The Clarence Valley Domestic & Family Violence Committee is partnering with Serco Australia with a new innovative approach to domestic violence education by raising awareness using inmate art.
The Clarence Valley Domestic & Family Violence Committee works with not-for profit agencies, businesses, and volunteers to ensure issues surrounding domestic violence and anti-social behaviour are at the forefront of the local community. Serco’s participation in this group has enabled inmates at Clarence Correctional Centre to design a new logo for the committee with a clear messaging that domestic violence is unacceptable in the community.
Some 66 artworks were submitted by inmates for the project, with two selected by the committee to create the final logo design with the message ‘Domestic violence doesn’t discriminate; it is everyone’s responsibility’.
Serco Justice Operations Director Tony Voss said that giving back to the community supports inmates who have been victims of domestic violence and helps educate those who have been perpetrators.
“Introducing initiatives such as this within the centre supports Serco’s tailored approach to reducing reoffending, with education and breaking the stigma of domestic violence being key contributors to successful rehabilitation and reintegration of these offenders,” said Mr Voss.
“With a high proportion of inmates incarcerated in NSW Correctional Centres serving sentences for domestic violence, and many more victims of domestic violence themselves, we wanted to find a way for inmates to recognise victims and challenge the behaviour.”
Chairperson of the Clarence Valley Domestic & Family Violence Committee and Services Australia Social Worker Tracey Poynter said the committee were overwhelmed by the support for the project and quality of the artworks selected.
“The committee instantly recognised the significance of the project and what it would mean to the community to have inmates giving back to a cause so important to everyone within the community,” said Ms Poynter.
“The care that went into the works created great excitement within the committee and we all agreed that we had never seen such an innovate project in the domestic violence space brought to life this way.”
The new Clarence Valley Domestic & Family Violence Committee logo will be launched on Tuesday 30 November for the 16 Days of Activism on flags hung throughout Grafton with plans to extend the campaign into Yamba and Maclean in 2022.
Clarence Correctional Centre is a partnership including Serco, CSNSW and NorthernPathways. The Centre is expected to inject $560 million into the local Clarence Valley economy over the 20 years.
About Serco
Serco Asia Pacific (ASPAC) has been operating for more than 30 years across Australia with a proven track record delivering the most demanding, complex and sensitive solutions for government clients. Employing around 15,000 people in the ASPAC region, we apply world’s best practice, insights and technology across key sectors: Justice; Health; Facilities Management; Citizen Services; Immigration; Defence and Transport. More information can be found at www.serco.com/aspac