COMMUNITY organisations will soon be equipped to readily identify and report incidents of domestic and family violence and help those affected by it.
This comes after Redland City Council partnered with the Local Government Association of Queensland on a six-month groundbreaking project.
It is hoped the project will provide councils throughout Queensland with a blueprint for easing the social and personal trauma of domestic and family violence in their communities.
Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said Redlands was the first council in Queensland to partner with the LGAQ on this trial which centred on providing specialised training and support to front line community groups to make it easier for those affected by violence to get the help and support they needed.
"Local councils are uniquely placed to influence and drive social change and help reduce abuse.
"We also have developed strong partnerships with amazing local groups such as Redland City Community Champions, our network of chaplains, STAR Community Services, and service providers such as the Centre for Women and Co, which already do so such much great work in our community," she said.
LGAQ domestic and family violence project officer Jim Boden said Redland City was ideal for the project because of council's long-standing proactive approach to domestic and family violence issues.
He said the project would initially focus on domestic and family violence awareness, as well as training and equipping local community and support groups to identify and help those affected by it.
"The training - which will be delivered in conjunction with council's Community & Economic Development and Disaster Management team as well as the Centre for Women and Co - will seek to both raise awareness of abuse and confidence in managing disclosures about violence," Mr Boden said.
He said the trial would also align with existing work being delivered through initiatives such as the Southern Moreton Bay Islands Safe Places Project and Bay Island Community Services' Can Do Volunteer program.
"We will also be looking to work with organisations such as the SES whose members may benefit from training to recognise and respond to domestic and family violence - this recognises that domestic violence so often escalates after natural disasters," he said.
Local Government Association of Queensland is aiming to develop a strategic approach that can be implemented by other councils.
