THREE YEARS ON FROM THE ROYAL COMMISSION INTO FAMILY VIOLENCE
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THREE YEARS ON FROM THE ROYAL COMMISSION INTO FAMILY VIOLENCE
CONTENTS Working towards a Victoria free from family violence 4 What has happened in the last twelve months? 5 The family violence reform policy and governance landscape 6 Family Violence Outcomes Framework: Domain 1: Family violence and gender inequality are not tolerated 16 Family Violence Outcomes Framework: Domain 2: Victim survivors, vulnerable children and families, are safe and supported to recover and thrive 25 Family Violence Outcomes Framework Domain 3: Perpetrators are held to account, engaged and connected 40 Family Violence Outcomes Framework: Domain 4: Preventing and responding to family violence is systemic and enduring 52
WORKING TOWARDS A VICTORIA
FREE FROM FAMILY VIOLENCE
In March 2016 the Royal Commission into Family Violence made
227 recommendations to prevent family violence, keep victim
survivors* safe and supported, and hold perpetrators to account.
The recommendations outlined the systemic and cultural change
needed to achieve the vision of a Victoria free from family violence.
The Victorian Government committed The Royal Commission into Family Violence
to implementing all 227 recommendations (Royal Commission) emphasised the need for
in recognition of the devastating and often outcome-orientated action. The government
intergenerational impacts of family violence has responded by clearly linking the reform
on the community. An unprecedented agenda to the desired outcomes. The Family
investment of over $2.7 billion has been Violence Outcomes Framework was developed
allocated to support this change. in consultation with the family violence service
delivery sector, victim survivors and community
The government has already implemented
members. The framework clearly outlines
120 of the 227 recommendations since the
Victoria’s priorities in preventing and responding
release of the report: Royal Commission
to family violence, why these priorities matter
into Family Violence: Summary and
and what constitutes success in achieving
recommendations. The acquittal of these
these outcomes.
recommendations demonstrates the significant
steps that the government has taken to create a The framework is embedded into Ending Family
world-leading service system aimed at changing Violence: Victoria’s Plan for Change (10-year
underlying attitudes and beliefs that condone plan) and the associated Family Violence Rolling
family violence, while delivering services to Action Plan 2017–2020, to articulate the ambitious,
support victim survivors. The experiences of collective vision of a reformed family violence
victim survivors form the centre of the reform system. Every part of the family violence reform
agenda, to ensure cultural and systemic change. links back to the framework to ensure we are on
the right track to deliver the necessary outcomes.
Three years on from the Royal Commission
into Family Violence highlights the progress
of the family violence reforms since the Royal
Commission into Family Violence handed down
its report in 2016. The Three Years On report
provides a summary of the key achievements
in 2018, organised under the four domains of
the Family Violence Outcomes Framework,
and provides a snapshot of what the Victorian
Government has achieved in the last three years.
[*Note: While ‘victim survivor’ is the agreed-upon term of the family violence sector, it is recognised that not every
person who has experienced or is experiencing family violence identifies with this term. The use of ‘victim survivor’
acknowledges the strength and resilience shown by people who have experienced or currently live with family
violence. However, over the past three years it has emerged that some victim survivors prefer the term ‘people
with lived experience of family violence’.]
4 THREE YEARS ON FROM THE ROYAL COMMISSION INTO FAMILY VIOLENCEVictoria’s Family Violence service system has undergone immense
WHAT HAS change in 2018. A number of key elements of the reform took shape
HAPPENED and delivered improved responses to the Victorian community.
The benefits and opportunities of this reform are starting to be
IN THE LAST realised and the foundations have been created to achieve
TWELVE a Victoria free from family violence.
MONTHS?
We are creating a Victoria where family violence and all forms of violence against women
HIGHLIGHTS OF
will not be tolerated. We established Respect Victoria, an independent statutory authority
THE REFORM IN 2018
that will lead the state’s prevention efforts in changing the attitudes, social norms and
culture that result in family violence and violence against women.
The community-led Aboriginal agreement Dhelk Dja: Safe Our Way: Strong Culture, Strong
Peoples, Strong Families (2018–2028) has been developed and underpins the approaches
to ensure that Aboriginal people, families and communities are living free from family violence.
It is critical that victim survivors and vulnerable children and families are safe and supported
to recover and thrive. Central to the reform has been the commencement of The Orange
Door across five initial areas, which provides victim survivors an integrated practice team of
specialist family violence, perpetrator and family services working together to improve safety,
reduce risk, and connect to services. The Central Information Point was established to allow
frontline workers to access timely, consolidated and up-to-date information to make more
informed assessments of family violence risk and identify safety needs.
Our response to family violence has also been improved with:
more safe and stable new family violence
accommodation investigation units
specialist support and legal restorative justice options
services in courts for victim survivors.
This year we have been able to focus on developing new and innovative responses
to ensure that perpetrators are held to account, engaged and connected with services.
We are testing police body-worn cameras, have commenced trialling therapeutic models
of case management for Aboriginal men, and are addressing existing service gaps
through trialling new interventions for those perpetrators who have diverse and
complex needs.
Preventing and responding to family violence must be systemic and enduring. That is why
we are embedding culturally diverse responses across key agencies and implementing
significative legislative reform. We are strengthening our workforce capability through
the implementation of Building from Strength: 10-Year Industry Plan for Family Violence
Prevention and Response.
We have introduced system-wide initiatives including the Family Violence Information
Sharing Scheme, and the Family Violence Multi-Agency Risk Assessment and Management
Framework, which underpin the whole reform, ensuring that our response to all Victorians
is aligned, informed and safe.
5THE FAMILY VIOLENCE REFORM POLICY
AND GOVERNANCE LANDSCAPE
The Royal Commission into Family Violence is a once in a generation
opportunity for us to critically evaluate the effectiveness of the family
violence service system and its ability to keep victim survivors safe.
There were serious limitations to the service We have also established Respect Victoria
system prior to the reforms, resulting in an is a primary prevention agency with ongoing,
inability to respond to the scale and impact dedicated funding. Prevention of family violence
of the harm caused by family violence. and violence against women seeks to stop
Opportunities to transform the system meant violence before it starts by eradicating gender
strengthening innovation and collaboration, inequality and other forms of discrimination.
while emphasising the need for focused action.
The Family Violence Rolling Action Plan put
Strong governance systems are required to in place the first phase of implementation with
manage the implementation of the reforms concrete actions and investments. Many key
across the many community and government reforms were outlined in the plan, which
stakeholders. The 10-year plan provides a lasting covered a wide range of actions including:
blueprint aimed at keeping victim survivors safe,
saving lives, making accessing help easier and
holding perpetrators to account. The Family broad ranging prevention initiatives
Violence Rolling Action Plan 2017–2020 clearly
outlines the actions for change. specialist family violence courts
Family violence reforms include:
training for police and medical staff
Family Safety Victoria was established
in July 2017 to improve coordination workforce training and planning
between service systems.
legislative reforms to increase perpetrator
New laws have been enacted to enable accountability
the right information to be shared at
the right time.
improved data collection.
Systems have been created that help
Three years on from the Royal Commission into
to keep perpetrators in view and hold
Family Violence, we remain committed to reforms
them to account.
that will ensure the safety and wellbeing of women
and children and create a Victoria free from
More housing options are now available, family violence.
so that victim survivors don’t feel they have
to stay in or return to violent relationships.
6 THREE YEARS ON FROM THE ROYAL COMMISSION INTO FAMILY VIOLENCEFAMILY VIOLENCE There are currently sets of indicators for the first
OUTCOMES FRAMEWORK three domains, which can be used to measure
the outcomes that we want to achieve to improve
The Family Violence Outcomes Framework the family violence system in Victoria. We are
(Outcomes Framework) was developed in continuing to refine the framework by developing
consultation with and is supported by the sector, indicators for the fourth domain and finalising
victim survivors and the community. It will provide measures to report against the outcomes.
evidence of what works – and what doesn’t –
in delivering lasting and meaningful change. A summary of the Outcomes Framework is at
Figure 1 on the following page.
The framework will ensure that we focus reform
efforts on the actions that make a difference
and drive evidence-informed practice. This
supports the ambitious agenda and vision
of a Victoria free from family violence, while
allowing the government and family violence
system to evaluate and learn from what is
working, through the different phases of
implementation.
The Family Violence Outcomes Framework
includes outcomes across four domains:
Family violence and gender inequality are
not tolerated
Victim survivors, vulnerable children and
families, are safe and supported to recover
and thrive
Perpetrators are held to account, engaged
and connected
Preventing and responding to family violence
is systemic and enduring.
7FIGURE 1: FAMILY VIOLENCE OUTCOMES FRAMEWORK
All Victorians experience respectful relationships underpinned by human rights
and gender equality—healthy relationship behaviours are celebrated and promoted.
1
Victorians do not tolerate family violence—family violence reporting rates reflect
FAMILY VIOLENCE increased confidence in the system and intolerance of family violence, and eventually
AND GENDER reflect sustained effort in prevention.
INEQUALITY ARE
NOT TOLERATED Victorians hold beliefs and attitudes that reject gender inequality and family
violence—people recognise and reject all forms of family violence and gender
inequality, and know how to challenge it when they see it. Individuals and systems do
not minimise or deny family violence or blame victims, and stigma and discrimination
is addressed.
Women and men, and girls and boys are equal—gender inequalities where people live,
work, learn and play are diminished.
2 3
VICTIM SURVIVORS, VULNERABLE PERPETRATORS ARE HELD
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, ARE SAFE TO ACCOUNT, ENGAGED
AND SUPPORTED TO RECOVER AND CONNECTED
AND THRIVE
Early intervention prevents escalation—people, including Early intervention prevents escalation—people, including
children and young people, at risk of witnessing or children and young people, at risk of using family violence
experiencing family violence are identified early are identified early and provided with effective early
and provided with effective early interventions. interventions.
Families are safe and strong—the system intervenes early Perpetrators are accountable for their behaviour—people
to prevent harm to children and young people and enables are supported to recognise factors contributing to their
families to access effective support services when they violent behaviours and provided with tools and strategies
need them. to act differently, preventing reoffending.
Victim survivors are safe—the system takes responsibility Perpetrators are held to account—perpetrators of family
for managing risk, instead of placing the onus on victim violence face timely and appropriate consequences.
survivors, including children and young people.
Perpetrators are in view—perpetrators are engaged and
Victim survivors are heard and in control—victim survivors, connected to relevant agencies. Collaborative approaches
including children and young people, are always listened and information sharing infrastructure support systemic
to, believed and understood, and supported to take control responsibility for holding perpetrators to account.
of their immediate situation and make decisions about
their future.
Victim survivors rebuild lives and thrive—disruption is
minimised for victim survivors, including children and young
people, with safe and secure housing, finances, employment,
education and recovery from trauma available for as long
as people need it.
Initiatives to respond to family violence are accessible and available in the right
4
place at the right time. Prevention activities are coordinated and universal—the
PREVENTING AND support system is easy to navigate and services are available to people when and
RESPONDING TO where they need them, at all times of the day and night. Prevention activities occur
FAMILY VIOLENCE across all key settings.
IS SYSTEMIC AND Initiatives to respond to family violence are person-centred—services are
ENDURING personalised, flexible, culturally relevant and reflect individual and family choices,
need and circumstances, particularly for diverse communities and those with
complex needs.
The system is united, integrated and joined-up—services work together and share
information to provide a coordinated quality response to people and families,
informed by dynamic risk assessment and sensitive to people’s diverse needs.
The system supports effective and evidence based prevention efforts.
The workforce is properly recognised and effectively responds, understands risk
and need and is skilled to prevent family violence—the workforce is supported
through new career pathways, fair conditions and a commitment to enhanced
wellbeing and safety, and is skilled to meet people’s diverse needs.
8 THREE YEARS ON FROM THE ROYAL COMMISSION INTO FAMILY VIOLENCEEnduring systemic reforms need Operationally, departmental and cross-
strong governance structures to departmental program boards, steering
committees and working groups, such as the
hold the government to account
Family Violence Reform Interdepartmental
while avoiding unforeseen complexities,
Committee, manage the day-to-day
inconsistent practice, duplication dependencies, risks and issues and provide
of effort and service gaps. guidance on adapting implementation
The safety of victim survivors often relies on the approaches.
ability to navigate through the family violence To ensure that the reforms are designed and
system when they need it and how they need delivered with the people who need services
it. This is reliant on a joined-up system, which in mind, we continue to invest in governance
intervenes earlier, and builds better connections structures that enable a partnership approach
between universal, secondary and tertiary with the Victorian community. These include:
services. This person-centred approach to
services must be underpinned by coordinated
governance structures. Victim Survivors’ Advisory Council
The Royal Commission into Family Violence
highlighted that fragmented governance Aboriginal Children’s Forum
approaches had resulted in a disjointed
system that lacked system-wide oversight,
accountability and a shared vision. A number Chief Magistrate’s Family Violence Taskforce
of recommendations were made by the Royal
Commission to encourage greater oversight, Dhelk Dja Partnership Forum
coordination and integration across the family
violence system. These recommendations
centred on establishing central governance Diverse Communities and Intersectionality
structures with oversight at the highest levels Working Group
of government, to focus on the reforms and
embed the victim survivor experience in the Family Violence Housing Assistance
family violence system. Implementation Taskforce
Whole-of-government governance structures
that have been established through Cabinet Family Violence Steering Committee
and the Victorian Secretaries’ Board ensure
effective risk management and coordination
across the reform, by holding departments, Industry Taskforce
agencies and entities to account, while also
cutting across often siloed operations.
Judicial Advisory Group on Family Violence
A strong layer of governance and program
management supports the Victorian
LGBTI Family Violence Working Group
Government’s family violence reforms across
the whole of Victorian government, including
senior executive and ministerial oversight. We Ministerial Taskforce on the Prevention of
recognise that robust governance structures Family Violence and other forms of Violence
that reach across government and encourage Against Women.
collaboration with the family violence sector,
are critical in achieving our vision of a Victoria
free from violence. For this reason, we remain
committed to investing time and resources into
learning and evolving our systems to ensure
that they work together effectively, transparently
and in a coordinated manner for the benefit
of victim survivors.
9FAMILY VIOLENCE VICTIM SURVIVORS’
STEERING COMMITTEE ADVISORY COUNCIL
Co-chairs: CEO of Domestic Violence Chair: Rosie Batty, 2015 Australian
Victoria, and Minister for Prevention of the Year.
of Family Violence.
The Victim Survivors’ Advisory Council
The Family Violence Steering Committee brings the strength, resilience and lived
is responsible for providing specialist experiences of victims into our reforms.
advice on the development and It advises the Victorian Government
implementation of policies, strategies on the various experiences of family
and programs that seek to address violence and the contemporary
family violence in Victoria. It monitors Victorian service system from
the development of a comprehensive, the victim’s perspective.
coordinated family violence reform
agenda and provides advice on the
whole-of-government implementation
of the Royal Commission’s
recommendations.
DHELK DJA PARTNERSHIP DIVERSE COMMUNITIES
FORUM AND INTERSECTIONALITY
WORKING GROUP
Co-chairs: Minister for Aboriginal Co-chairs: The Executive Director
Affairs and the hosting Dhelk Dja of Women with Disabilities Victoria,
Action Group Chairperson. and Family Safety Victoria.
The Dhelk Dja Partnership Forum The Diverse Communities and
is responsible for providing family Intersectionality Working Group is a
violence reforms, funding and policy subgroup of the Family Violence Steering
development with a strong and Committee. The group provides guidance
informed voice, cultural perspective and expert advice on the intersectional
and strategic policy advice based on needs of diverse community groups
self-determination. The forum leads across the spectrum of family violence
the development and implementation and social service reform. It supports
of Dhelk Dja Action Plans – the ground- the Victorian Government to embed an
breaking, community-led Aboriginal understanding of and responsiveness to
agreements to address family violence, diverse communities in the design and
and to drive improved safety outcomes accessibility of family violence and social
for Aboriginal people. service reform.
10 THREE YEARS ON FROM THE ROYAL COMMISSION INTO FAMILY VIOLENCENEXT STEPS
A new Family Violence Rolling
Action Plan outlining the next phase
of implementation will be released
in 2020. In developing this new plan,
we will be using our best and growing
knowledge about the impacts of family
violence, linkages between aspects of
the reform, and applying lessons learnt
regarding effective governance.
We will continue to strengthen genuine and
meaningful partnerships with victim survivors,
the service sector and the community. Engagement
with partnerships such as the Victim Survivors’
Advisory Council and Dhelk Dja Partnership Forum,
have demonstrated how meaningful engagement
and collaboration provides the government with
valuable perspectives and advice, while driving
more effective responses as the reforms develop.
It is only by embedding the voices and experiences
of victim survivors at the heart of the reform
agenda, that we will be able to make lasting
cultural and systemic change.
As the Victorian Government undertakes the
ongoing planning work for the next phase of the
reforms, it is important to track current progress
against the key initiatives and actions outlined in
the Family Violence Rolling Action Plan 2017–2020.
‘Figure 1: Family violence reforms – key milestones’
shows the initiatives that have been developed
and implemented following the Royal Commission
findings in 2016. It provides an overview of the
changes to the way services are being delivered,
and how we are transforming the way the system
responds to the needs of victim survivors.
We will continue to use strong governance
arrangements and guiding frameworks and tools
like the 10-Year Plan, Rolling Action Plans and
Outcomes Framework to continue to connect
work and identify linkages for efficient and effective
delivery of this large and complex reform program.
11FIGURE 2: VICTORIA’S STRATEGY TO PREVENT FAMILY VIOLENCE REFORMS – KEY MILESTONES
INITIATIVE /
ACTIVITY 2016 2017
Gender equality
strategy Release of Safe and Victoria’s first Family Launch of the third Launch of Free from Launch of Free from
INEQUALITY ARE NOT TOLERATED
Strong: A Victorian Violence Prevention Victoria Against Violence: Victoria’s Violence: Victoria’s
FAMILY VIOLENCE AND GENDER
Gender Equality Campaign launched by Violence Campaign Strategy to Prevent Strategy to Prevent
Strategy the Premier, and the late Family Violence and Family Violence and
Minister for Prevention of All Forms of Violence All Forms of Violence
Family Violence, The Hon. Against Women Against Women: First
Fiona Richardson MP Action Plan 2018-2021
Prevention of
Violence Extension of funding Launch of the second Trial of new approaches Establishment of Launch of Aboriginal
for family violence Victoria Against to deliver culturally Joan Kirner Women's Children and Families
prevention programs – Violence campaign responsive maternal Leadership Program Agreement and Strategic
designed by Aboriginal and child health services Action Plan
women, for Aboriginal for Aboriginal families
women.
Respectful
Relationships Launch of new Introduction of Implementation of
Respectful Relationships Respectful Relationships Respectful Relationships
1
curriciulum whole of school in over 1,000 schools
approach, in Leading
and Partner schools
Support and
Safety Hubs Release of the Support
(The Orange and Safety Hubs (The
Door) Orange Door) concept
Safe and Stable
Housing Investment of $5.5 million Investment of 83.2million Investment of $1 billion Purchase and headlease
to build 20 affordable for redevelopment of Social Housing Growth of 120 additional
units in Newport for family violence refuges Fund to support up properties as part of
women and children to 'core and cluster' to 2,200 new social the Safe and Stable
fleeing family violence models and construction housing places Homes project to provide
of two new Aboriginal additional housing for
refuges vicim survivors
Building the
VICTIM SURVIVORS, VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
capacity and Additional funding for Funding for specially 11 Family Violence Consumer Affairs
capability family violence support trained financial Financial Counsellors Victoria commences
ARE SAFE AND SUPPORTED TO RECOVERY AND THRIVE
of specialist services at community counsellors to support funded work on improving
family violence legal centres victims of family violence provisions for victims
services suffering financially across the banking,
at the hands of utility, insurance
perpetrators and superannuation
industries
Strengthening
responses Commencement of
for diverse LGBTI respondent &
communities applicant practitioners
in two courts
Keeping
Children Safe Funding of Family Commencement of
Violence Child Protection legislative framework
Partnership co-locates for the Children’s Court
family violence workers Youth Diversion service
in child protection offices
across Victoria
Victim-centred
justice Implementation Expansion of post- Commencement of Commencement of
of family violence release specialist Beyond the Violence Judicial College of
training program for trauma counselling to program at Tarrengower Victoria’s family violence
financial counsellors by women exiting prison Prison for women to awareness program for
Women’s Legal Service voice experiences VCAT members and staff
Victoria and Women’s and impacts of family
Information and violence on them
Referral Exchange and their children
2
Specialist
Family Violence Release of the
Courts Magistrates’ Court of
Victoria’s Family Violence
Vision Statement
Reforming
Victoria Police Launch of e-Learning Launch of Policing Harm, Establishment of Victoria
response education package Upholding the Right: Police Centre of Learning
Understanding Family Victoria Police Strategy for Family Violence.
Violence in Aboriginal for Family Violence, Release of education
Communities Sexual Offences and and training packages
Child Abuse 2018- 2023
12 THREE YEARS ON FROM THE ROYAL COMMISSION INTO FAMILY VIOLENCE2018
$6.3 million funding to Launch of Respect Women: Respect Victoria is Launch of Victoria Against Release of Gender Equality
trial and evaluate new Call It Out behaviour established as the dedicated, Violence #OrangeCard Bill Exposure Draft for
approaches to primary change campaign stautory authority focused campaign, coinciding with public consultation
prevention of family violence on the primary prevention United Nations' 16 Days of
of family violence for all Activism Against Gender
Victorians Based Violence campaign
Launch of Safer and Stronger Release of Office for Women's Establishment of Preventing Funding for Victoria’s Multifaith Advisory Group’s
Communities Pilot for new Primary Prevention Activity the Cycle of Violence multicultural and faith Family Violence Working
approaches to prevent family and Infrastructure Aboriginal Fund communities to prevent and Group selected five faith
violence in multicultural in Victoria report respond to family violence, communities to deliver
communities under the Capacity Building projects to prevent and
and Participation grants respond to family violence
program and gender-based violence
Launch of Respectful Launch of Workplace Equality
Relationships professional and Respect Program in
learning for early childhood public sector organisations
educators
Commencement of Commencement of Further Orange Door Commencement of
The Orange Door service The Orange Door service in locations are announced for The Orange Door service
in Bayside Peninsula, North Eastern Melbourne Central Highlands, Loddon in Inner Gippsland
Barwon and Mallee and Goulburn
Construction of new Funding for further
long term public housing refuge services to provide
properties commences. secure, after-hours crisis
accommodation
Family violence service
providers undertake HOW2
Program Training ('Rainbow
Tick') accreditation for LGBTI
inclusive standards
Launch of Koori Women's Launch of Statement of Launch of W/Respect ("With Commencement
Place pilot program by Djirra Support for LGBTI clients Respect") the integrated of Intersectionality
to provide holistic support by ten faith-based family LGBTI family violence Capacity Building
and services violence service providers specialist service Project
Expansion of Sexually Abusive
Treatment Service programs
eligible for young people
aged 15 to 17 years old
Launch of Fines Victoria's Commencement of Family Launch of Family Violence
Family Violence Scheme to Violence Contact Centre in Restorative Justice Service
support victim survivors the Melbourne Magistrates’ pilot program
with infringements Court family violence registry
Introduction of 20 new Opening of a new Family Commencement of family Commencement of Judicial
multimedia screens to inform Violence Court Division at violence applicant and College of Victoria’s family
court users about court and Shepparton Magistrates’ respondent workers at violence education program
Family Violence Intervention Court Melbourne Children’s Court at Shepparton Magistrates’
Order (FVIO) processes Court’s Family Violence
Court Division
Establishment of Koori Commencement of Family Trial of Family Violence Redesign of Family Violence
Family Violence Police Violence Investigation Units, Body-Worn Cameras Report L17 Form
Protocols in Morwell establishing specialist family
violence roles across
Victoria Police
13INITIATIVE /
ACTIVITY 2016 2017
Central
Information Development and Rollout of initial training
Point (CIP) planning of CIP master and cultural change
concept, including co- programs
design and collaboration
Improving
perpetrator Funding for early Cultural Change Development of
intervention program in Prisons Grants improved minimum
PERPETRATORS ARE HELD TO ACCOUNT,
Interventions
and to target fathers provided to all prisons standards for Men’s
accountability experiencing drug or to implement projects Behaviour Change
alcohol abuse who focused on increasing Programs
have committed, or are family violence
at risk of committing, awareness and driving
familyviolence cultural change
ENGAGED AND CONNECTED
Expert Advisory
Committee on Establishment of Expert Design of perpetrator
Perpetrator Advisory Committee on intervention trials using
Interventions Perpetrator Interventions ANROWS evidence
(EACPI) and EACPI advice
Law Reforms
Strengthening
responses Launch of Ngarra
in diverse Jarranounith Place
- intensive culturally
3
Communities
appropriate, residential
behaviour change
program for
Aboriginal men
Family Violence
Industry Launch 10-Year Plan, Release of Building Release of Responding
Planning Ending Family Violence; from Strength: 10-Year to Family Violence
Victoria’s Plan for Industry Plan for Family Capability Framework
Change Violence Prevention and Preventing Family
and Response Violence and Violence
Against Women
Capability Framework
Building
capacity and $38.4million investment Funding to support Allocation of $17.3 Establishment of Centre Rollout of Inaugural
capability of in Strengthening Women with Disabilities million over four years for Workforce Excellence Workforce Census.
the workforce Hospital Responses Victoria to push for to continue specialist to build workforce Results received
to Family Violence to reforms to make family family violence advisors capacity with community and collated
train hospital staff in violence policies and on an ongoing basis in services, justice,
PREVENTING AND RESPONDING TO FAMILY
identifying patients at services more inclusive alcohol and other education and
VIOLENCE IS SYSTEMTIC AND ENDURING
risk of family violence of people with disabilities drugs and mental health sectors
health services
Redevelopment
of the Family
Violence Risk
Assessment and
Management
Framework
(MARAM)
Information
sharing reforms:
Sharing
information and
working more
effectively
Improving our Investment in a new Launch of the Enterprise Release of Crime
approach to Risk Assessment Reporting and Project Statistics Agency
data collection Report Portal Management System to 2016-17 Family
4
manage collaborative Violence Database
implementation
of reform work
Governance and
Partnerships Establishment of Victim Ownership of 511 public Commencement Investment of $23million Establishment of
Survivors’ Advisory housing properties of co-design project with in 26 Therapeutic Family Safety Victoria,
Council, to represent transferred to Aboriginal Aboriginal Communities Intervention pilot Victoria’s family violence
diverse experiences Housing Victoria leading the design of a programs to provide coordination agency
of people with lived holistic approach support and build
experience of family and framework evidence about best Establishment of the
violence to family violence practice responses Family Violence Reform
to family violence Implementation Monitor
14 THREE YEARS ON FROM THE ROYAL COMMISSION INTO FAMILY VIOLENCE2018
Establishment of CIP and Commencement of CIP
commencement of new service offerings in The
information sharing regime Orange Door locations
Release of Enhancing Safety: Commencement of new Introduction of revised Men's
Family Violence Strategy for interventions for perpetrators Behaviour Change Program
the Victorian Corrections from diverse backgrounds model is introduced by
system 2018-2021 and and with complex needs Family Safety Victoria
Action Plan
EACPI provides
provides final report
to government
Amendments to Bail Act 1977, Parliament passes Justice Prevention of Family Violence Parliament passes
allowing officials to consider Legislation Amendment Act 2018, establishing Respect Residential Tenancies
family violence risks if a (Family Violence Protection Victoria, comes Amendment Act 2018
person is released on bail and Other Matters) Act 2018 into effect
First intake of clients in the Commencement of trial
Ngarra Jarranounith Place for case management of
behaviour change program perpetrators from diverse
backgrounds, and with
complex needs
Development of first Rolling Development of accredited
Action Plan for Building from courses in family violence
Strength Industry Plan prevention and response
Funding of inTouch Commencement of LGBTI
Multicultural Centre Against Practitioner team at the
Family Violence to build Neighbourhood Justice
responsiveness of the Centre
sector and services to the
needs of culturally diverse
communities
Redevelopment of the Family Violence MARAM Regulations prescribing Tools for Risk Assessment
Family Violence Multi- commences under the Family organisations to align with and Management (TRAM)
Agency Risk Assessment Violence Protection Act 2008 the MARAM Framework is launched in The Orange
and Management commence Door
Framework (MARAM)
Commencement of Family Training for initial tranche
Violence Information Sharing workforces under FVISS
Scheme (FVISS) in Feb commenced in Feb 2018
2018 and Child Information
Sharing Scheme (CISS) in
Sep 2018
Release of Crime Statistics
Agency Victorian Family
Violence Database (including
Coroners Court and
Ambulance Victoria)
Establishment of the Launch of Wungurilwil Implementation of Aboriginal Launch of Umalek Balit,
Disability and Family Gapgapduir Aboriginal Children and Families project a culturally safe program
Violence Reforms Expert Children and Families for Aboriginal and Torres
Advisory Group Agreement Strategic Strait Islander families, in
Action Plan Melbourne Magistrate's Court
15FAMILY VIOLENCE OUTCOMES FRAMEWORK
1 FAMILY VIOLENCE AND
DOMAIN
GENDER INEQUALITY
ARE NOT TOLERATED
All Victorians experience respectful
relationships underpinned by human rights
WHAT HAS CHANGED IN
and gender equality—healthy relationship THE LAST THREE YEARS?
behaviours are celebrated and promoted.
The ground-breaking work of the
Royal Commission into Family Violence
Victorians do not tolerate family violence—
focused on the need to improve
family violence reporting rates reflect increased
services for victims, strengthen early
confidence in the system and intolerance of
intervention and hold perpetrators to
family violence, and eventually reflect sustained
account. It also recognised that family
effort in prevention.
violence is preventable, and we must
work together to change the attitudes,
Victorians hold beliefs and attitudes that behaviours and social norms that
reject gender inequality and family violence— drive family violence and all forms
people recognise and reject all forms of family of violence against women.
violence and gender inequality, and know how This includes the recognition that family violence
to challenge it when they see it. Individuals – the most common form of violence against
and systems do not minimise or deny family women – is closely linked to gender inequality.
violence or blame victims, and stigma The Victorian Government is committed to
and discrimination is addressed. building knowledge around preventing family
violence, fostering innovation in the design and
delivery of prevention programs and scaling up
Women and men, and girls and boys are projects that are already delivering real benefit
equal—gender inequalities where people live, to Victorian communities.
work, learn and play are diminished.
16 THREE YEARS ON FROM THE ROYAL COMMISSION INTO FAMILY VIOLENCERESPECTFUL RELATIONSHIPS
INITIATIVE
WHAT HAS CHANGED IN THE LAST THREE YEARS?
The Respectful Relationships initiative has
been implemented in over 1,000 government,
Catholic and independent schools across
Victoria.
GENDER EQUALITY AND THE
PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE
Two key strategies have been launched to
address gender inequality as a key driver of
family violence. Safe and Strong: A Victorian
Gender Equality Strategy and Free from
Violence: Victoria’s strategy to prevent
family violence and all forms of violence
against women acknowledge that family
violence is a deeply gendered issue, and
that prevention starts with clear messages
about respect and equality. These strategies
provide the groundwork for making
generational changes in the social norms
that influence attitudes towards women.
FAMILY VIOLENCE AND
PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN CAMPAIGNS
Two significant behaviour change and
prevention of violence against women
campaigns have been making changes
in the community. The Respect Women:
Call It Out campaign was seen by an
estimated 5.2 million Victorians. Research
has shown that people who had seen the
campaign had more positive attitudes
towards gender equality and the
importance of respect. The #OrangeCard
campaign asked Victorians to call out
the drivers of family violence online. This
campaign reached over 11 million social
media users worldwide.
17WHAT HAS BEEN DONE
IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS?
RESPECT VICTORIA RESPECTFUL RELATIONSHIPS
Respect Victoria was established under The Respectful Relationships initiative continues
legislation in October 2018 as an independent to be implemented in schools across Victoria.
statutory authority focused on the primary By 2018, over 1,000 schools had implemented
prevention of family violence and violence the whole-school approach recommended by
against women in Victoria (Recommendation the Royal Commission. Over 17,000 school staff
188 of the Royal Commission into Family Violence). participated in training sessions. A Respectful
Respect Victoria received $24 million over Relationships early childhood training package
four years in the Victorian Budget 2018–19. was also launched in 2018, providing training
for up to 6,000 early childhood educators.
Respect Victoria provides leadership in the
prevention of family violence and all forms of We know that changes in attitudes and
violence against women. It provides advice on behaviours can be achieved when positive
policy and program reform to improve the way attitudes, behaviours and equality are embedded
government, organisations and the community in our education settings. The Respectful
prevent family violence including: Relationships initiative adopts a whole-school
approach, to promote widespread cultural
change in the community. The approach leads
researching trends in family violence to positive impacts on academic outcomes,
mental health, classroom behaviour, and
building and testing outcomes relationships between teachers and students.
FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION
advising government on funding decisions CAMPAIGNS
The Victorian Budget 2018-19 committed
communicating and engaging the $24 million over four years for Preventing
community on family violence prevention. Family Violence, including family violence and
violence against women prevention campaigns
and activities. These campaigns provide the
community with the necessary techniques
Prevention of family violence and violence to ‘call out’ sexism, harassment, and gender
against women aims to stop violence before inequality – some of the early drivers that
it starts, so that we see an overall reduction may lead to family violence.
in incidents of violence. Respect Victoria is
committed to ensuring victim survivors are The Respect Women: Call It Out campaign
represented in all its work and has a dedicated provides techniques to ‘call out’ sexism,
position on its Board of Directors for a member harassment and gender inequality. The
of the Victim Survivors’ Advisory Council. campaign has been seen by an estimated
5.2 million Victorians. Research showed that
people who had seen Respect Women: Call
It Out had more positive attitudes to gender
equality, and were more likely to understand
the importance of respect and the impact that
family violence has in our society (further details
contained in Case Study – Respect Women: Call it
Out – family violence prevention campaign).
18 THREE YEARS ON FROM THE ROYAL COMMISSION INTO FAMILY VIOLENCEThe fourth Victoria Against Violence campaign The Free from Violence Fund for community
was launched in 2018, coinciding with the United organisations focuses on trialling, testing and
Nations’ 16 Days of Activism. The campaign, evaluating a range of new and innovative
inspired by the penalty system in soccer, asked initiatives to better understand what works
Victorians to ‘call out’ the drivers of family to prevent family violence and all forms of
violence online, using the #OrangeCard hashtag. violence against women.
The #OrangeCard campaign reached over
The Aboriginal Innovation Fund is a dedicated
11 million social media users worldwide.
program of funding, which provides an
PRIMARY PREVENTION INVESTMENT opportunity for the development of new
approaches to primary prevention in Aboriginal
The Office for Women has invested in key communities. The fund provides Aboriginal-led
strategic settings for the primary prevention services with the opportunity to explore, trial and
of family violence. Settings include local evaluate a range of new, innovative initiatives to
government, early years, higher education better understand what works to prevent family
and community settings. Funded agencies violence, and to build knowledge and evidence
within these programs are undertaking primary of effective primary prevention in different
prevention and gender equality initiatives settings and contexts.
to change behaviours and attitudes towards
family violence. In addition to the three major programs, a broad
range of primary prevention projects have been
Working with partners in local agencies, the initiated including:
Office for Women has targeted investment
to ensure mutually reinforcing actions across
the community. Major initiatives include the: The establishment of ten Elder Abuse
Prevention Networks.
Local Government program
Workforce capacity building projects for the
primary prevention practitioner workforce,
Free from Violence Fund 12 regional and statewide women’s health
services, the disability sector workforce and
Aboriginal Innovation Fund. for the LGBTI, Aboriginal and seniors sectors.
Research into key gap areas, to understand
drivers of family violence for older women and
The Local Government program is a key
transgender people, bystander interventions
initiative under the First Action Plan of Free
and to further explore our understanding
from Violence. The program is supporting the
of masculinities and the intersection with
local government sector to be leaders in the
family violence.
primary prevention of family violence and
all other forms of violence against women
and aims to ensure that prevention activities A project to further test the pre and post-natal
and initiatives that have been proven to work settings as sites for primary prevention
continue to grow. The Tertiary Education settings intervention
program is supporting TAFE and universities to
trial, strengthen and embed primary prevention
Partnering across three government
activities in university and TAFE sites, adopting
departments to embed primary
a whole-of-setting approach to reach both
prevention activity.
staff and students.
19RESPECT WOMEN: CALL IT OUT – FAMILY
VIOLENCE PREVENTION CAMPAIGN
The Victorian Government’s second Research shows that those who have seen the
family violence behaviour change campaign have more positive attitudes towards
CASE STUDY
campaign was launched in March 2018. gender equality, the police, and the government’s
response to family violence. They were more likely
Respect Women: Call It Out focused on the to endorse the importance of respect and the
prevention of family violence, including impact that family violence has, both on individual
violence against women and active bystander households and society (BehaviourWorks, Monash
intervention. Individuals who witness, or are University, 2018). There is a growing recognition
informed of, sexism, harassment and violence among Victorian males around the drivers of
are commonly referred to as ‘bystanders’. When family violence, with 72 per cent of males surveyed
an individual is a bystander, they can either be acknowledging that partners should have equal
a ‘passive’ bystander who does not intervene, say in all decisions. This is an improvement on
or an ‘active’ bystander who takes action. the 2016 data, with 64 per cent of males surveyed
Bystanders have received growing attention as in 2018 acknowledging that someone criticising
an important part in early violence prevention. their partner as a joke is a serious matter.
Mobilising bystanders to prevent and respond
to violence or to the situations and factors Family violence is a complex issue with many
which increase the risk of violence taking place contributing risk factors at the individual,
(‘bystander intervention’), is an important form community and societal levels. While this has
of primary prevention. been understood for a significant length of time,
it has now been further underlined by the Royal
An estimated 5.2 million Victorians have now Commission into Family Violence and extensive
seen the campaign. Close to 75 per cent of all independent research. Research findings have
Victorians are able to recall the Respect Women: identified gender inequality and the pervasive
Call It Out campaign. The most commonly attitudes towards women, including the social
cited key messages include: norms that contribute to the context in which
• family violence is never acceptable family violence occurs, as critical contributors
to family violence.
• abuse takes many forms
• everybody has a role to play in ending and
calling out violence (EY Sweeney, 2018).
20 THREE YEARS ON FROM THE ROYAL COMMISSION INTO FAMILY VIOLENCEDHELK DJA: SAFE OUR WAY – “Approaches to Aboriginal
STRONG CULTURE, STRONG
PEOPLES, STRONG FAMILIES
leadership must be Aboriginal
owned and defined, not
Dhelk Dja: Safe Our Way – Strong Culture, Strong
Peoples, Strong Families is the Aboriginal 10-year constrained by Western
family violence agreement. Dhelk Dja is the key definitions”
agreement for Aboriginal communities, Aboriginal – Indigenous Family Violence Partnership
services and the government to work together Forum, San Remo, March 2018
and be accountable for ensuring that Aboriginal
people, families and communities are stronger,
safer, thriving and living free from “A strengths-based guiding
family violence. principle acknowledges
This ground-breaking, community-led Aboriginal Aboriginal people’s ability
agreement was launched in October 2018. Dhelk
Dja was developed through a comprehensive
to be adaptable, resilient
consultation and co-design process with and resourceful, which
Aboriginal communities and organisations. are protective factors”
The consultation approach ensured that
– Indigenous Family Violence Partnership
the final agreement embedded Aboriginal Forum, Caroline Springs, December 2017
self-determination and that Aboriginal voices
informed and shaped the agreement. The release
and continued implementation of Dhelk Dja is “We need to share stories,
supported by an investment of $13.5 million in
the Victorian Budget 2018–19 to prevent family
understand pain and heal the
violence in Aboriginal communities. whole person. You can’t address
Building on the principle of Aboriginal self- the use of violence in isolation”
determination, an extensive co-design process – Aboriginal Family Violence
is underway with Aboriginal community and Co-design Forum, April 2018
services through the Dhelk Dja Partnership
Forum to plan and design the Access Points.
Once established, the Access Points will be a key
service entry point for Aboriginal women, children,
and families with lived experience of family
violence and Aboriginal people who use violence.
Staffed by a predominantly Aboriginal workforce,
the Access Points will be culturally safe and give
Aboriginal people a choice about where and how
they access services. This will complement and
enhance the accessibility and service offering
for Aboriginal people across The Orange
Door network.
21SAFER AND STRONGER MULTICULTURAL CAPACITY BUILDING
COMMUNITIES PILOT AND PARTICIPATION GRANTS
The Victorian Government has allocated The Capacity Building and Participation Grants
$2.8 million over 2018–2020 to fund the Safer Program included a designated Prevention
and Stronger Communities Pilot. This pilot of Family Violence stream for the first time in
is a new place-based approach to test what 2018–2020. An allocation of $2.36 million will fund
works best to prevent family violence in over 30 projects, which aim to build the capacity
multicultural communities. of Victoria’s multicultural and faith communities
to work towards creating a future free from family
Prevention experts, the Multicultural Centre
violence and all forms of violence against women.
for Women’s Health and Our Watch will
provide training, advice and support to build Funding has been provided to emerging and
the prevention expertise of five multicultural established organisations, including ethno-
organisations. These five organisations will specific, multicultural and specialist family
support local communities to address the violence organisations, to deliver prevention
attitudes, beliefs and behaviours that lead and early intervention projects for young
to family violence. The multicultural people, women, men and elders from over
organisations will: 20 communities. Activities will be delivered
across settings including sport, community
and family services, education, the arts and faith.
Implement the Workplace Equality and
Respect Standards for a multicultural Matter of Trust: Supporting Elders developed by
workforce, introducing a framework to the Eastern Community Legal Centre received
address gender inequality and violence funding from the 2016–17 Capacity Building and
against women in the workplace Participation Program. Building on this project,
the Eastern Community Legal Centre is receiving
further funding in the 2018–2020 grants round to
Support the design and development deliver another capacity-building project: Matter
of family violence prevention initiatives of Respect (See case study: Matter of Trust,
with local multicultural communities. see Page 25).
22 THREE YEARS ON FROM THE ROYAL COMMISSION INTO FAMILY VIOLENCEWORKING WITH FAITH LEADERS WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
TO ADDRESS FAMILY VIOLENCE
The Joan Kirner Young and Emerging Women’s
The University of Melbourne and the Multicultural Leadership Program was established in 2017
Centre for Women’s Health are collaborating to provide opportunities to new and emerging
with the Multifaith Advisory Group’s Family women leaders in Victoria. The program is
Violence Working Group to develop best practice delivered by Leadership Victoria and includes
responses to family violence in faith communities. a formal leadership development course,
mentoring and skill-building sessions. It supports
Five faith communities (including one representing
women in the early stages of their leadership
a multifaith approach) will design and deliver pilot
journey who are new to a leadership position
projects using a Participatory Action Research
or aspire to become an influential leader in
model in 2019–2020. The projects will draw on and
their profession, industry or community.
test evidence-based, promising and emerging
practices to prevent and respond to family 25 women participated in the program in 2017
violence and gender-based violence in faith and 26 women started the program in 2018.
settings. The communities will be supported by Participants from the first group reported
the University of Melbourne and the Multicultural that the program increased their confidence,
Centre for Women’s Health to deliver these projects. skills and knowledge, positively impacted their
career decisions and career progression and
strengthened their commitment to giving back.
Many see themselves not only as part of the
pipeline of new women leaders, but have reported
they feel an obligation to increase that pipeline.
The participants also valued the peer-to-peer
networking component, to be continued after
the program has been completed.
The Women’s Board Leadership Program was
launched in 2017. As an early action of Safe and
Strong: A Victorian Gender Equality Strategy the
program was developed to support the Victorian
Government’s commitment to support Victorian
women to serve, stay and excel on boards.
The program includes networking, mentoring
and governance training, and is delivered in
partnership with the Australian Institute of
Company Directors and Leadership Victoria.
The program attracted a diverse range of
women, including women from culturally
diverse backgrounds, women with disabilities,
Aboriginal women, and women living in rural
and regional Victoria.
Now in its second year, 88 women are
participating in the program, which includes
a number of streams, including programs
specifically designed for Aboriginal women
and a stream for culturally diverse women.
23DEVELOPING THE PREVENTION The Workplace Equality and Respect Program
WORKFORCE builds on the finding of the Royal Commission
that gender inequality is a key driver of family
WORKPLACE EQUALITY violence and recognises the importance of
AND RESPECT PROGRAM workplaces as a setting to change behaviour.
The program addresses Recommendation
The Workplace Equality and Respect Program
192 by implementing best practice workplace
aims to reduce violence against women in
programs in all public sector workplaces through
the broader community using a change
partnerships with relevant organisations.
management approach to promote gender
equality in the workplace. The program WORKFORCE CAPACITY BUILDING:
includes direct implementation in public PRIMARY PREVENTION TRAINING FOR
service departments and agencies such FAMILY VIOLENCE PRACTITIONERS
as Victoria Police, as well as support provided
through the Municipal Association of Victoria The Victorian Government has invested in the
to approximately 20 local governments learning and development needs of the primary
who receive Free from Violence grants that prevention workforce since May 2018 including:
focus on the implementation of best practice
workplace programs.
Implementation of a non-accredited
Implemented in 2018, participating agencies induction program for new workers entering
are supported to develop and implement gender the prevention sector
equality plans that respond to the Workplace
Equality and Respect standards developed
by Our Watch. Best practice workplace Implementation of training for new and
initiatives include: existing prevention worker supervisors
Establishment of multiple communities of
training to understand the link between
practice for prevention workers working in
gender inequality and family violence
a range of settings and with different cohorts,
to be delivered through a variety of methods
interventions designed to promote and platforms.
gender equality
learning how to deal with any disclosures
of family violence in the workplace.
An initial suite of change management tools
and an online resource hub has been created to
support the development and implementation of
the gender equality plans and ensures consistent
good practice in workplace interventions.
24 THREE YEARS ON FROM THE ROYAL COMMISSION INTO FAMILY VIOLENCEYou can also read
