Northern Domestic Violence Service Inc. (ndvs)

Outline What is ndvs Services Available Children's Services Objectives Contact Details

Links Domestic Violence: An Introduction Domestic Violence: Clinical Issues Some Phone Numbers

What is ndvs?

The Northern Domestic Violence Service (ndvs) is a new government funded initiative dedicated to helping women and their children experiencing or at risk of domestic violence.

Located in Adelaide's northern suburbs, ndvs' skilled professional staff provide a comprehensive range of services to meet the individual needs of women and children from the Salisbury, Elizabeth, Gawler, Wakefield, Barossa, Clare and Gilbert Valley regions.

We can assist with access to high security crisis accommodation and short term emergency housing. We also offer our full range of services to women and children requiring assistance and support with domestic violence related matters, but not requiring accommodation.

Services Available

• Information about domestic violence including:
  • type of help available
  • how to access assistance
  • who to see
  • what to expect
• Crisis counselling
• Access to high security crisis accommodation
• Access to short term emergency accommodation
• Professional support
• Specialist assessment, support and referral for children
• Referral and/or practical assistance with:
  • medical and health issues
  • police
  • housing
  • relocation
  • legal matters
  • court support
  • Centrelink services
  • financial issues

Children

The needs of children who have witnessed or experienced domestic violence are a priority with ndvs. Our Child Specialist is an authority in her field and our services for children include individual assessment, one to one counselling and group activities.

Each child assessed as needing assistance is offered an individual support plan designed to address specific need, for example:

• fostering and developing self worth and self esteem
• helping identify and understand feelings and experiences
• dealing with feelings of anger, hurt, loss, blame and betrayal
• identifying and focusing on personal strengths
• providing hope for the future
• helping rebuild trust
• helping to recognise and come to terms with change in the family
• practising expressing feelings, rather than "holding on" or "acting out"
• realising that other children experience similar feeling and changes in life

Objectives of the Service

• To achieve improved options and outcomes for women and children affected by domestic violence by providing a range of high quality services which encourage, assist and empower them to make informed choices about their lives.
• To provide services which are responsive to individual client need, culturally inclusive, equitable, accessible and delivered in a professional manner.
• Where appropriate, to facilitate access to long term stable accommodation by offering safe emergency and transitional accommodation and professional support.
• To maximise access and equity in service delivery through the provision of outreach services to those who do not want or need accommodation.
• To maximise access and equity in service delivery to all women and children affected by domestic violence including those with special needs, special health need, women and children with disabilities and those from a range of cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
• To ensure services are based on clearly articulated and implemented principles which advocate a user rights culture and offer empowerment, skilled assessment and support planning.
• To ensure services are delivered by competently trained staff in a professional and lawful manner, free from religious, sectarian or political bias.

Contact Details

Information supplied by ndvs
SJ 13/6/2001