Ms Louise Harvey1, Ms Emma Searle
1Integrated Violence Prevention and Response Service, Western Sydney Local Health District, Australia
Biography:
Louise Harvey is a clinical psychologist with over 15 years of experience specialising in trauma and violence informed counselling support. Her current role is Service Manager for the Western Sydney Local Health District's Integrated Violence Prevention and Response Services specialist Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault counselling service. In this role she leads a team of specialist Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault clinicians providing trauma and violence informed support to consumers, both in corrections and in the community.
Incarcerated women experience staggeringly high rates of family, domestic, and sexual violence. The Mulawa Clinic, provided by Western Sydney Local Health District’s Integrated Violence Prevention and Response Service at Silverwater Women’s Correctional Centre, offers critical specialist support. This clinic delivers in-reach psychoeducation, brief counselling, and referral services within a trauma- and violence-informed framework, with an emphasis on cultural safety. It aims to address the complex needs of incarcerated women who have experienced interpersonal violence and trauma. The clinic’s services are tailored to accommodate the brief, one-off engagements typical of a reception centre, yet still provide specialised support for those seeking help with sexual and domestic violence. This presentation will explore the clinic’s approach to brief interventions, emphasising the importance of creating a safe and supportive environment for clients. Insights from a client feedback survey will also be shared, providing valuable perspectives on the clinic’s impact. The findings highlight the effectiveness of trauma-informed, violence-informed, and culturally safe interventions in engaging incarcerated women who have experienced sexual and domestic violence. By offering brief but specialised support, the Mulawa Clinic serves as a crucial resource in engaging a priority health population that it would not be possible to reach via traditional hospital-based service delivery.