Paired tracking devices keep domestic violence survivors safe. Why aren't they readily available?
By Giselle Wakatama and Jesmine CheongA paired tracking device is keeping domestic violence survivor Isla (not her real name) safe, and she wants others to know about it.
Three months ago, Isla welcomed 'Buddi' to the family— a palm-sized victim-protection device designed to keep her safe.
"Every time that I leave my home, I have to take him with me as part of the conditions of being issued a Buddi device," she said.
"So essentially, I'm being monitored in the same location as the offender is being monitored."
As Isla sits in her living room, scattered with family portraits and flowers, she explains how she was stalked relentlessly between November 2022 and March 2023.
Her home was bugged by an ex-lover, who also tracked her car and stalked her in six different vehicles.
The tracker becomes the tracked
The convicted stalker spent a year in jail and was released on parole in March on the condition he wore an ankle bracelet for a year as part of the Domestic Violence Electronic Monitoring program (DVEM).
That bracelet is paired via GPS with Isla's device, which has a one-kilometre radius alert.
A 500-metre exclusion zone includes where Isla lives and works and several other locations.
Isla said the tracker was triggering as it looked similar to the one her stalker used on her car.
"To know that it was a similar type of situation that was going to be happening, it was really confronting and overwhelming," she said.
"It took me a while to adjust to knowing that the people who are tracking me now are doing it to keep me safe."
Fight or flight
The device is connected to a monitoring centre, which will contact her if her stalker is nearby.
"Every time that I get a phone call from the monitoring room, it's a really bizarre like emotion to feel," she said.
"You go into complete fight, flight, freeze. You don't know what they're going to tell you."
Fortunately, Isla has been out of harm's way, but she is concerned about the risk to others.
NSW reforms
Earlier this month, the New South Wales government passed legislation to make it more difficult for people accused of serious domestic violence offences to get bail.
In addition, people granted bail on the most serious domestic violence offences will need to wear an ankle bracelet monitor to track their location.
Isla is calling for this to be the same for DV offenders on parole and for victims also to get their own paired devices.
She said the process should be simplified, and more victims should know about it.
"Through the information that we found, not everybody is issued with a Buddi device," she said.
"It's something that is advocated for by Corrective Services [NSW]."
Isla's biggest advocate has been Sophie Wheeler, the CEO of Victims of Crime Assistance League (VOCAL) Hunter, who helped her get the device.
"I think it's really important to understand that there are very few paired devices for victims of domestic and family violence, which really highlights the need for more investment into the safety of victims," Ms Wheeler said.
"It has been an incredibly challenging process for this device to be provided."
In a statement, Minister for Corrections Anoulack Chanthivong said: "Domestic and family violence is abhorrent and the resilience of victim-survivors like Isla is remarkable."
"Electronic monitoring forms part of the government’s coordinated approach to disrupt domestic violence across multiple fronts," he said.
"The DVEM program is one part of this system. It's helping give victim-survivors peace of mind but is designed for specific risk profiles and circumstances."
Mr Chanthivong said the number of offenders monitored through DVEM was 673 as of last month.
Isla said the program should be expanded.
"Domestic violence is something that nobody should have to experience," she said.
"It doesn't just affect the victim survivor; it affects their children, it affects their close community and the community at large. It is terrible."