Concurrent session Wednesday 11th November.

1. Countering Violent Extremism
Attorney-General’s Department
FRSA Conference
Nicola Powell

2. Presentation Overview
• The current environment and rationale for CVE policy
• Whole of government approach
• Australia’s Counter-Terrorism Strategy
• Understanding ‘violent extremism’ and ‘radicalisation’
• Challenging terrorist propaganda
• CVE Intervention Programs
• Empowering communities

3. Current environment
• Approximately 290 Australians either fighting or supporting extremist groups.
• At least 120 are currently fighting or engaged in terrorist groups in Iraq and Syria.
• At least 32 and up to 43 Australians are reported to have been killed.
• Over 170 are in Australia.
• Over 30 foreign fighters have returned to Australia.
• There are currently over 400 high-priority counter-terrorism investigations underway,
double the number at beginning of 2014.
• Over 25,000 foreign fighters (4,500 from Western countries) have travelled to the
region to join terror groups.

4. Rationale for CVE Policy
• Operational agencies do not have the capacity/capability to monitor
individuals
• This does not address the individuals who pose a risk of undertaking violent
acts in the future
• The early signs of radicalisation can lead to eventual violence if there is no
action to intervene
• CVE = early-intervention approaches to managing the risk of terrorism
• ‘CVE’ refers to the many layers of ‘safety nets’ that can reduce the number of
people who become willing to support or engage in acts of violent extremism

5. The Australian Government’s approach
Our vision
Australia’s CVE efforts are
aimed at reducing the risk of
home-grown terrorism by
strengthening Australia’s
resilience to radicalisation and
assisting individuals to
disengage from violent
extremist influences and
beliefs.

6. Australia’s Counter-Terrorism Strategy

8. Challenging Violent Extremist Ideologies
• Limiting the spread and influence of violent
extremist ideas.
• Disrupting terrorist media activities online
• Takedown of websites
• Providing alternative content - Filling the Void

9. Challenging terrorist propaganda
The problem
• The online environment has no borders
• Approximately 100,000 pieces of Daesh propaganda are distributed daily.
• Twitter – at least 46,000 active accounts each with average 1,000 followers.
• Australia’s efforts includes multifaceted to:
• Undermine the appeal of terrorist propaganda
[strategic communications & leadership messaging, counter narratives, alternative narratives]
• Limit access to extremist material
• Understand extremist narratives and their impact on Australians

10. The communications challenge
The Islamist extremist narrative speaks of a ‘State of War’ between the West and
Islam, which tells Australian Muslims ‘you don’t belong, you can’t succeed, you can’t
fit in.’
Once a person begins to interpret events through this lens, Daesh offers four key
things (pillars of its brand)
• Justice for Sunnis: Daesh claims its success is helping Sunnis overcome historical persecution
and mistreatment. It claims to represent a true version of Islam and rejects Shia and other
belief systems.
• Belonging: Daesh offers a sense of belonging, purpose, brotherhood and adventure that
they claim cannot be obtained in Australia.
• Achievement: Daesh and its supporters claim a continuous promotion of tactical successes.
• A better future: Daesh claims to have founded a Caliphate, a true Jihadist utopia. They
claim that individuals and their families will be rewarded financially and spiritually for their
actions on behalf of Daesh.

11. Stopping People from Becoming Radicalised
• Assisting at-risk individuals though
intervention programs
• Addressing drivers of radicalisation
• Providing resources and training to frontline
professionals (teachers, police, social workers)

12. Effective Response and Recovery
• Maintaining capability to respond to a terrorist incident
• Coordination between the Commonwealth and
States/Territories in the event of an incident : Note
State and Territories lead as first respondents
• Assistance in the event of overseas attacks
• Commonwealth support for recovery to State/Territory
Governments, industry and business
• Ensuring the physical and psycho-social wellbeing to
recover from an incident

13. Violent extremism
What is violent extremism?
Violent extremism is the beliefs
and actions of people who
decide that fear, terror and
violence are justified to achieve
ideological, political or social
change. This includes terrorism
and other forms of politically
motivated and communal
violence.
All forms of violent extremism seek
change through fear and intimidation
rather than through peaceful means.
Individuals, families, communities
and local institutions are often best
placed to identify signs of when
something is wrong. It is important
we work together to challenge
violent extremism.

14. Understanding radicalisation
The radicalisation process
Radicalisation usually involves significant
behavioural changes in 3 areas of a person’s life:
1. Ideology
2. Social relations
3. Criminal activity
Signs you might see…
• Becoming increasingly intolerant of different points of
view
• Increasing strict and literal understanding of their
beliefs.
• Increasingly using ideological language that vilifies or
discriminates against others.
• Using the internet to view, download and spread
material promoting violent ideologies.
• They may pull away from their usual friendship groups
and activities.
• There may be increasing conflict with family and
friends over political or ideological views.
• They may interact more with a small tight-knit group
who share their beliefs.
• They may start to ‘act up’ to draw attention to their
beliefs or send a message to a specific group, this
might include actions like vandalism, property damage,
trespassing or protesting in an illegal way.
Some signs are so subtle that you may only
see them if you know the person well.

15. Individual
Social
Ideology
Criminal
Behaviour
Understanding radicalisation

16. Understanding radicalisation
What to do if you are concerned?
A positive relationship and open communication
can often be an effective intervention.
Encourage family and friends to maintain open
communication.
Even if you disagree with what they are saying, it
is important to let them know they are accepted.
Try to understand their perspective, situation and
motivation as this may help to work out what type
of intervention might work.
Interventions
• Early intervention is best
• Connect them with role models, mentors and
peers who are a positive influence
• Training or further education
• Help them find employment
• Engage them in social activities
• Involve respected leaders to provide guidance
• Help them develop critical thinking skills
• Encourage them to participate in intellectual
discussions with people from a wide range of
beliefs
• Counselling
• Find ways for them to contribute in a positive
way to their communityResources
Information sheets and a guidance booklet on what
is radicalisation and what you can do to help is
available at www.livingsafetogether.gov.au

17. Intervention Programs
• Intervention Programs are in place or being developed in
every State and Territory.
• Each jurisdiction determines appropriate structures and
mechanisms for delivering its own Intervention Program,
including where the coordination role sits.
• Program coordination includes establishing and maintaining a
multi-agency panel – conducts risk assessments and needs
analyses for individuals referred to the program.

19. Service mapping
Psychological counselling
Referral to Services
(government or community services)
For example…
Sporting programs
Develop Intervention Plan
Assign Case Manager
(either community-based or govt agency)
Youth groups
Cultural mentoring Employment programs Education support
Spiritual counselling Religious mentoring Faith based youth camps
Vocational training Life skills coaching Rehabilitation programs
Services Directory Building community
capacity

20. Empowering communities
Preventing violent extremism
The best way to build resilience to radicalisation
is through well-informed and well-equipped
families, communities and local institutions.
The living safe together website is our primary
platform for sharing information, it includes:
• Information about radicalisation
• Guidance on where to go for help
• Stories and blogs
• Educational resource kits
• Downloadable information sheets, including
some in a number of other languages.
We encourage community organisations to
submit stories about the work they are doing.
www.livingsafetogther.gov.au

21. Education and Training
• Radicalisation Awareness Information Package
• AMF Community Awareness Training Manual
• AMF student mentoring program
• Frontline police CVE/ CT awareness training
• Frontline professionals (teachers, social workers, etc) training
• Dury’s Out Education Kit for schools
• CVE intervention assessment tools (Radar) - advanced training
• Radicalisation & Extremism Awareness Program for corrections staff
www.livingsafetogther.gov.au

22. Where to go for more information
Contact the Countering Violent Extremism (CVE)
Branch in the Attorney-General’s Department or
visit the Living Safe Together website
Email: livingsafetogether@ag.gov.au
Web: www.livingsafetogether.gov.au