|
Despite three comprehensive evaluations and assistance given to over 250 women and their children, WHGNE has been unsuccessful in securing government funding for Bsafe. As of 2014, WHGNE, continues to seek action from the Victorian Government to adopt, fund and administer this vital program for women and children. |
Bsafe is a personal alarm system for Bsafe prevents further violence and
|
|
Bsafe Project Business CaseThe Bsafe Project Business Case, which includes a three year projected budget and the proposed model to be rolled out in regional and rural Victoria, was compiled by Deb Nicholson Consulting and released to state government Ministers on 5 February 2013 for consideration in the next state budget. This submission was unsuccessful. In 2014, WHGNE is once again requesting that Bsafe be adopted as a key Victorian Government risk management and violence prevention strategy, to be funded and administered by a state government department.
|
Bsafe women speak about their livesShe tells of one occasion she attempted suicide, when the doctor asked her why – and she told him, of the violence, the constant fear, and the endless sexual degradation. His response was to prescribe Zoloft, an anti depressant that fogged her mind, numbed her body and left her helpless to maintain the constant vigilance needed to protect herself. Since the assault Jennifer has had 65 medical appointments not counting the initial examinations. Her doctor cries whenever she sees her; a girlfriend’s husband broke down when telling his mates what had happened to her. It might be a just little device with three buttons, but it’s a lifeline for me. If you have no help or no way of getting help, within minutes someone will come. It’s too late if I have to fiddle in my bag to find my phone, call 000 and explain everything. It could be too late. |
Conference Update
Deb spoke about risk assessment from Victorian and international perspectives. As a result there has been keen interest from all other states and New Zealand regarding Bsafe the use of intervention orders and the risk assessment model. Overall there is a sense that Victoria is well ahead in assessing risk. Pictured |
In 2012, Rachael Mackay and Deb Nicholson attended the Queensland Violence Against Women – an Inconvenient Reality Conference in August where Rachael spoke about Bsafe and the referral process that includes the Victorian Risk Assessment and Risk Management framework.
The Bsafe Pilot ProjectAn initiative between Women's Health Goulburn North East and Victoria Police, the Bsafe Pilot Project was funded from 2007-2010 in the Hume region of Victoria. The Bsafe Final Report demonstrates that it is imperative that Bsafe is implemented as a safety option for all rural women and children escaping family violence in Victoria. To view Bsafe Project reports: |
ACVP national winner
|
|
For a brief summary of the key findings from the interim report |
Latest report with women’s stories, recommendations, and a cost/benefit analysis |
Provides an analysis of the impacts on women’s safety and the typology of the men offenders |
Bsafe - A Successful Pilot Project
Bsafe has been highly successful in:
- Reducing perpetrator violence and recidivism, notably the incidence of physical violence;
- Increasing accountability for men who perpetrate family violence;
- Increasing women and their children’s feelings of safety;
- Supporting women and their children to remain in their own homes and communities;
- Increasing women’s connection with social support networks and access to relevant support services;
- Providing an integrated response to family violence by strengthening the relationship between family violence and sexual assault services, the police, health and community sectors and the community.
What women say about Bsafe
"I was advised to move. Having the Bsafe kit made it possible to stay” (Cassie)
“Before I got the Bsafe kit I was basically a prisoner in my own home” (Lucy)
“We can sleep easier in our own home and we haven’t had to move.” (Mary)
“Once aware of the kit, not knowing what it is but that I have something, he keeps away”. (Mary)
“Just before he was released (from prison) we had the kit installed. I have only had to use it the once … He heard the system being activated and he left within two minutes. So it’s a deterrent to him.” (Angie)
Bsafe is Cost Effective
$10,195 is the cost for a woman with children who accesses crisis accommodation, refuge, transitional housing and then exits into private rental.
With Bsafe the cost is reduced to $3,755 for the same woman and her children who only needs to accessed refuge or crisis accommodation and then returned to their home with the added support of Bsafe.
(For a more detailed analysis see reports)
Bsafe Victorian Roll Out
The Bsafe Final Report demonstrated that it is imperative that Bsafe is implemented as a safety option for all rural women and children escaping family violence in Victoria. Bsafe’s implementation should be through the Victorian State Government.
As of June 2012 Bsafe is not funded by State Government. Throughout 2012-2013, the Bsafe program continued to operate in the Hume region of Victoria with the support of the Victorian Women’s Benevolent Trust, private donations, and federal government transitional funding of $55,000.
Actions to support Bsafe
Join us on Facebook and Twitter to receive information and share the latest news about Bsafe.
Write to and lobby your local state member and key ministers.
How does Bsafe work?
Bsafe is a personal alarm system and risk management option primarily for people escaping family violence and sexualised assault perpetrated by intimate partners. Bsafe utilises VitalCall who supply a mobile unit with GPS tracking.
When the device is activated an alarm is sent to the 24 hour VitalCall response centre. The response centre call the clients mobile phone and if there is no answer or the client does not indicate their password, they immediately alert 000 for a police response while continuing to monitor and record the call. Such recordings can later be used as evidence for court proceedings.
Bsafe Products
Bsafe is a personal alarm system and risk management option primarily for people escaping family violence and sexualised assault perpetrated by intimate partners.
Bsafe utilises a mobile unit with GPS tracking supplied by VitalCall, Australia’s pioneer in personal emergency response systems.
How Bsafe works in 3 steps:
1. The user presses the SOS button on the device, which discreetly sends an alarm to the 24-hour VitalCall response centre
2. The response centre calls the user’s mobile phone to check on their safety and verify the activation
3. If there is no answer or the client does not indicate their correct password, VitalCall immediately alert 000 (Triple Zero) for a police response while continuing to monitor and record the call*
*Such recordings can later be used as evidence for court proceedings.
Key features of Bsafe
- Easy to use
- Discreet
- Small, lightweight and portable
- Accurate GPS position (within 2-4 meters)
- Alarms actioned by VitalCall’s professional response centre
- Instantaneous transmission
- Alert notification via SMS and e-mail to close contacts
Have a Blackberry? Then the Bsafe app for Blackberry is right choice!
Key features of Bsafe app for Blackberry
- Easy to use(4 rapid pushes of the alarm key)
- Discreet
- Accurate GPS position (within 4 meters)
- Alarms actioned by VitalCall in the Response Centre
- All-in-one device with GPS mobile phone
- Instantaneous transmission via GPRS/3G
Who is eligible?
The Bsafe targets people who in their intimate partner relationships have experienced family violence and /or sexualised assault.
To be eligible for Bsafe you need to:
- Have a current or interim Intervention Order that excludes the offender from coming within a specified distance of your property.
The Intervention Order needs to be obtained in Victoria or you have registered an interstate equivalent Order in Victoria. - Be at risk of that Intervention Order being breached
- Have a risk assessment completed by a family violence or sexual assault service.
- Remain in contact with the family violence/sexual assault service whilst the Bsafe kit is in place.
For further information please contact:
Rachael Mackay
Bsafe Project Worker
Tel 03 5722 3009 Email r.mackay@whealth.com.au
Please Note: VitalCall is a personal emergency response service that provides services within Australia 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days of the year.
