Hitting Home (documentary series)

Hitting Home is a Walkley and AACTA nominated television documentary series of two episodes, broadcast on ABC in 2015. Presenter Sarah Ferguson reported on domestic violence in Australia.

Concept

With more than two years of research, Journalist Sarah Ferguson spent six months reporting on domestic violence in Australia. She obtained unprecedented access to courts and safe rooms, domestic abuse programs in prison, forensic doctors and specialised police units and also moved into a womens refuge.

To better understand the statistics of domestic violence, the producers of Hitting Home spent nearly two years negotiating access to specialised police domestic violence units, domestic violence courts and secured unprecedented access to new court safe-rooms for victims, women's refuges, a unique prison rehabilitation program and specialist forensic doctors. During pre-production, the producers worked alongside Corrective Services NSW, The NSW Justice Department, The NSW Police, Domestic Violence NSW, the NSW Coroner and many other agencies and peak bodies to ensure the safety of the participants. A comprehensive Duty of Care Statement was conceived, with the full support of all agencies.

Filming

In June 2015, production on Hitting Home began in the South Coast Correctional Centre (Nowra) on day 1 of a 10 week rehabilitation program aimed at preventing violent men from reoffending. After a very long process of negotiation and building trust, Ferguson and the producers convinced two of the inmates to appear on camera, fully identified. But before either inmate could appear on camera, the producers had to identify and seek permission from their respective victims. Both women agreed to tell their side of the story. Their interviews and police footage captured in the aftermath of the attack were incorporated into the series. As part of the production of Hitting Home, Ferguson moved into a refuge in western Sydney. It was the first time in Australia a television crew was granted such access.

During the six months filming, Ferguson met many women who lived in the refuge, often with their young children. Ferguson convinced several victims to speak about their experiences on the documentary.

The production team worked closely with the NSW Police Domestic Violence Unit in Blacktown over the course of six months. Working with Sgt Genelle Warne and her team, Ferguson went on patrol, entered court safe rooms and met women in their own homes who had suffered violence at the hands of partners. The series was also able to capture the rolling out of new DV related procedures, including DVEC (Domestic Violence Evidence in Chief) - where police officers make a video recording of the victims statement in the immediate aftermath of their reported assault. Hitting Home featured the first time a DVEC gathering was captured on camera, when two officers apprehended a man who had badly beaten his wife in their car.

Access to domestic violence courts in Blacktown and Toronto was achieved with the support of NSW Justice Department. The production was allowed to bring cameras into both courts to film magistrates, victims and perpetrators and for the first time, show the new court safe-rooms in operation. Getting access to film in locals courts in Australia is extremely rare and allowed the production to highlight the challenges faced by victims, police and magistrates.

After speaking to a trauma councillor and the Homicide Victims Support Group, the producers reached out to Wendy Malonyay, the mother of Kate Malonyay, a young women murdered by her ex-boyfriend. Malonyay agreed to be interviewed for the series. To help report on her daughter, the producers negotiated access to a homicide detectives training course, had a Non Publication Order on the Corners Report on the victim's death lifted and secured interviews with the State Coroner, the Investigating Police Officer and many of Kate's friends and family.

Q&A Special

Culminating on the UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, episode 2 of Hitting Home was followed by a special edition of Q&A hosted by Julia Baird.

The Q&A Hitting Home Special featured Moo Baulch (Domestic Violence NSW), Christian Porter (Minister for Social Services), Nova Peris (Northern Territory Labor Senator), Mick Fuller (NSW Assistant Police Commissioner) and Professor Cathy Humphreys. It was hosted by Julia Baird and screened on 25 November 2015.

Reception

The New South Wales Women's Court Advocacy Service reported a surge in women seeking help in the days after Hitting Home aired. Director of the service, Renata Field, said some shelters and counsellors had also reported a similar surge in victims calling for help. The National Domestic Violence hotline also reported a 44% increase in the week following the Hitting Home broadcast. On the day after the broadcast, there were 419 calls - over twice the national average.[1]

Critical acclaim

Hitting Home received overwhelmingly positive reviews, with many commentators praising the courage of the victims of domestic violence for speaking so candidly about their experiences. With strong ratings and high social media activity, the program generated an extraordinary amount of coverage in the Australian press, significantly contributing to the wider national debate. Jane Caro of The Daily Telegraph wrote '...this is compelling and important television. Ferguson and her team have done extraordinary work.' Georgina Dent of Mamamia praised the series saying '..if you want to stem the tide of domestic violence, watching Hitting Home in its compelling and gritty entirety is the only place to start.'

Amanda Meade from The Guardian included Hitting Home as one of her top 10 hits of 2015. Hitting Home was selected by realscreen magazine's editorial team for their annual MIPTV Picks feature.

Ratings

Episode 1 reached an audience of just below 1 million viewers.[2] Hitting Home had the second highest iView ratings for an ABC factual program in 2015.

Accolades

Awards and nominations
Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref(s)
AACTA Awards December 5, 2016 AACTA Award for Best Documentary Sarah Ferguson, Nial Fulton, Ivan O'Mahoney Nominated [3]
AACTA Award for Best Editing in a Documentary Andrew Cooke Nominated [3]
Walkley Awards December 2, 2016 Documentary Award Sarah Ferguson, Nial Fulton, Ivan O'Mahoney Nominated [4]
Amnesty International Australia Media Awards November 21, 2016 Television Award Sarah Ferguson, Nial Fulton, Ivan O'Mahoney Won [5]
Screen Producers Australia November 17, 2016 Series Documentary Production Sarah Ferguson, Nial Fulton, Ivan O'Mahoney Nominated [6]
Our Watch Awards September 14, 2016 Best Longform Sarah Ferguson, Nial Fulton, Ivan O'Mahoney Won [7]
Australian Directors Guild Awards May 6, 2016 Best Direction in a Documentary Series Ivan O'Mahoney Won [8]
TV Week Logie Awards May 7, 2016 Most Outstanding Public Affairs Report Sarah Ferguson, Nial Fulton, Ivan O'Mahoney Nominated [8]
Kennedy Awards May 7, 2016 Outstanding Television Current Affairs Reporting Sarah Ferguson, Nial Fulton, Ivan O'Mahoney Nominated [9]
Outstanding Investigative Reporting Sarah Ferguson, Nial Fulton, Ivan O'Mahoney Nominated [9]
Australian Screen Editors May 7, 2016 Best Editing in a Documentary Andrew Cooke Nominated

References

  1. ↑ Brennan, Bridget (3 December 2015). "Domestic violence support services record spike after ABC Hitting Home documentary airs". Radio Australia.
  2. ↑ "Glenn Dyer's TV ratings: X Factor cleans up". Crikey. November 25, 2015.
  3. 1 2 http://www.aacta.org/winners-nominees/6th-aacta-awards.aspx. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. ↑ http://www.http://www.walkleys.com/awards/walkleys/the-walkley-documentary-award/. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. ↑ https://www.amnesty.org.au/2016-amnesty-media-awards-winners/. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. ↑ http://www.spaa.org.au/news/2016-awards-finalists/. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. ↑ http://www.walkleys.com/2016-our-watch-award-winners-announced/. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. 1 2 http://if.com.au/2016/04/12/article/2016-ADG-award-nominees-unveiled-across-sixteen-categories/ICPQAMSOBV.html. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  9. 1 2 http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/kennedy-awards-fairfax-journalists-dominate-2016-finalists-announcement-20160727-gqf1hs.html. Missing or empty |title= (help)

External links

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