Previously only one DVLO covered all the areas. Now there will be one dedicated DVLO in the Southern Highlands and another in the Goulburn and Yass sector. Finalised in August, Senior Constable Simone Houghten will be joined by Kathy Madden.

“The officers will be doing some proactive interactions with our victims and nominated high risk offenders to try and reduce the impact of domestic violence,” Hume LAC Acting Superintendent Chad Gillies said. 

“Prior to August, Simone was the sole DVLO for the entire command and was stretched between courts and providing that expertise and guidance for the general duties police. Now with Kath we can go out and interact with the victims and high-risk offenders who we believe will recommit offences.” 

Ms Madden said she was looking forward to working with Ms Houghten and sharing the workload. 

“It’s about getting the message out there that domestic violence is something that we do not tolerate anymore. We’re encouraging people to come out and speak out about it,” Ms Madden said. 

“Two of us can spend more time with victims, spend more time with offenders and more time with families to try get themselves out of that violence situation.”

Next March the Hume LAC will introduce Safety Action Meetings (SAM) to address DV among key bodies in the community. 

“What we’ve have done locally brings us more in line with growing demands of DV and we hope that this reassures the community that what we’re doing meets growing expectations,” Superintendent Gillies said.