Family Violence Reports puts us on top

Massey University Research – 

Fiji Indians topped the number of people referred to the Auckland based ‘Gandhi Nivas’ during its first year of operation, a research paper published by the Massey University School of Psychology said.

They represented 30.4% (31 persons) out of 103 persons who were at the facility from December 2014 (when Gandhi Nivas was established) and the end of last year.

The number of Indians was the second largest, accounting for 20.6% or 21 persons during the same period.

It must be noted that these numbers refer only to those received by Gandhi Nivas. During the first 12 months. There were 103 referrals of which one person did not identify his ethnicity.

Major social problem

Mandy Morgan and Leigh Coombes who conducted the research for Massey University said that in New Zealand, family violence is a major social problem with intimate partners committing a majority of offences within families.

This research concerned the development of Gandhi Nivas, a community-led project in Otahuhu that provides early intervention services to men who have been bound by Police Safety Orders (PSOs) in the Counties Manukau Police District.

PSOs are issued as an interim safety measure when the police have reasonable grounds to believe that there is a risk of family violence, or that an incident of family violence has occurred.

“Persons who are bound by Police Safety orders are not permitted to return to the home they share with protected persons (including children) or assault, threaten, intimidate or harass the protected person, or retain possession of firearms or any firearm license for the period of the order, which is up to five days and usually between two and three days. Gandhi Nivas provides emergency housing and rapid referrals,” the researchers said.

The community facility

“Gandhi Nivas provides men who are bound by PSO or otherwise involved in Police matters related to family violence with emergency accommodation and the support of a Social Worker at the time of their intake. They receive a needs-assessment and brief counselling at Gandhi Nivas immediately. They are also referred for early intervention counselling to ‘Sahaayta Counselling Services’ who aim to engage the men and their families with support quickly. Intervention courses are also delivered through Sahaayta. Other referrals to organisations and support services in the community are provided as indicated by the needs-assessment, such as Work and Income New Zealand and medical appointments, budgeting services, and access to legal services.”

Editor’s Note: The above is only an extract, and an edited version of a substantial report. Indian Newslink will serialise the Report from its May 1, 2016 issue.

Gandhi Nivas Clients

Dec 2014-Dec 2015