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Perpetrators and people who use violence

1 Family violence reform overviewThe Victorian Government is developing the second Family Violence Reform Rolling Action Plan 2020 – 2023 (RAP2) as part of its commitment in the 10-year plan: ‘Ending Family Violence: Victoria’s plan for change’. RAP2 will be launched at the end of 2020 as the plan for the next phase of the long-term reform of Victoria’s family violence system.   

Over the period of the first RAP (2017 – 2020) we have delivered key parts of the reform and we are beginning to make a difference to the lives of victim survivors. For example, the first specialist family violence courts are up and running, investment in housing and support pathways is enabling us to help more families, quicker, with better and more stable housing options. More than 1,480 Victorian schools have signed on to the whole school approach to Respectful Relationships to create a culture of gender equality and respect and change the story of family violence for future generations

While more than two thirds of the Family Violence Royal Commission recommendations have now been implemented, we are nearly four years into a 10-year plan to rebuild the family violence system. Through RAP2 we will continue to deliver the key parts of the reform such as the continued roll out of The Orange Door, building a specialist family violence workforce and providing training in risk assessment (MARAM) and information sharing. We will have an increased focus on perpetrators and prevention which will embed the reforms to ensure the family violence system is sustainable and enduring. 

We will continue to incorporate what we have learnt so far, and from coronavirus (COVID-19), into the reform, to ensure it is responsive and adaptive. As the reform evolves from implementing the Royal Commission recommendations we will tell the community how we are going by measuring our progress through reporting against the Family Violence Outcomes Framework (FVOF).

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Our RAP2 priorities are 10 themes and projects that we will prioritise for the next three years to ensure we remain on course to deliver long-term reform.  

Underpinning the 10 priorities are these 3 principles which inform our approach to all our activity.

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Consultation content

Perpetrators and people who use violence This package of information highlights what government has done so far, and what it intends to do over the coming three years, to ensure that those adults who use family violence are held responsible for their actions and can access the support they need to change their behaviour.

Priority area overview: summarises what government is doing and shows how perpetrator accountability activities support the achievement of FVOF outcomes as we continue to implement Royal Commission recommendations.

Achievements since 2016: showcases key achievements during RAP1.

Rolling action plan 2020 – 2023: sets out the activities government proposes to deliver for this priority over the next three years. 

Coronavirus (COVID-19) impacts: reflects on how coronavirus (COVID-19) has impacted perpetrator initiatives.

Reform principles: shows how the three reform principles have been considered in planning how perpetrators will be held to account.

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2 Priority area overview

Reform IntentTo build a web of accountability which ensures the system, community and society work together to stop perpetrators from committing further violence, holds them to account, and supports changes in their behaviour and attitudes.

The accountability web puts a focus on supporting adult and child victim survivors, without placing the burden on them to manage their own safety and the behaviour of perpetrators.

How we are strengthening the web of accountability

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The Family Violence Outcomes Framework (FVOF)The FVOF articulates the government’s vision to end family violence.

The four FVOF domains reflect the long-term outcomes sought through the collective efforts of the reform.

The FVOF represent the key priorities in preventing and responding to family violence and clarifying what constitutes success.

Activities in this priority area will likely have the greatest impact in achieving outcomes against the following highlighted FVOF domains:

Royal Commission into Family Violence (RCFV)With more than two-thirds of the Family Violence Royal Commission recommendations now implemented, delivery of activities under this priority over the next three years will continue to support recommendation implementation. Updates will continue to be provided via the vic.gov.au website.

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3 Achievements since 2016

InterventionsWe have strengthened the perpetrator intervention system:

Victoria Police have introduced: enhanced risk assessment and management processes, a specialist investigative response and ongoing training including delivering a purpose-built Family Violence Centre of Learning

Strengthening the focus on perpetrators as the source of violence: 22 recommendations from the Expert Advisory Committee on Perpetrator Interventions (EACPI) are informing our approach to perpetrator accountability

More resources and more programs to hold perpetrators accountable: 7,500 interventions in 2019 including case management and tailored services for specific cohorts (from 1,000 interventions before introduction of the reform in 2016), for example:

Implementing the positively evaluated Drummond Street Services’ Living Free from Violence program at the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre

Continued support for a third residential facility for Dardi Munwurro’s Ngarra Jarranounith Place program, which is a 14-week residential healing and men’s behaviour change program for Aboriginal men

The Courts introduced an enhanced mandated program that promotes positive behaviour change and more effectively manages perpetrator risk and victim survivor safety

Developed new programs for male prisoners on building respectful relationships: expanding the Tuning into Respectful Relationships program to seven additional prisons, a culturally inclusive program suitable for remand and short sentence prisoners

Additional case management placements for family violence offenders in the community to help meet demand, especially for those unsuitable for group-based interventions.

RiskWe have embedded information sharing and risk coordination:

The Central Information Point (CIP) consolidates critical information and provides a comprehensive view of perpetrator risk allowing for targeted safety planning

Risk assessment and management panels (RAMP) input across the service system to engage and manage perpetrator risk and victim survivor safety

The Orange Door workforce includes specialist perpetrator practitioners to assess risk and support perpetrator engagement and intervention planning.

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JobsWe are building a specialist workforce:

Perpetrator service functions (intake, case management, behaviour change and family safety contact) included as part of the statewide family violence workforce attraction and recruitment campaign.

DataWe are building an evidence base:

Cohort-specific perpetrator trials were recently evaluated by Family Safety Victoria (FSV) and Department of Justice and Community Safety (DJCS). Learnings will be used to expand cohort-specific service offerings and build the capacity of perpetrator responses to diverse cohorts.

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4 Rolling action plan 2020 – 2023

Proposed activities

NB: Timeline milestones have been included where applicable; text in panels indicates an ongoing and/or non date specific activity.

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5 Coronavirus (COVID-19) impacts

Service delivery adaptation, learnings and innovations during coronavirus (COVID-19)Coronavirus (COVID-19) has impacted service delivery across the family violence reform. The most significant impact for the perpetrator priority has been a shift from face-to-face to remote formats for most perpetrator related services.

NB: This is an interim summary of the impacts, adaptations and innovations which have arisen as a result of coronavirus (COVID-19). These will continue to be monitored and considered as the final RAP2 is developed.  

Perpetrator Interventions

Perpetrator interventions including men’s behaviour change programs (MBCPs), case management and new interventions as well as Court Mandated MBCPs transitioned to remote delivery, for example video link and telephone.

The Department of Health and Human Services Centre for Evaluation and Research are conducting a rapid review of the changes in perpetrator interventions to better understand any innovative practice and broader strategies which have been implemented.

A key perpetrator program in Community Corrections is “Change About”. Due to coronavirus (COVID-19), this was delivered via TelePsych forums for offenders with a ‘family violence flag’, to explore distress and coping as well as risk identification and safety planning.

Community Corrections is preparing to deliver Advanced Skills Workshops to the Community Correctional Services (CCS) workforce via remote technology on ‘Managing Family Violence in Community Correctional Services’. The workshops will be tailored to include guidance specific to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Following the suspension of group-based programs, Corrections Victoria procured one-to-one perpetrator case management support from family violence service providers. It supports delivery of behaviour change intervention to those perpetrators subject to Community Corrections Orders, ensuring victim survivors are being supported during coronavirus (COVID-19) by continuing to keep perpetrators in view.

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Courts

Court funded MBCPs provided bridging support as part of Interim Practice Standards (including telephone and online communications) while in-person groups were suspended.

Courts commenced hearing family violence applications remotely, where applicable.

Online applications for family violence orders became available statewide via the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria website; applications can still be made in person at local courts and police continue to make applications on behalf of affected family members where applicable.

Reduced face-to-face contact has resulted in fewer opportunities for courts staff to refer to other services such as legal assistance.

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Regular inter-agency meetings are held to share information about the system impact.

Operation Ribbon, targeting high-risk offenders and those at risk, was rolled out in April 2020, including a weekend of action.

Community safety messages on social media were made available in 27 languages.

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6 Reform principlesThe principles that underpin the reform have influenced the development of our strategy to build a web of accountability.

Lived Experience Strategic engagement is being strengthened at Family Safety Victoria (FSV) to ensure the

voices of lived experience and the service system are reflected in policy development and service design. 

FSV’s governance structure is being reviewed to ensure engagement is efficient and non-duplicative.

The voices of victim survivors and perpetrators continue to inform evaluations, research and continuous improvement.

People with lived experience (including the Victim Survivors’ Advisory Council) are engaged in the development of the outcomes framework and theory of change for perpetrator accountability.

The Orange Door has created a data collection process to better understand and measure peoples’ experience. Feedback will be collected from people who have used violence to understand their experience of The Orange Door entry point.

A Client Partnership Strategy has been developed to ensure client voice informs The Orange Door operations.

Intersectionality The principles of Everybody Matters: Inclusion and Equity Statement will be progressively

applied across perpetrator interventions.

Multi Agency Risk Assessment and Management (MARAM) perpetrator guides address intersectionality when responding to perpetrator risks and/or needs.

We are building an evidence base of cohort specific trials to inform our expansion of service offerings.

The Intersectionality Capacity Building Project and the development of tools and resources continues to embed intersectionality.

In line with MARAM, local LGBTIQ community organisations are being supported to recognise and respond to family violence. 

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Aboriginal Self-Determination Nargneit Birrang Family Violence Holistic Healing Framework (released in December 2019) is

an Aboriginal-led, culturally appropriate approach for Aboriginal communities to respond to trauma and promote wellbeing.

Cultural safety is advanced through continuous learning and sharing of best practice among practitioners through the establishment of Cultural Safety Communities of Practice.

Trials of tailored interventions for people who use violence in Aboriginal communities are complete and may be expanded subject to funding availability.

State-wide Aboriginal case management for people who use violence has been established.

Continued partnerships within and across Aboriginal organisations and community as set out in Dhelk Dja: Safe cOur Way: Strong Culture, Strong People, Strong Families.

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