Family Violence Death Review Committees

A Family Violence Death Review Committee is to be established, with the aim of reducing family violence and family violence deaths.

Today, the Health Minister David Cunliffe and Associate Health Minister Steve Chadwick announced that Cabinet has approved funding of $1.33 million until 2010 for the Committee. The Committee will report to the Health Minister, and Associate Health Minister who has specific responsibility for family violence.

“The overarching goal of the Committee will be to contribute to the prevention of family violence and family violence deaths,” said David Cunliffe.

“It is a serious problem and one New Zealand as a whole needs to come together to address.

“This Committee will be charged with identifying the contributing factors to family violence deaths. They will also recommend any changes to policy or services which may assist with the prevention of family violence.”

The Committee will identify trends, provide information to researchers, review circumstances surrounding deaths, conduct specific reviews of clusters/subgroups of family violence deaths and participate in local family violence death reviews.

"This is a problem which manifests itself across all areas of New Zealand society, and as such, we need all New Zealanders to take responsibility for it,” Steve Chadwick said.

The Committee will be made up of eight members, and nominations for inaugural members have been called for.

Nominations for Appointments to the Family Violence Death Review Committee:

Pursuant to sections 11 and 18 of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000, the Ministry of Health is seeking nominations for the inaugural members of the Family Violence Death Review Committee (FVDRC), on behalf of the Minister of Health.

The functions and membership categories of the FVDRC are outlined in the Terms of Reference, attached below.

All FVDRC members will have knowledge of, or expertise in, family violence issues. In addition, people who wish to be considered for membership on the FVDRC should be able to demonstrate:

• an interest in family violence prevention
• excellent communication skills
• an attitude that is accepting of the values of different professions and community perspectives
• a track record of working constructively in multi-disciplinary groups
• a good understanding of confidentiality
• an ability to apply a reducing inequalities focus
• an ability to think about issues from both an individual and broader population perspective.

All candidates are required to submit a current curriculum vitae and complete an application form, which is available from the website listed below, or by contacting the Child, Youth and Maternity team at the following address:

Family Violence Death Review Implementation Manager
Child, Youth and Maternity Team
Ministry of Health
PO Box 5013
Wellington

Telephone: (04) 496 2116
Email: tanith_robb@moh.govt.nz

Applications for these vacancies close on 1 May 2008.

Background:

In July 2007, the Taskforce for Action on Violence within Families agreed to the establishment of an ongoing interagency, multidisciplinary family violence death review system under the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000.

The draft Terms of Reference for the Family Violence Death Review Committee were distributed for consultation to over 80 government and non-government organisations and individuals with an interest in family violence issues. Fourteen submissions were received.

The feedback received on the draft Terms of Reference was positive and constructive, and where appropriate, suggestions have been incorporated into the finalised Terms of Reference.

For more information, including terms of reference for the Family Violence Death Review Committee, see the news section at http://www.moh.govt.nz/familyviolence