Recognising and Responding to People Perpetrating Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence (FDSV)

Recognising and responding to People Perpetrating Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence (FDSV)

Location and Dates

The Hub, Bentley Technology Park
28th and 29th of October 2025 (8.30am registrations) 9am to 4.30pm

Who is this training suitable for?

This training is ideal for frontline practitioners, intersecting services, and support services working with people experiencing or using Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence (FDSV). This training is designed for those working in fields where it is very common that the client’s presenting concern will intersect with experiences or use of FDSV, including:

Alcohol and other drug services
Corrections (both community corrections and prison-based roles)
Court-based personnel
Disability support    
Family law system practitioners
Family services
Financial counsellors, including those focusing on gambling harm    
Generalist counselling/community-based support services
Housing and homelessness
Legal practitioners
Mental health
Migrant health/support and settlement services
Police
Primary health care

One area often overlooked by practitioners and other professionals is understanding that engaging perpetrators within the context of family, domestic and sexual violence (FDSV) is fundamentally about creating safety. Often, systems involved with FDSV focus solely on services, assessments, and plans for the survivors, and miss the critical component of engaging with or bringing the perpetrator into view of the system. 

Learning Outcomes 

• Identify the drivers of FDSV in the Australian Context 
• Prevalence and statistics for FDSV in Australia
• Recognising the forms of FDSV
• Unpack coercive control and domestic violence tactics
• Understand the impacts of FDVS on children 
• Understand silos in system responses to FDSV
• FDSV and intersections of mental health, alcohol and other drugs, housing and homelessness
• Recognising the perpetrators pattern of behaviour as the cause of harm
• Gaining skills to recognise victim-survivor strengths
• Build confidence when responding to a disclosure of FDSV
• Understand the role of documentation and language in responding to those who choose to use FDSV
• Avoiding collusion with those perpetrating FDSV 
• Understanding different roles in responding to people perpetrating FDSV 
• What services are available for people experiencing or using FDSV
• Reflective Practice, self-care and psychological safety and wellbeing 

Includes

All training material, Lunch, Morning and Afternoon tea

Trainer Bio’s

Kate Jeffries

Manager Practice Development and Quality Assurance at Stopping Family Violence

Kate is a passionate leader for family safety and an advocate for effective system responses to increase the visibility of perpetrators as the cause of harm. With 20 years’ experience in the West Australian context, she has held various leadership roles across family and domestic violence, mental health and disability. Her focus areas at Stopping Family violence support training, workforce development, program design and quality assurance for perpetrator intervention.

As a practitioner, Kate is experienced in engaging with men using family and domestic violence through behaviour change intervention, i.e. individual and work group delivered within community and prison settings, working holistically with women and children impacted by family and domestic violence, providing clinical services for young people and risk assessment for the Family Court of Western Australia. Kate provides FDV informed supervision to support practitioner growth Australia wide.

Kate is the current chair for WA Men’s Behaviour Change Network, she was a previous chair for WA Family Law Pathways Network, and consortium chair for headspace Mandurah (WA). Kate is a registered psychologist, board-approved supervisor and an accredited Safe and Together trainer for both core and supervisor programs.

Belinda Hawes

Trainer and Workforce Development

Belinda joined Stopping Family Violence after 20 years of service as a frontline police officer with the Western Australian Police. Throughout her career, she has undertaken a diverse range of roles, but her true passion lies in addressing family and domestic violence. Belinda was an integral part of a team that trained WA police officers, helping them better understand the complexities of family and domestic violence and improve their responses to related incidents.

In 2024, Belinda became part of the team at Starick Services, contributing to the Respectful Relationship Teaching Support and Respectful Relationship Sport and Recreation programs. These primary prevention programs promote positive relationships and gender equality to schools, education facilities and sporting organisations, to prevent family and domestic violence before it starts.

Belinda joined Stopping Family Violence in November 2024, bringing with her a deep passion for facilitation and education. Committed to raising awareness and driving social change, she empowers individuals and communities with the knowledge and tools necessary to combat family and domestic violence.

Additionally, Belinda serves as the vice-chair of No Limits Perth, a charity she co-founded in August 2015 with Debbie Jordaan and CEO Janine Wood. No Limits Perth is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting individuals and families in Perth’s northern suburbs, through a variety of services and projects, including food hampers, household items, and furniture, they aim to restore dignity and hope to those in need.

Belinda is actively engaged in her local community, managing several online groups focused on her suburb. Through these platforms, she connects with residents, shares important information, and supports local initiatives. In addition, Belinda plays a key role in organising and participating in fundraising events and charitable collections, dedicating her time and efforts to causes that make a meaningful difference in the community.