Act.
New question 74 under Part H for parties to include details relevant when seeking orders in relation to a pet, to include new considerations under subsection 79(6) and 90SM (6) of the Family Law Act.
Change in terminology to use ‘financial or property proceedings’ to align with the Family Law Act.
Consequential re-numbering of subsequent questions.
Changes to question wording to update the source of disclosure obligations to the Family Law Act.
If you would like to make a submission for a future Bulletin please email us at vicpathwaysmelb@catholiccarevic.org.au.
Comments