Day 7: Innovative approaches
Across Australia, many organisations and agencies have developed innovative approaches to improve the systems tasked with preventing and responding to domestic, family and sexual violence.
This day of public hearings will showcase some of these approaches.
Transcript - Tuesday, 4 March, 2025
Morning session from 9.30am
Alternative reporting options
Georgina is a Professor in Criminology and Justice Studies, and a forensic linguist at RMIT University. She specialises in the language of police interviewing and the use of alternative reporting mechanisms to improve reporting of sexual violence. Georgina is presently lead Chief Investigator on a Criminology Research Grants project examining the use of anonymous and confidential reporting of sexual assault and the use of these reports by police in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.
South Australia’s Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS)
Chief Inspector Kellie Watkins, SAPOL
Kellie is currently the Officer in Charge, Family and Domestic Violence Section. She has worked for SAPOL for 20 years and was appointed to her current role in 2023. She is a qualified Police Prosecutor and across her career has been involved in investigating and prosecuting serious crimes including domestic and sexual violence. She has managed areas in Prosecution Support Branch, Operational response areas (both in metropolitan and regional areas), Organisational Reform and Family and Domestic Violence Section within the Public Protection Branch (incorporating responsibilities for the Multi-Agency Protection Service and the development of policy and training across the portfolios of domestic abuse, child protection, vulnerable victims including elder abuse and sexual crime).
Kellie holds tertiary qualifications including a Graduate Certificate in Applied Management (policing and Emergency Services) and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Mergho Ray, Women’s Safety Services SA
Mergho has been the Manager of Integrated Programs with Women’s Safety Services SA since October 2018, which was at the commencement of the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS). She is a strong activist and advocate for over four decades for the safety of women and children through her ongoing work in Domestic Family Violence, Sexual Assault, Child Sexual Abuse and Women’s Self Defence.
Mergho oversees the operational activities of the DVDS Statewide program, works closely with the partner organisations across South Australia, and raises awareness of the scheme through promotional opportunities and discussions. She has worked across both government and non-government sectors in various roles and leadership positions over this time and continues to strive to end gendered violence.
Afternoon session from 1pm
Witness intermediaries
Laura is the Senior Director of the ACT Intermediary Program and leads a team of intermediaries and program staff to deliver the Program across the Territory. Laura holds a Bachelor of Social Science (Criminology) and a Masters in Criminology, and has worked on the design, implementation and management of several criminal justice programs for over a decade.
Laura moved to Canberra to work on the development and delivery of the ACT’s Intermediary Program, after her experience setting up and managing witness intermediaries within the NSW Child Sexual Offence Evidence Program from 2016 until her move in 2019. Laura has been involved in the recruitment and training of intermediaries in other Australian jurisdictions including NSW, Tasmania and most recently, Western Australia.
Ruah Community Services – An integrated community service provider
Debra is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Ruah Community Services.
With more than two decades’ experience in the health and community service sectors, Debra is a passionate advocate for practical and decisive action to disrupt cycles of social disadvantage.
A Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Debra is a Council Member for IPAA (Institute of Public Administration Australia - WA) and Director on the State Training Board for WA. She served for six years on the East Metropolitan Health Service as Deputy Chair and Chair of Audit and Risk and is the previous President of the Western Australian Council of Social Services.
She is a founding member of the WA Alliance to End Homelessness (WAAEH) and a member of the Australian Alliance to End Home Homelessness (AAEH). In April 2024 she was appointed Non-Aboriginal Co-Chair of Reconciliation WA.
Rainbow Tick accreditation
Jami has worked in youth work and community development for over 10 years, in roles ranging from research and policy to support, family work, program development and implementation. Jami is the Director of Rainbow Health Australia, which supports lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) health and wellbeing through research and knowledge translation, training, resources, policy advice and service accreditation through the Rainbow Tick.
