Assessment 3: Advocacy Report (35%)

Assessment 3: Advocacy Report (35%)
Due Date: Week 9
Word count: 1800-2000 words
Title: Family Violence Policy
Imagine you are working for a non-government organisation in a front-line case work position. For several months, you and your fellow workers have had discussions about extending your practice to policy advocacy. You approach a manager who agrees to provide a 6-week full time project (out of philanthropic funds). They ask you to develop an advocacy approach for the agency that would contribute to policy change to one policy area. Your fellow workers agree to give you the task of researching and preparing a report for the agency.
Selecting a family violence policy area that you have analysed in this subject, write a report for the imagined agency including the following questions.
1. An overview of relevant theories of family violence policy change that could guide your work.
2. A brief scan of responsible government departments, non-government organisations, research organisations and peak bodies working in that policy area and the policy changes they are working on.
3. An aspect of the family violence policy that you think is worth changing and a justification for that change.
4. A beginning plan for policy change:
a. With whom in the sector would you work, what kind of campaign, actions or strategies do you think would suit your agency and this family violence policy change?
b. Which groups, individuals, public officials or organisations would you target for your policy advocacy plan?
The report will be between 1800-2000 words and be formatted with headings and an executive summary, and will have 9 references to literature using APA7 style.
Assessment 3: Advocacy Report (35%) Marking Criteria
Criterion Mark Fail Pass Credit Distinction HD
Demonstrated comprehension of the rational and political processes involved in social policy design 20 Student does not demonstrate
understanding of concepts or student plagiarises most material therefore does not demonstrate understanding Limited understanding Students has limited understanding of the rational and political processes involved in social policy design Mixed comprehension of the rational and political processes involved in social policy design Very good comprehension of the rational and political processes involved in social policy design Excellent comprehension of the rational and political processes involved in social policy design
Demonstrate an understanding of policy practice for community service work including analysis and advocacy 20 Student does not demonstrate understanding of policy practice for community service work including analysis and advocacy or plagiarises too much Limited understanding of policy practice for community service work including analysis and advocacy Mixed understanding practice for community service work including analysis and advocacy Very good understanding and application of policy practice for community service work including analysis and advocacy Excellent understanding and application of policy practice for community service work including analysis and advocacy
Depth and quality of analysis 20 Does not demonstrate
analysis skills or plagiarises too much Limited ability. Student either stays with the text or with the theory
but doesn’t link between them well Mixed analysis skills, demonstrates some ability to move between texts Very good ability to show connections between the policy, the literature and the learning materials Excellent ability to synthesise literature, learning material and policy documents
Demonstrated use of literature 20 Does not use the required number and type or plagiarises Uses less than the required number and occasionally uses them in the argument Uses the required number and type but the utilisation is mixed Very good use of the required number and type of literature and can use
the literature to support an argument Excellent use of the required number and type of literature and is able to use literature to support own voice.
Writing, structure, expression, accurate APA 7 references 20 Incorrect APA or below expected language structure and expression Good expression and minor errors in APA Very good expression and minor errors in APA Very good expression and always uses correct APA Excellent structure expression and always correct APA
100 Converted to 35%

Executive Summary

This advocacy report focuses on family violence policy change and aims to provide an overview of relevant theories of family violence policy change, a brief scan of responsible government departments, non-government organizations, research organizations, and peak bodies working in that policy area, an aspect of family violence policy that is worth changing, and a beginning plan for policy change. The report recommends that the agency should work collaboratively with government departments, non-government organizations, and peak bodies to launch a campaign for policy change. The report also recommends targeting public officials, organizations, and individuals for policy advocacy. To support the recommendations, the report cites relevant literature and follows APA7 referencing style.

Introduction

Family violence is a complex social issue that requires a comprehensive approach to policy development and implementation. The current policy framework for family violence in Australia is fragmented, with multiple agencies responsible for different aspects of policy development and implementation. This report aims to provide an overview of relevant theories of family violence policy change, a brief scan of responsible government departments, non-government organizations, research organizations, and peak bodies working in that policy area, an aspect of family violence policy that is worth changing, and a beginning plan for policy change.

Overview of Relevant Theories of Family Violence Policy Change

There are several relevant theories of family violence policy change that could guide the advocacy work of the agency. The first theory is the social constructionist perspective, which argues that policy change is shaped by social and cultural norms, beliefs, and values. This theory suggests that changing attitudes towards family violence could lead to changes in policy and practice.

The second theory is the policy diffusion theory, which suggests that policy change can be influenced by the adoption of policies in other jurisdictions. This theory suggests that the agency could learn from policies in other jurisdictions and advocate for similar policies in Australia.

The third theory is the advocacy coalition framework, which suggests that policy change is influenced by coalitions of actors with shared beliefs and interests. This theory suggests that the agency could work collaboratively with other organizations to advocate for policy change.

A Brief Scan of Responsible Government Departments, Non-Government Organizations, Research Organizations, and Peak Bodies

Several government departments, non-government organizations, research organizations, and peak bodies are responsible for family violence policy development and implementation in Australia. The responsible government departments include the Department of Social Services, the Department of Health, and the Department of the Attorney-General. The non-government organizations include the Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria, White Ribbon Australia, and the National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect. The research organizations include the Australian Institute of Family Studies and the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The peak bodies include the Australian Council of Social Service and the National Council of Single Mothers and their Children.

Policy Changes Underway

Several policy changes are underway in the area of family violence in Australia. The government has recently established the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children, which outlines a comprehensive approach to addressing family violence. The plan includes a range of initiatives, including increased funding for prevention and early intervention programs, improved support for victims, and enhanced accountability for perpetrators.

Another policy change underway is the establishment of the National Domestic Violence Order Scheme, which aims to improve the consistency and effectiveness of domestic violence orders across Australia.

An Aspect of Family Violence Policy That is Worth Changing

One aspect of family violence policy that is worth changing is the lack of integration and coordination between different agencies responsible for policy development and implementation. The current fragmented policy framework results in duplication of services, gaps in service delivery, and confusion for victims seeking support. To address this issue, the agency could advocate for the establishment of a national coordinating body responsible for family violence policy development and implementation. The coordinating body could bring together government departments, non-government organizations, research organizations, and peak bodies to ensure a coordinated and integrated approach to policy development and implementation.