This book looks at social work in Aotearoa New Zealand, and has a number of chapters that relate to family violence. Garry Cockburn, the author of chapter 4, "The Children, Young Persons and their Families Act 1989: Past, Present and Future", explores the development, implementation and potential of the Children, Young Persons and their Families Act (1989). The symbolic relevance of the Act is discussed, as are its first, second and fourth years of operation. Government funding and resource provision, with reference to the Public Finance Act (1989), are the focus of a discussion on the "Mason Report" (1992). Care and protection aspects of the Children, Young Persons and their Families Act are also a principal focus of this chapter. Charles Waldegrave and Kiwi Tamasese are the authors of chapter 5, "Some Central Ideas in the 'Just Therapy' Approach". They discuss the development of therapy at the Family Centre where they work. They talk of working with women who have survived abuse, the therapeutic approach of the centre, and changes to this approach through learning from clients. The idea around the development of the therapy was to make it all-inclusive to benefit marginalised and oppressed societal groups, such as women who are abused. Lita Foliaki, the author of chapter 8, "Social Work and the Pacific Community", discusses cultural beliefs about physical punishment of children and the conflict this can lead to in practice for a Pacific Island social worker. The author also looks at the line between physical punishment and physical abuse, Pacific Island parents' power within the family and in New Zealand society, and the state's power and abuse of that power. The volume's editors, Mary Nash and Robyn Munford, are the authors of chapter 13, "Feminist Contribution to Social Work: Social Work Through the Eyes of Two Women". They discuss aspects of social work from a female perspective and focus on topics such as feminist principles, which can guide social work practice, female oppression, and sexual and physical abuse. A case study is used to illustrate their discussion of the feminist principles. Lynne Briggs is the author of chapter 17, "Child Sexual Abuse: Precipitating Disclosure in Practice", which broadly explores the relationships between a history of childhood sexual abuse and various clinical outcomes. The discussion is applied to social work and counselling practice with clients who have, or may have, experienced childhood sexual abuse. Gender power relations, the trauma and symptoms of sexual abuse, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and dissociative techniques that sexual abuse survivors commonly develop, are discussed. A framework for identifying sexual abuse and working with survivors of abuse is provided and a case study helps to illustrate the practical application of that framework. There are two parts to the framework: the Index of Sexual Abuse Indicators; and knowledge of women. The author concludes that practitioners need a grounded understanding of the symptoms and behaviours of the Index, of gender relations, and of how the two are related, to effectively use the Index. Jim Depree, the author of chapter 19, "Teaming up With Families to Overcome Problems", takes a narrative approach to counselling work with families. A case example is utilised to explore working with a family where one of the children is acting out through such behaviour as being violent towards her siblings. The context of the family's problem and how the family can develop new ways of interacting and understanding themselves is examined. The author of chapter 20, Pie Bowden, discusses Parentline Manawatu's approach to working with mothers who seek help because they are under stress and abusing, or at risk of abusing, their children. This chapter outlines the development of a psychodynamic practice approach. The agency's value base is explored and is noted to have had a greater influence than its knowledge base in the early development of agency practice. This chapter also covers the development of a workplace model for one-to-one work and group work. A theoretical base, and its development for practice, are then discussed. The author concludes that Parentline Manawatu works from interactional and psychodynamic approaches, and that the psychodynamic approach taken by the service can be hugely beneficial.