Domestic, Family Violence and People with Cognitive Disability

Course type

One day, face-to-face course.

Who attended?

The ‘Domestic, Family Violence and People with Cognitive Disability’ course was developed for community workers engaging with clients who have a cognitive impairment, are in contact with the criminal justice system and may be experiencing domestic and/or family violence.

Course Description

This one day training course looked at the dynamics of violence within intimate relationships, highlighting the particular issues that people with a range of cognitive disabilities experience.

It focused on providing workers tools and practical strategies to use when working with people with cognitive disability that may be experiencing or affected by domestic and/or family violence.

It looked at the dynamics of violence within intimate relationships: male/female, same sex couples, and female/male, providing an understanding of the impact that domestic and family violence has on people with a cognitive disability, and how it is responded to differently. It particularly focused on family violence, as people with a cognitive disability often experience violence within a family situation, not just intimate partner relationships.

In addition, the training touched on the response of service providers, notably from the disability and family violence sectors as well as the justice system, based on their different understanding of violence and disability.

The course also covered the impact this line of work has on workers and provided information and strategies on what these various impacts are, providing tools and information on the importance of, and ways to utilise ‘self care’.

Outcomes of the course

Definition of Cognitive Disability, as well as Domestic Violence (DV) and Family Violence (FV), and what is the difference.
Understanding what constitutes a domestic (DV) and/or a family violence(FV) relationship
Developing an understanding of the needs of people with cognitive disability experiencing DV/FV.
How this may vary, for example: people with disabilities who live in institutions and residential settings are also susceptible to violence from staff and other residents.
The rights and needs of people with a cognitive disability and the barriers faced.
Identified gaps in assistance to people with a cognitive disability experiencing abuse, both within disability services and domestic violence services.
How to identify boundary issues – for workers, clients and the community.
Myths and facts.
Identified and examined examples of good practice and policy.
Developed strategies to assist in working with people who have a cognitive disability.
How this work impacts workers emotionally.
Support Services.