Other Services
WA Respectful Relationships Teaching Support Program
As part of our commitment to preventing violence and building safer communities, Starick is delivering the Western Australian Respectful Relationships Teaching Support Program (WARRTSP) to primary and secondary public schools across Western Australia.
WARRSTP uses a whole-of-school approach to support staff in delivering appropriate respectful relationships material in the school curriculum and the broader school environment.
- The programs aim is to give school staff the skills they need to support students to build relationships that are non-violent, equal, mutually respectful and trusting.
- The program includes:
- Professional learning for teachers and school staff.
- Information, tools and strategies to teach students about respectful relationships and gender equality, and
- Supporting schools to implement a whole-of-school approach to violence prevention.
WARRSTP is funded by the Department of Communities, and supported by the Department of Education.
The WARRSTP is part of WA Labor's election commitment to stopping family and domestic violence.
It is also a key initiative of Path to Safety: Western Australia's Strategy to Reduce Family and Domestic Violence 2020-2030.
About Respectful Relationships Education
Respectful Relationships Education (RRE) is a whole-of-school approach to creating and maintaining a culture of respect within school communities.
RRE supports students, staff and the wider community to build healthy and safe relationships based on mutual respect, non-violence and gender equality.
RRE is an evidence based, primary prevention approach delivered through schools to create generational and cultural change. It engages schools as places of learning and as workplaces to address the drivers of gender-based violence and create a future free from violence.
What is a whole-of-school approach?
Effective RRE recognises that schools are:
- Places of learning
- Community hubs, and
- Workplaces.
A whole-of-school approach engages with all aspects of a school including:
- in-class education,
- school culture and environment,
- policies and procedures, while
- promoting gender equality among staff and students, and
- fostering partnerships with the wider community.
Evidence based, age-appropriate delivery is a key part of the whole-of-school approach to embed RRE.
resources-toolkits-reading Evidence shows that when students have authentic opportunities to actively participate in their learning, they feel connected and can use the skills learnt to promote respectful relationships. It is therefore important to include student voices in implementing RRE in schools.
Our Work with Children and Young People
Starick is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people and to creating and maintaining a child safe organisation that creates a culture, strategies and actions to promote children and young people's wellbeing and protect them from harm.
We believe that supporting children and young people to grow, learn and flourish is integral to their ongoing safety and development.
We are committed to creating environments where children and young people feel safe and heard.
Starick has zero tolerance of child abuse, and all allegations and safety concerns will be treated very seriously and consistently with our robust policies and procedures.
Every person working at Starick understands the important role they play individually and collectively in children and young people's lives and demonstrates this by putting children and young people and their mothers/carers at the centre of decision making and actions.
Our Child Safety Code of Conduct outlines how staff, students and volunteers will behave when working with and around children.
We are committed to upholding children and young people's rights and needs in relation to equity and cultural diversity, with particular attention to the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, children with disability, children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex children and young people.
Workplace Awareness
Is your workplace family and domestic violence aware?
Family and domestic violence (FDV) can impact all areas of an employee’s life, including work. Managers and team leaders can play an important role in supporting employees and colleagues by being FDV aware. Here are some things to be aware of:
- FDV is a workplace health and safety issue. For instance, did you know that one in five women are harassed by perpetrators while at work?
- Abuse comes in many forms. These include physical, emotional, sexual, financial and technological abuse.
- FDV is a workplace productivity issue. It costs Australia’s economy $21.7 billion per year in health, administration and social welfare costs. FDV also contributes to increased absenteeism, lost wages and staff turnover. It can also impact on job satisfaction and staff morale.
Research shows that nearly half of those experiencing FDV will disclose it to a manager or supervisor. So knowing how to respond if someone discloses to you, and having some information about FDV ready to support them, lies at the core of being workplace aware.
Rights and responsibilities
We encourage all employers to be aware of their obligations because of the impact FDV can have on the workplace.
For instance, did you know that in Australia, the Fair Work Act 2009 entitles all staff (full time, part time or casual) to a minimum of five days unpaid FDV leave every 12 months of service? This entitlement is enforceable by law, and forms a part of the National Employment Standards (NES). Workplaces can also opt to provide paid FDV leave as part of their conditions.
When an employee experiences FDV, their workplace can offer them flexible working arrangements. This might include a change to work patterns and hours, a potential transfer to a different location or branch, allocating a different desk or office location or changing their work email address and phone number.
Formal policies or strategies to support workers experiencing FDV can be key to an organisation's social responsibility. Such practices may be embedded within the workplace's corporate social responsibility charter and contribute towards a supportive organisational culture.
Starick can offer tips when you are drafting your organisation's FDV leave policy or reviewing flexible options for staff. We can also provide examples of FDV leave policy related to legislation, FDV leave provisions and flexible work options.
How we can help
Guidance
Starick staff are available to speak to HR managers, team leaders or employees about FDV. We can also offer ideas on how to communicate to staff about FDV and make suggestions to promote available resources.
Resources for workplaces
Starick has a range of resources including brochures, guest speakers, posters, fact sheets and information regarding FDV support services.
Education and training
We can refer you to free and low-cost options to increase staff knowledge about FDV. We can also provide you with resources for integrating FDV awareness and respectful relationships into your induction package and staff development programs.
Email Karen Kerlin at communitylinkages@starick.org.au for more information.
Health and Wellbeing
Funded by donations, fundraising events and grants, Starick offers a range of services and programs that improve the lives of the women and children using our service.
These non-core services often relate to the emotional wellness of the families we support.
Baby Massage
Our baby massage program is offered in our refuges to mothers and babies traumatised by family and domestic violence.
There are many reasons why mothers may not feel an instantaneous bond with their babies. These include a tough pregnancy, traumatic birth, feeding issues, sleep issues and post natal depression. Experiencing the trauma of family and domestic violence can lie at the root of many of these problems, or can make an existing problem much, much worse.
Our baby massage program for mothers and babies traumatised by family and domestic violence is offered within our refuges and seeks to strengthen the bond between mothers and babies.
Throughout our baby massage program, mothers learn to provide massage therapy and nurturing touch to their babies.
Bonding lies at the heart of a baby’s later emotional development, and without a secure emotional connection from a very young age a baby is likely to face relationship challenges later in life.
Research shows that the physical, psychological and behavioral consequences of family and domestic violence impact not just the child and family, but the community as a whole.
Baby massage is just one of the ways we seek to break the cycle of family and domestic violence.
The Lived Experience
Our Lived Experience is a program of free workshops for women who have experienced family and domestic violence to share their stories and gain confidence in public speaking.
You don't have to be a Starick client to attend the workshops.
The Lived Experience creative writing program is an effective way to help participants explore feelings and experiences in a carefully managed and non-judgemental space. The program helps participants gain perspective on themselves and their life experiences.
There are two four-hour modules available:
Module 1: Telling My Stories is a gently guided creative writing class offering a range of writing prompts tailored to participants' needs. In response to these prompts, participants are given the rare opportunity to explore and share their lived experience with others in the workshop.
The Telling My Stories workshop typically runs from 10 am to 2 pm to allow for school drop off and pick up.
Recommended group size: 5-12 participants.
Module 2: Speaking My Truth (5 hours) offers those that feel ready an opportunity to write about their trauma in whatever way they choose, and to learn some basic public speaking techniques. This workshop includes:
- creative writing prompts
- video examples of public speaking
- guidance in the use of a microphone
- techniques for speaking with more confidence in public
The Speaking My Truth workshop typically runs from 10 am to 2 pm to allow for school drop off and pick up.
Recommended group size: 5-12 participants.
Workshop follow up
At the culmination of each workshop, participants are encouraged to debrief with trusted others, and to seek professional support if the strong emotions brought up by the workshops do not dissipate in a few days.
Find out more
To learn more about this program and to discuss your needs, email Starick.
Yoga for Trauma
Yoga classes are currently held for one hour on a weekly basis at both refuges.
The service is provided by a professional yoga teacher who not only gives her time but has also raised money through fund raising. These funds have allowed us to purchase yoga mats for the women to take with them when leaving the refuge.
Yoga offers participants peace, focus and relaxation, all of which are helpful for women having experienced abuse, violence or stress.
Yoga assists the body in releasing trauma. By practising breathing techniques, yoga helps participants let go of past traumas and intense emotions.
Yoga is a practise that emphasises the importance of listening to the body as participants focus on different poses. It teaches self-care and respect for one's body and strengthens the mind - an important skill to develop for victims leaving abusive relationships and making the choice to start a new way of life.
Feedback from the women who are engaged with Starick's yoga programme have indicated its effectiveness - “Yoga gives me a space”, said one participant, while others reported a strong sense of emotional release and all-important time for self.
Thriving Through Connection Supporting Young People Aged 11 - 17 years
Thriving Through Connection (TTC) supports young people aged 11 to 17 years who are impacted by family and domestic violence.
A Youth Worker is available to meet with young people and develop a support program suited to their needs. Individual and group activities are available which are focused on building capacity, resilience, wellbeing and supporting social connection.
TTC is FDV and trauma informed, culturally safe and strengths-based in line with current best practice.
To find out more please email: youth@starick.org.au
TTC is made possible by generous support from Telethon.
