Thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Social Work (Applied) This item is only available from the National Collective of Independent Women's Refuges Inc.

This thesis examines the impact of the Domestic Violence Act (1995) on Women's Refuge. The research was based on feminist theory of male power and control over women. The author surveyed Women's Refuge advocates about how the Domestic Violence Act impacts on their Refuge work. The questions focused on the following six areas: the impact on their Refuge; protection orders; women's programmes; children using Refuge services; stopping violence programmes for perpetrators; and general comments on the Domestic Violence Act. Advocates' comments were analysed using cross-case analysis, and themes were generated from the responses. These themes, along with the relevant literature, form the basis of the author's recommendations. These include the need for: governmental funding of Women's Refuge to reflect the magnitude of the services provided; programmes to be more culturally appropriate and available in more rural areas; the Police to enforce protection orders and to prosecute when these are breached; ongoing public education about domestic violence with education beginning as early as primary school age; and entitlement of all women to legal aid when in need of protection.

nz