Safe Connections provides specialist assessment and support services to children engaging in Harmful Sexual Behaviour and their families in the Northern Territory.

There are extensive barriers to delivering meaningful services to remote communities across the NT. Encompassing some of the most remote regions of Australia, the Safe Connections program is committed to providing meaningful responses to small communities dotted up to 14hrs drive from larger towns, many of which are periodically inaccessible due to Cultural Business and unpredictable weather. 

Unfortunately, the sustainability of visiting professionals within remote communities are too often short lived due to a range of complex factors. Even with more investment, having a HSB specialist in every community is never going to be a reality. So, how do we ensure these communities have access to these supports? 

We started by delivering workshops to remote stakeholders, focusing on the capacity building of families and strong community leaders. After all, it is the community members and their families who are most likely to stay, and in the best position to protect the children of their community. We wanted to move away from focusing on children needing to protect themselves, to empowering the caring adults to take action. Despite many families already managing high levels of systemic disadvantage, including poverty, overcrowding, abuse, food insecurity and intergenerational trauma, we strived for whole of community action.  

This paper outlines the considerations and protocols that were taken to ensure that we were delivering the right way. Concepts that will be explored include permission seeking, meaningful consultation, cultural safety, slowing down, shame, distrust, and fear. The content and resources that were developed through this project will also be explored as well as the key outcomes.