Ace support for local youth

An impromptu game of ping-pong proved a novel way to engage and educate students at a well-received youth expo.

Wayss' team members at the Wellbeing Expo.

Three members from the Wayss’ Dandenong Youth team attended the Wellbeing Expo at Dandenong High School on Monday, 26 August.

Wayss joined many community agencies to organise stalls for students to access, so they could learn more about what support networks are available in the local area.

The youth team got creative with their stall through initiating a ping-pong activity. This proved both fun and educational, as students had a great time and the Wayss stall was very popular, with gift bags provided.

The event enabled Dandenong High School and community agencies to collaborate to organise a safe space for students to learn about wellbeing.

Contact us

Wayss

(03) 9791 6111

community@wayss.org.au 

Family violence response enters digital age

Game-changing technology from Victoria Police is improving how Wayss works with police officers to reduce family violence.

Launched state-wide on 14 August, the Family Violence Reporting (FVR) technology is available on mobile devices to help police improve risk assessment and hold more perpetrators to account. More than 9,000 devices are now in use in Victoria, allowing police officers to submit reports in the field. They can also make immediate referrals to service providers, such as Wayss.

The introduction represents a significant change in how police gather information from victim/survivors and includes more information about any children involved. The questions on the digital form must be completed and are designed to identify risk and provide greater background.

Wayss CEO, Elizabeth Thomas, said the technology is providing Wayss staff with valuable data.

“We’re gaining access to additional details that inform risk. This enables us to assess the situation more efficiently and provide a more targeted response,” Ms Thomas said.

“We’re receiving greater detail on what sort of order we’re dealing with, when court dates are and other information that informs risk. We can check how many previous reports there have been, what they have been. We can assess quickly whether the situation is escalating … what sort of risk we’re looking at."

The FVR tool aims to improve responses.

The introduction of FVR is a result of the Royal Commission into Family Violence, which, among other recommendations, sought to ensure the accurate, efficient recording of incidents. The report still comes through as an L17 (family violence) report, but is now called a Family Police Report.

FVR comes as referrals to Wayss increase. From the start of this year to 31 July, Wayss has responded to 5,883 L17 referrals. To put this into perspective, Wayss received 6,498 referrals in the entire 2017-18 financial year.

“This increase translates to more women and children seeking support from across all our services and programs. This provides us with greater opportunity to keep them safe,” Ms Thomas said.

During the launch, Family Violence Command Assistant Commissioner, Dean McWhirter, said family violence, and violence against women, accounted for between 40% and 60% of frontline police time.

“In the past 12 months to March this year, police responded to more than 81,000 incidents of family violence,” AC McWhirter said.

“These incidents can be complex and police are often required to make assessments in stressful circumstances to keep people safe.

“The FVR gives police more guidance and confidence to make improved decisions based on the information they collect, combined with enhanced training and professional judgement.

“Police officers will be better-equipped to understand the intricacies of relationships to determine the risk level. It allows police to collect consistent information to better track repeat offenders and those who breach intervention orders.”

FVR technology in focus

• Allows officers to conduct checks on a person, licence, vehicles and locations.
• Questions are designed to help officers assess how they can protect the victim.
• Officers can collect consistent information to better track repeat offenders and those who breach intervention orders.
• Crime and event reports can be submitted to include: Family violence report, assault, justice procedures, harassment, and property damage.

Contact us

Wayss

(03) 9791 6111

community@wayss.org.au 

Wayss calls to increase 'inadequate' Newstart

Media Release

August 22, 2019

Looking for work while on a $40-per-day Newstart allowance is stressful, dispiriting and degrading.

A more realistic payment, which takes into account the harsh realities of being unemployed, would end the need for some of our vulnerable community members to choose between eating or keeping a roof over their head.

Wayss is joining the chorus of welfare groups, business leaders and MPs across the political spectrum to call for an increase in Australia's "grossly inadequate" allowance payments.

Single, childless Newstart recipients who receive the base payment rate live on just $40 per day, before housing expenses. After accommodation costs, according to a recent Salvation Army report, they need to survive on a meagre $17 per day.

Wayss CEO, Elizabeth Thomas, said this is outrageous and the reason why demand for Wayss' homelessness support services is skyrocketing, with a 10%+ increase over the past year.

"We're seeing people who can't afford the basic necessities of life - housing, food and clothing. The costs of health, dental care and internet access are way out of their financial reach, which not only impacts their personal welfare, it makes it all the more difficult to obtain employment," Ms Thomas said.

"These are people who, through no fault of their own, are in our community and finding it difficult to find a stable job. This should not mean they are treated with any less respect and dignity."

Ms Thomas calls on the Federal Government to listen to the voices of grassroots service providers, such as Wayss, and make a difference.

Raise the Rate

Ms Thomas is urging the communities of Greater Dandenong, Casey, Cardinia, Frankston and Mornington Peninsula to support the Australian Council of Social Services' (ACOSS) Raise the Rate campaign.

In a recent ACOSS survey of allowance recipients, nearly 60% said they had less than $100 left for the week after they paid their housing costs. A further 39% reported having $50 or less.

The survey also found:

• More than 60% had not been able to see a dentist in two years
• Some said they were only able to shower sporadically
• 65% didn't eat meat, so they could save money

To join the Raise the Rate campaign, sign up at www.raisetherate.org.au.

Media enquiries

Contact Communications Coordinator, Peter Douglas, on 0466 405 182.