In February 2022, Safe and Equal began a co-design process with a diverse group of survivor advocates and Think Impact consulting agency to develop the foundations of a client outcomes framework for specialist family violence services.
Safe and Equal had identified such a framework as a necessary step towards developing a broader approach to centering client voice, demonstrating specialist family violence sector’s accountability to clients, and a consistent approach to measuring and monitoring the value and impact of specialist family violence services.
The framework represents a first step that puts victim survivors at the centre of measuring client outcomes. Further work is required to identify the difference and interactions between the service level and system level outcomes and undertake wider consultation and testing with victim survivors to support further refinement and embedding of the framework across the sector.
Download the project report here
Family Safety Victoria (FSV) have provided an update to ensure that victim survivors have consistent and equitable access to specialist family violence support options across the state. The update provides confirmation of the minimum requirements for all Local Family Violence Support Services in all DFFH Areas related to the treatment of referrals for specialist family violence support. Local Family Violence Support Services receive funding for victim survivor case management under Activity 38028 Client Support Family Violence. This funding supports the delivery of key case management functions across the spectrum of responses and domains set out in the Case Management Program Requirements. This includes intake and access related screening, identification and triage functions.
Family Safety Victoria – Access to Local Family Violence Support Services – September 2022
The Victorian Government recognises that ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing workforce shortages mean that not all practitioners will be able to be hired in precise accordance with the Mandatory Minimum Qualifications policy at this early stage of implementation. The transition period, running until 30 June 2026, is an opportunity to adjust to the new settings. We will continue to work with peak bodies, employers, unions and the tertiary education sector to monitor the impacts on the sector through the Transition Monitoring Advisory Group and to inform a review the Policy in 2024-25.
The Outcomes Monitoring – Family Violence Reform Unit have released the inaugural Ending Family Violence Report. Reporting on the 2020 and 2021 progress of the Family Violence Outcomes Framework and the Rolling Action Plan 2020-202. Read the Report here.
FVRIM is undertaking an independent review of Parts 5A and 11 of the Family Violence Protection Act 2008 (Vic) (the Act). These provisions provide the legal basis for the Family Violence Information Sharing Scheme (FVISS) and the Multi-Agency Risk Assessment and Management Framework (MARAM). FVRIM will undertake the review during 2022. The review will focus on the effectiveness of the legal provisions in achieving their objectives, with the final report and recommendations provided to the Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence in May 2023 and tabled in Parliament by August 2023. Read More Here.
Victim-Survivor Advocates report developed by Monash University highlights insights and views from people with lived experience of violence, and presents key findings by theme. Read the Report here.