Making the justice system safer for victim survivors remains a priority for all courts and tribunals.
In this full-day program, you will explore the dynamics of family violence and how to assess and respond to risk in your courtroom.
You will deepen your understanding of:
- the dynamics of coercive control
- risk assessment for family violence
- ways to appropriately communicate with people who use violence
- trauma – and how to use a trauma-informed approach in your courtroom.
Speakers.
Southport Specialist Domestic and Family Violence Court
Magistrate Colin Strofield
Magistrate Strofield was appointed as a Magistrate in March 2008. After a short period in the Brisbane Magistrates’ Court His Honour transferred to the Charleville Magistrates’ Court for two years. In April 2011 His Honour was transferred to the Holland Park Magistrates’ Court. On 1 September 2015 Magistrate Strofield undertook the role of Magistrate at the Specialist Domestic and Family Violence Court at Southport. Currently His Honour sits in the Specialist Domestic Violence Court in Brisbane. Prior to his appointment he was the legal advisor to the Commissioner of the Police Service for 13 years.
Southport Specialist Domestic and Family Violence Court
Magistrate Colin Strofield
Magistrate Strofield was appointed as a Magistrate in March 2008. After a short period in the Brisbane Magistrates’ Court His Honour transferred to the Charleville Magistrates’ Court for two years. In April 2011 His Honour was transferred to the Holland Park Magistrates’ Court. On 1 September 2015 Magistrate Strofield undertook the role of Magistrate at the Specialist Domestic and Family Violence Court at Southport. Currently His Honour sits in the Specialist Domestic Violence Court in Brisbane. Prior to his appointment he was the legal advisor to the Commissioner of the Police Service for 13 years.
Magistrates' Court of Victoria
Magistrate Stella Stuthridge
Magistrate Stuthridge is currently the Regional Coordinating Magistrate for Broadmeadows Magistrates Court and a Family Violence Lead Magistrate. Her Honour has been a Magistrate and Coroner since 2009. She has an Honours Degree in Law from La Trobe University. Her Honour completed her Master’s in International Criminal Law, at Monash University in 2011 and completed an Executive Development Program at Stanford University in 2016. Magistrate Stuthridge has been active in Law Reform committees including the Sexual Assault Reform Committee 2006-2009 and the Criminal Law and Procedure Reform Committee 2006-2009. Her Honour was Chair of the Law Institute Criminal Law Committee for many years and have held Senior positions on several Boards, including the Law Institute of Victoria. She was Supervising Magistrate for Family Violence in 2020-2021.
Magistrates' Court of Victoria
Magistrate Stella Stuthridge
Magistrate Stuthridge is currently the Regional Coordinating Magistrate for Broadmeadows Magistrates Court and a Family Violence Lead Magistrate. Her Honour has been a Magistrate and Coroner since 2009. She has an Honours Degree in Law from La Trobe University. Her Honour completed her Master’s in International Criminal Law, at Monash University in 2011 and completed an Executive Development Program at Stanford University in 2016. Magistrate Stuthridge has been active in Law Reform committees including the Sexual Assault Reform Committee 2006-2009 and the Criminal Law and Procedure Reform Committee 2006-2009. Her Honour was Chair of the Law Institute Criminal Law Committee for many years and have held Senior positions on several Boards, including the Law Institute of Victoria. She was Supervising Magistrate for Family Violence in 2020-2021.
The Metis Centre
Dr Marilyn Metta
Dr Marilyn Metta is the Director and Founder of The Metis Centre, a social justice organisation working to address gender inequality and promote women and children’s safety and wellbeing. Marilyn has over 22 years’ experience working as a trauma-integrated counsellor and facilitator with culturally diverse and First Nations communities.
Marilyn is a leading expert in domestic abuse, coercive control, trauma recovery, gender and cultural diversity, and social justice. As an award-winning author and researcher, she has published widely on these social justice issues.
She is the Founder and Chairperson of Mettamorphosis Inc, a not-for-profit charitable organisation working to provide access to education and promote safety and wellbeing of marginalised young people.
She has been awarded the 2021 Westpac Social Change Fellowship for her Feeling Safe and Free initiative, which is an innovative trauma-integrated program for young people on personal and relational safety. The initiative has been awarded 2022 QBE Foundation Local Grant for Inclusion and 2021 Westpac Safer Children, Safer Communities Impact Seed Funding.
The Metis Centre
Dr Marilyn Metta
Dr Marilyn Metta is the Director and Founder of The Metis Centre, a social justice organisation working to address gender inequality and promote women and children’s safety and wellbeing. Marilyn has over 22 years’ experience working as a trauma-integrated counsellor and facilitator with culturally diverse and First Nations communities.
Marilyn is a leading expert in domestic abuse, coercive control, trauma recovery, gender and cultural diversity, and social justice. As an award-winning author and researcher, she has published widely on these social justice issues.
She is the Founder and Chairperson of Mettamorphosis Inc, a not-for-profit charitable organisation working to provide access to education and promote safety and wellbeing of marginalised young people.
She has been awarded the 2021 Westpac Social Change Fellowship for her Feeling Safe and Free initiative, which is an innovative trauma-integrated program for young people on personal and relational safety. The initiative has been awarded 2022 QBE Foundation Local Grant for Inclusion and 2021 Westpac Safer Children, Safer Communities Impact Seed Funding.
Victorian Multicultural Commissioner and Co-founder Not One More Niki
Tarang Chawla
Tarang Chawla is a recovering lawyer and activist, who co-founded Not One More Niki, dedicated to ending violence against women and children in memory of his sister Nikita. He serves as a Commissioner at the Victorian Multicultural Commissioner, sits on several government and NGO boards, and is a sessional academic at Monash University. Tarang produced and hosted the award-winning podcast 'There's No Place Like Home' on domestic abuse. He is a former Young Australian of the Year Finalist and his work has featured in all major Australian media outlets.
Victorian Multicultural Commissioner and Co-founder Not One More Niki
Tarang Chawla
Tarang Chawla is a recovering lawyer and activist, who co-founded Not One More Niki, dedicated to ending violence against women and children in memory of his sister Nikita. He serves as a Commissioner at the Victorian Multicultural Commissioner, sits on several government and NGO boards, and is a sessional academic at Monash University. Tarang produced and hosted the award-winning podcast 'There's No Place Like Home' on domestic abuse. He is a former Young Australian of the Year Finalist and his work has featured in all major Australian media outlets.