Resources

This page has links to information and resources Backbone creates for victim-survivors and people working in government agencies and other services to help improve their response to victim-survivors.

HEalth resources (2025)

Backbone and Help Auckland have collaborated to produce new resources to support victim-survivors with their health appointments.  The How to Support Me’ Request Template is designed to help victim-survivors inform health professionals about actions that can limit further distress and trauma during appointments. The Centering Victim-Survivors in Healthcare Appointments is a guide for Health Practitioners that contains information to help deepen their understanding of why and how victim-survivors experience trauma reactions, how to better support them, and how to look after themselves during these interactions.

Getting it Right Guide (2023)

Backbone created an information guide for government agencies to help them work with specialist organisations to gather victim-survivor feedback for their policy/programme development.

‘Breaking Silence’ documentary series

The Breaking Silence Documentary series explores domestic abuse in New Zealand by sharing powerful stories from those affected. Episodes focus on different types of abuse and control, how it impacts women and children and what New Zealanders need to know if we are to curb our shocking domestic abuse statistics. There are three seasons available to watch. Backbone participated in the first episode of Series 3 which focusses on the Family Court.

Child led protection orders information guide(2025)

Backbone has produced an information guide for victim-survivors on the option for children and rangatahi/young people aged under 16 to apply for a Protection Order themselves (if, for example, other avenues for safety are unsuccessful or closed). It includes information about legal aid and a flowchart of decisions to be made.

Reducing Risk and Harm when going to Family Court (2023)

Backbone has produced an information guide for victim-survivors who attend Family Court hearings. It includes information about resources and support available and suggestions from some victim-survivors.

Infographics (2024)

Backbone and Lemon Face Creative produced a selection of powerful info graphics to show examples of system abuse, the power of abusers, what victim-survivor centred support should look like and how parts of the system can undermine each other.

New Zealand Sign Language - Family Violence and Sexual Violence Resources

Deaf Aotearoa has partnered with VisAble to create a library of NZSL videos which introduce the various types of abuse that can be experienced.
There is very little information on family and sexual violence in sign language (NZSL), which means that the Deaf community may not know what the terms mean or what it might look like in their day to day lives.

In New Zealand there are many websites and service providers to assist with learning about family and sexual violence and where to get help, but the majority of these have no accessible options to assist the Deaf community.