The Dorothy and Brian Wilson Churchill Fellowship to research innovations for improving the lives of victims of serious violence committed by people with a mental illness

The focus for the Dorothy and Brian Wilson Churchill Fellowship was seeking innovative responses to improve the lives of victims of serious violence, their families and people with a mental illness. This included investigating beyond what is already provided to families of homicide victims in Australia to improve their longer-term well-being. Australian supports currently comprise immediate practical support, financial assistance, counselling, court support, peer support and an opportunity to provide a victim impact statement. Restorative Justice (also known as restorative justice practice, restorative approaches, community conferencing, victim/offender mediation, victim/offender dialogue, restorative dialogue, circles, peacemaking circles) has emerged in recent years in Canada, England, and The Netherlands to respond to the needs of victims of people with a serious mental illness, their families and forensic patients. These practices provide a structured and facilitated opportunity for communication between the victim (or their family) and the forensic patient. This occurs directly in a face to face meeting, or through a third party or letter, where the patient acknowledges the harm and takes responsibility for repair of the harm and reducing the potential for further harm to others. This process can be undertaken separately to the Court system, prior to Court, or as an alternative approach. Recent use of restorative practice in mental health has adapted the extensive knowledge and research available from youth justice, schools, adult criminal justice, Indigenous models of peacemaking circles, group conferencing as well as models of conflict resolution in the wider community. It is acknowledged this process may not be suitable for all victims, or all people with a mental illness, but when used effectively it has multiple benefits for victims (including mental health staff), families and patients. The services covered in this Churchill Fellowship program provide new and innovative ways to respond to the complexity of issues and suffering of people impacted by serious violence and those with a serious mental illness who commit that violence. The next step is harnessing support to adapt and implement these ideas in Australia. A range of recommendations are provided in this report, including establishing trials for Australia’s context.