Implementation Bulletin: May 2014
Violence against women and children is unacceptable in any form, in any circumstance, in any community.
The Victorian Government’s commitment to reducing violence against women and children is implemented
through The Action Plan to Address Violence Against Women and Children – Everyone has a responsibility
to act 2012–2015 (Action Plan) which was launched on 9 October 2012.
Violence against women and children exacts a huge personal toll on women and children and has negative
impacts on the social, physical, and financial wellbeing of families and the community. Across Victoria, the
estimated economic cost of violence against women and children in Victoria is $3.4 billion annually.1
The Action Plan reflects the Victorian Government’s commitment to preventing violence before it occurs;
holding perpetrators to account for their actions; and providing support to women and children who
experience violence. The Action Plan engages a range of Victorian Government agencies and is also driven
through partnerships with community sector organisations.
Investment and Accountability
The Action Plan makes a number of commitments across a range of portfolios in prevention, early
intervention and response, and is supported by an investment of over $90 million across government in both
2012–13 and 2013–14. Since launching this plan in 2012, the Victorian Government has expanded family
violence and sexual assault counselling services, enacted broad reforms to legal, police and court processes,
strengthened an interconnected service system for women and children who experience violence, and
implemented a number of prevention and early intervention initiatives.
The Action Plan needs strong leadership and ongoing commitment across all areas of government. It also
requires collaboration between government departments as well as active engagement with communities and
non-government organisations. To this end, appropriate oversight and advisory mechanisms have been
established to maintain two-way accountability between portfolio ministers and key stakeholders (further
outlined on pages 12 and 13).
To respond effectively to violence against women and children, we need to better understand the complex
causes and contributing factors of such violence and what works in preventing and responding to it. The
Action Plan draws on research and evidence to support actions. To maximise the research effort and avoid
duplication, the Victorian Government supports the now established National Centre of Excellence for
violence against women and children research and will actively participate in its work.
Building the evidence for prevention strategies that effectively reduce levels of violence against women and
children across the whole population is also a central focus. In 2013, the Victorian and Commonwealth
governments provided the initiative and funding to establish a new national body to prevent violence before it
occurs - the Foundation to Prevent Violence Against Women and their Children (Foundation). The work of the
Foundation will build on the substantial and sustained effort regarding primary prevention that has been
progressed in Victoria, through the research and evidence base that has been produced by the Victorian
Health Promotion Foundation and Victorian Government investment.
1
In 2008-2009 sample year, according to Department of Justice 2012, Measuring Family Violence in Victoria Victorian Family Violence
Database Volume 5 Eleven Year, Trend Analysis, State Government of Victoria, p. 23
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The Action Plan
The Victorian Government’s Action Plan to Address Violence Against Women and Children comprises key
initiatives across three streams:

PREVENTION of violence against women and children through education to change attitudes and
behaviours and to promote respectful non-violent relationships and by engaging organisations and
communities to promote gender equity and stop violence.

EARLY INTERVENTION which identifies and targets individuals and groups who exhibit early signs
of violent behaviour or of being subjected to violence.

RESPONSE that mobilises an integrated system to provide a consistent, coordinated and timely
response that is tougher on perpetrators while protecting victims and empowering them to rebuild
their lives.
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Goal 1: PREVENTION
Prevention is at the core of the Action Plan, with an emphasis on educating and engaging the community to
positively change attitudes and behaviours. New programs are being established in a range of settings such
as schools, with the media, in workplaces and in local communities to educate and promote respectful and
non-violent relationships and gender equity.
The Action Plan also includes prevention activities to support highly vulnerable women, including those with
disabilities and from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
Key achievements
Since the launch of the Action Plan, the Victorian Government has invested over $18 million towards a
coordinated set of prevention initiatives. This has included $10.8 million through the Department of Human
Services, and $7.2 million over three years through the Department of Justice Community Crime Prevention
Program.
Some of these initiatives include:
National Foundation to Prevent Violence against Women and their Children
The Foundation to Prevent Violence against Women and their Children was jointly launched on 26 July 2013
by the Victorian Minister for Community Services Mary Wooldridge MP and the former Federal Minister for
the Status of Women, Julie Collins with the Victorian Government contributing $3.4 million over two years. It
is chaired by former Senator, Natasha Stott Despoja AM. The Foundation responds to the identified Victorian
and Commonwealth need for a national body to lead the conversation about violence against women and
their children, raise community awareness and change attitudes and behaviours in organisations,
communities and families across Australia.
In April 2014, the Minister for Community Services announced a further $3 million in funding over three years
to the Foundation to further build on its work.
Disability sector resources and training
In October 2013, Women with Disabilities Victoria received $400,000 to deliver a Disability Sector Resources
and Training program. Disability sector workers are being trained in delivering services that are gender
equitable and to understand and address the dynamics of violence that affects women with disabilities. The
program will be delivered by Yooralla in a number of locations across Victoria and will also be delivered in the
Barwon area (launch site of the National Disability Insurance Scheme).
The Eliminating Violence Against Women Media Awards
The 2013 Eliminating Violence Against Women Media Awards (the EVAs), hosted in July by Domestic
Violence Victoria, received $50,000 in Victorian Government funding. The EVAs honour journalists for
excellence in the reporting of stories that highlight and address violence against women, and whose stories
demonstrate respectful and sensitive coverage. In recognition of the success of this Victorian initiative, the
EVAs will be rolled out nationally in 2014.
Media Advocacy Project for victims, survivors of violence against women
The Media Advocacy Project trains and supports women victims/survivors of violence to engage with the
media and be spokespeople for media interviews and public events. The project aims to inform community
attitudes and empower women to share their stories. Announced in November 2013, this project is delivered
through funding of $100,000 to the Women’s Domestic Violence Crisis Support Service.
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White Ribbon Activities
White Ribbon activities, which encourage men to speak up about violence against women, have been
supported through a $100,000 commitment. This includes the White Ribbon conference in May 2013, the
annual White Ribbon Luncheon and Walk Against Family Violence in November 2013 and a new e-learning
module for White Ribbon ambassadors to assist their effectiveness in their role.
Local Government Preventing Violence Against Women Project
The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) has been funded $200,000 to support capacity building of
Victoria’s 79 local councils to prevent violence against women by embedding gender equity principles into
council policies and programs.
The MAV has provided an important central role for councils to seek expertise, advice and linkages to others
in preventing violence against women (PVAW) and gender equity activity. The ‘Promising Practice, Inspiring
Action’ Forum held in December 2013 showcased innovative local government projects that are successfully
promoting gender equity and preventing violence against women.
National Centre of Excellence
The Victorian Government is contributing more than $1 million to the new National Centre of Excellence to
reduce violence against women. The centre’s program of research will inform strategies on prevention, early
intervention and response to better understand the complex causes of violence and what works best to
prevent and respond to it. A national stakeholder consultation was undertaken in late 2013 to contribute to
the development of a National Research Agenda.
Community Crime Prevention Program – Reducing Violence Against Women and their
Children grants (RVAWC)
$7.2 million of funding over three years has been allocated from the Victorian Government’s Community
Crime Prevention Program for grants to help reduce violence against women and their children. This includes
$2.4 million for early intervention and prevention projects in Victorian Koori communities. These projects
recognise and respond to the disproportionately high rates of violence that our Indigenous communities
experience. Examples of some of the initiatives funded are:
 the Baby Makes 3 programs in Southeast and Barwon South West region to promote equal and
respectful relationships between men and women during their transition to parenthood
 recruitment of male leaders to mentor CALD, faith community, student leaders and members of
sporting clubs to promote respect and challenge attitudes that support violence in Casey, Cardinia
and Greater Dandenong
 implementing activities with nine partner organisations in North and West Metropolitan Region to
influence structural and systemic organisational change in workplaces, and
 the development of Koori specific media campaigns and activities: including producing high quality
television commercials tackling family violence in Koori communities, and supporting Koori men in
East Gippsland to become community leaders and mentors through participation in cultural camps
and groups.
Bully Stoppers online toolkit
The Bully Stoppers online toolkit was launched in March 2013. The key message is that bullying can happen
to any child but that we can help stop bullying by actively standing up for, and supporting, victims.
The toolkit offers practical advice, fact sheets, learning modules and opportunities for parents, teachers and
principals to work together to ensure that schools are safe and supportive places, where everyone is
empowered to help reduce the incidence of bullying.
The toolkit was developed with the support of leading experts and tested with students and teachers.
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Since January 2014, a range of new bullying prevention and cyber safety resources including a series of
video interviews for students, parents and teachers accompanied by lesson plan ideas have been added to
the toolkit. Further resources will be added throughout 2014.
Partners in Prevention Project
Delivered by the Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria, this project builds the capacity and expertise
of professionals who deliver youth-based respectful relationships education in Victoria. Funding of $150,000
over two years includes an online ‘one-stop shop’ for youth-focussed prevention workers, providing current
information, new resources and links to materials on the safe use of technology for young people.
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Goal 2: EARLY INTERVENTION
Early intervention supports women and children at risk of violence. Initiatives include extending training and
skills development for workers in health services to help them identify family violence, and a project focused
on families at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness due to family violence.
Key achievements
Extending the Family Violence Risk Assessment and Risk Management Framework (CRAF)
As at December 2013, more than 6000 mainstream and family violence specialist workers have been trained
in the Family Violence Common Risk Assessment and Risk Management Framework (CRAF). This includes
expansion into mental health, alcohol and other drug services as well as specific contextualisation of CRAF
for General Practitioners and related allied health workers. Corrections Victoria has already implemented
CRAF training for Community Corrections officers and is in the process of implementing a second round of
training. CRAF provides a standardised, transparent approach and tools to identify family violence and
manage risk to improve the safety of women and their children.
Aboriginal contextualisation of CRAF
People working with Aboriginal clients are being supported to respond more effectively to their needs. A
training package including case studies has been developed and is currently being piloted in regional and
metropolitan areas.
Investment in men’s behaviour change programs
Voluntary men’s behaviour change programs have received funding of an additional $2.1 million to support
an additional 260 places per year to bring about changes in the attitudes and behaviour of men who use
violence, with the aim of stopping the cycle of violence and reducing recidivism. Program placements are
targeted in areas of high demand based on an analysis of police reports, court intervention order applications
and child protection notifications.
Sexually Abusive Behaviours Treatment Program
In the 2012-2013 State Budget, the Sexually Abusive Behaviours Treatment (SABT) Program received $7.4
million over three years to increase the number of program places from 240 per annum to 445 and to
establish an ongoing professional development program. Funding was allocated to SABT providers in
October 2012 and training will commence in May 2014.
The Department of Human Services has played a pivotal role in developing a training package and has
negotiated for the Australian and New Zealand Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abuse (ANZATSA) to
deliver some components of the package. ANZATSA is responsible for the promotion of professional
standards, practices, and education in sexual abuse prevention, assessment, intervention and research.
Other training will be provided by local experts in the field.
Improving mental health inpatient facilities
The safety of women patients in psychiatric facilities is being enhanced through more than $6 million in
Victorian Government funding for a range of capital improvements. The Government has directed health
services to make women’s safety a priority in mental health services.
Further training and development is available to support workforce implementation of the new Service
Guidelines for Gender Sensitivity and Safety. This training has been developed for providers of treatment and
care in mental health inpatient facilities, community mental health and alcohol and other drug services.
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The Lookout website
Funded by the Victorian Government and launched in December 2013, the Lookout is an accessible and
interactive site for specialist family violence practitioners as well as mainstream services and agencies. The
website provides information to the sector about new developments, resources, relevant media, events,
training, data and research as well as supporting an on-line community of practice for specialist practitioners.
The Lookout project was led by Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria and Domestic Violence Victoria.
Expanding Adolescent Family Violence pilot
The Adolescent Family Violence (AFV) pilot received funding of $1.6 million over four years to expand the
number of demonstration sites for the AFV program to two additional locations. The sites are expected to
become operational in mid 2014, and are in addition to the demonstration project delivered by Peninsula
Health since January 2013 in the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula areas. An independent two-year
evaluation of the existing and new programs will commence in mid 2014.
This early intervention program provides a family-based response to young people who use violence against
a parent or carer. It aims to increase the safety and stability of all family members by preventing the
escalation of adolescent family violence.
Family Violence and Homeless Innovation Action Plan Project
The Victorian Government through the Victorian Homelessness Action Plan (VHAP) is trialling the Families at
Home Innovation Action Plan Project (FaH) which focuses on assisting households at risk of, or experiencing,
homelessness resulting from family violence. The FaH project is being delivered by Kildonan UnitingCare and
partners.
A comprehensive safety and risk analysis is undertaken and families are assigned a key worker. Households
with high-risk safety issues are immediately referred to other relevant services. Eligible families are provided
with outreach support, psycho-social educational group programs, services for women to enable them to
remain safely at home and assistance with a range of housing options such as advocacy and linkages with
private real estate agents to secure or maintain housing.
Training for mainstream services to work with men
Funding of $350,000 over two years has been provided to No to Violence to develop and deliver state-wide
training sessions for services on how to work more effectively with men who use violence against women.
Services include alcohol and other drug counsellors, family services, mental health practitioners and problem
gambling counsellors. The training aims to maximise early intervention to prevent men’s violence against
women. So far, over 110 people have received training. A further ten sessions will be delivered over the next
six months in both regional and metropolitan Victoria.
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Goal 3: RESPONSE
Effective response to violence against women and children includes getting tougher on perpetrators and
providing viable pathways for victims to rebuild their lives. Actions include new offences and penalties for
breaches of family violence intervention orders, including the introduction of an indictable offence with a
maximum penalty of five years imprisonment.
Key achievements
Legislative reform strengthens responses to perpetrators
Legislation was enacted in 2013 to create new indictable offences for serious or persistent contraventions of
Family Violence Safety Notices and family violence intervention orders. These offences carry a maximum jail
term of five years. Legislation was also passed to enable additional venues of the Magistrates’ Court to make
counselling orders for participation in men’s behaviour change programs.
Since last year, the Government has introduced a range of legislative and administrative reforms to
strengthen Victoria’s parole system and the management of offenders on parole. An additional $84.1 million
has been committed to support the implementation of sweeping reforms to the way serious violent and sex
offenders are managed in prison, and to the Victorian Parole system. This includes significantly
strengthened management, supervision and treatment of serious violent and sex offenders both in prison and
while on parole, including the requirement that such offenders complete offending behaviour treatment
programs and demonstrating satisfactory behaviour while in prison prior to their consideration for parole.
In April 2014, the Government also introduced new legislation in Parliament to create two additional criminal
offences that will further protect children from sexual abuse. The introduction of these offences is the next
stage in the Government’s response to the recommendations of the Parliament’s Family and Community
Development Committee’s Betrayal of Trust report on the handling of child sex abuse allegations.
A new offence carrying up to five years in jail will apply to a person who holds a position of responsibility in an
organisation and fails to take action where they know there is someone associated with the organisation who
poses a risk of sexually abusing children. The law will apply to a wide range of organisations that may be
involved with children including schools, churches, sporting clubs and youth clubs.
The new laws will also make it an offence carrying a penalty of up to three years in jail for a person to fail to
provide relevant information to police if they know or believe a child has been sexually abused. There are
circumstances where it will not be an offence to not report, that include if the person has reasonable fears for
their own or another person’s safety, and it is reasonable not to report in the circumstances.
Oversight of Multiple Breaches of Intervention Orders
The Department of Human Services is reviewing an initial list of approximately 900 men who have repeatedly
breached intervention orders to help ensure the safety of the children and young people in their lives. The
review is being conducted by DHS Child Protection practitioners in conjunction with Victoria Police and the
Department of Justice.
The 900 individuals were identified using a risk assessment process that focussed on multiple breaches of
intervention orders by individuals who have children in their lives. Further analysis that included mental
health considerations has resulted in a high priority list of around 130 individuals and families.
Child Protection workers have been visiting these high priority families and if necessary, connecting them to
legal and other support services. Where there may be breaches of intervention orders or harassment, they
alert police or help families to get the intervention orders strengthened. Following review of the high priority
cases, Child Protection will work through the rest of the cases.
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Sexual Assault Multi Disciplinary Centres
Three Sexual Assault Multi Disciplinary Centres (MDCs) are currently co-located with police investigators,
sexual assault counsellors/advocates, and child protection workers. A further three MDCs are being
established to improve support for adult and child victims of sexual assault and victims of child abuse. The
principal MDC centre will be located in Dandenong, along with two regional sites in Bendigo and La Trobe
Valley. Work is continuing with the Department of Justice, Victoria Police, Centres Against Sexual Assault,
Department of Human Services and forensic services to establish these new MDCs.
Sexual offences and child abuse cross training
Children and young people may also be at risk of being sexually exploited. Joint training between Victoria
Police and Child Protection is currently underway to further strengthen the inter-agency response to this
difficult issue and to discuss the use of innovative practices that interrupt sexual exploitation.
Legislation was also passed in February 2014 in relation to grooming of children for unlawful sexual
purposes. The legislation provides that a person of or over the age of 18 must not communicate by words or
conduct with a child under the age of 16, or a person under whose care, supervision or authority the child is,
with the intention of facilitating the child's engagement or involvement in a sexual offence with that person or
another adult. A maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment applies to this offence.
Strengthening Family Violence Risk Management Demonstration Projects and Guidelines
The Strengthening Risk Management Demonstration Projects in the City of Hume and the City of Greater
Geelong have received an additional $800,000 to extend them to June 2014. The recently evaluated
Demonstration Projects provide a platform for multi-agency responses to women and children at high risk of
family violence. Key agencies include family violence services, Victoria Police, Corrections Victoria, men’s
services, Child Protection and family services.
Mandated Men’s Behaviour Change programs and corrections–based men’s behaviour
change programs
The Family Violence Court Division continues to issue counselling orders to eligible perpetrators to order their
participation in men’s behaviour change programs (MBCP). The Magistrates’ Court of Victoria and
Department of Human Services have reached agreement for courts to purchase places in men's behaviour
change programs delivered by Department of Human Services service providers. Legislation has been
enacted to enable Magistrates at Frankston and Moorabbin Courts to issue counselling orders mandating
attendance at men's behaviour change programs. Courts also now have to power to order perpetrators
residing in an additional sixty five postcodes to attend counselling.
In July 2013, Corrections Victoria commenced a pilot of the Domestic Abuse Program in a prison and
community correctional location. The Domestic Abuse Program (DAP) is a 40 hour 'risk/needs’ model
program (as opposed to the 20 hour psycho-educational Men’s Behaviour Change Program) delivered to
moderate and high risk offenders. In addition, the DAP program includes a partner contact component to
strengthen outcomes and support partners whilst offenders complete the program.
Men’s Behaviour Change Programs have been delivered to over 120 offenders on Community Correctional
Orders. Two more Men’s Behaviour Change programs have recently commenced in Sunshine and Hoppers
Crossing.
Family Violence and Sexual Assault Case Management
In 2012, an extra $9.25 million was allocated for family violence counselling and case management to
increase the sector’s capacity to respond to an additional 1,200 women and children a year. Funding of a
further $3.75 million was also provided for sexual assault counselling to alleviate waiting times and allow
victims to be seen as soon as possible following an assault.
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Disability Family Violence Crisis Response initiative
The Disability Family Violence Crisis Response initiative was introduced as a pilot in December 2011. The
initiative provides immediate access to funds to support the needs of women and children with a disability
experiencing a family violence crisis. An evaluation completed in January 2013 found that the initiative has
achieved positive results, enabling women and children to return home safely, or to access crisis
accommodation and support. The initiative was recently extended, with a $1 million commitment over four
years.
Victoria Police Enhanced Family Violence Service Delivery Model including family violence
teams
The model was launched in November 2011 and prioritises action on repeat victims and recidivist offenders.
Under the model, standardised operating procedures have been developed for all specialist family violence
positions, and education and training in family violence has been reviewed. Victoria Police now has 28 Family
Violence Teams operating across the state, particularly in areas of high growth or demand.
Changing Family Futures initiative
The Changing Family Futures initiative co-locates Child Protection and Victoria Police to support coordinated
responses to family violence incidents. Operating from Morwell and Bairnsdale, the initiative also operates
within the context of the Gippsland Integrated Family Violence Service Reform Strategy, which brings
together government and non-government partners. Since the implementation of the initiative in 2012, the
program has worked with 383 vulnerable children with the aim of addressing family violence, holding
offenders accountable and supporting safer families.
Improving referral pathways
Victoria Police can now e-refer parties following a family violence incident to the local specialist family
violence service, and all male victims to the Victims of Crime Helpline for further assessment. The e-referral
capacity was piloted in late 2012 and is now rolled out statewide.
Koori Family Violence Police Protocol project
The Koori Family Violence Police Protocol is a partnership project between Victoria Police, the Department of
Justice, and the Aboriginal Family Violence and Prevention Legal Service. The protocol aims to provide an
overview of the police response in six sites across Victoria in order to strengthen relationships and encourage
community confidence in reporting family violence. The protocol is embedded in Grampians, Darebin and
Mildura, and is anticipated to be finalised in Bairnsdale this month. The two additional sites at Dandenong
and Shepparton are in the planning phase with a community consultation group established, and it is
intended that they be finalised by mid-year.
Strong Culture, Strong Peoples, Strong Families: Towards a safer future for Indigenous
families and communities 10 Year Plan – mid term Evaluation
A mid-term evaluation of the 10 Year Plan is being commissioned. The evaluation will consider the progress
made in implementing the actions and projects; the benefits and lessons of the ‘community led
implementation model’, and how the Plan has contributed to creating a safer Victoria for all Aboriginal
families and communities. Led by the Office of Aboriginal Affairs Victoria, Government funding has been
coordinated across the Department of Human Services, the Department of Justice and the Department of
Education and Early Childhood Development.
Improving the justice response to sexual assault
The Sexual Assault Reform Strategy aims to enhance perpetrator accountability by supporting victims
through the criminal justice process. In keeping with commitments under the Strategy, a Working Group of
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the Sexual Assault Advisory Committee has been established to examine the interface between sexual
assault and family violence. Priorities for this working group are:
 increasing community and professional awareness of sexual assault as a component of family
violence
 improving the transfer of information across criminal, civil and family jurisdictions to identify common
matters.
Some other specific responses include expanded treatment and post release programs for serious sex
offenders and additional training for judges and the legal profession on issues surrounding sexual assault.
The Department of Justice is currently conducting a review of sexual offences in Victoria, which aims to
improve the clarity and effectiveness of sexual offence laws.
Support to culturally and linguistically diverse women including those trafficked
Culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) women, including those trafficked to work in the sex industry, are
being supported through funding of $200,000 to Project Respect. Announced in October 2013, the project
primarily supports CALD women wanting to leave the sex industry through education, assistance to obtain
employment, training and counselling.
Services Connect
The Department of Human Service is currently testing Services Connect in five lead sites across Victoria.
The focus on Client Support, a service through which individuals and families are being supported to build
their capabilities and work towards self management. However, Services Connect is about much more than
Client Support. It is about the way people access services; the way their needs are identified; how plans are
developed to meet people’s needs; and ultimately how services are provided.
Services Connect will create simpler, more integrated human services, which make it easier for people to get
the support they need, whether their needs are straight-forward, self-service activities such as information
gathering and on-line applications, or they are facing complex situations such as family violence.
In this context, the Department of Human Services is working with family violence stakeholders, to ensure the
learnings from the integrated family violence reforms inform the Services Connect model.
Outcomes focussed planning and collaborative practice are central to this way of working, and this approach
is helping individuals and families work towards sustainable goals around key life domains, including feeling
safe and free from harm.
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Other elements that give effect to the Action Plan
Governance
This substantial investment is underpinned by the following governance arrangements:
The Addressing Violence Against Women and Children Ministerial Advisory Group
The Addressing Violence Against Women and Children Ministerial Advisory Group (Group), chaired by the
Minister for Community Services, Hon Mary Woodridge was established in early 2013 and is the governing
body that works with the Victorian Government to achieve the long term vision in which women and children
live free from violence.
Membership comprises key Ministers and sector experts with a high level of knowledge on issues related to
family violence against women and children in their particular field of expertise.
Membership of the Group comprises:

The Hon Mary Wooldridge (Chair)
Minister for Mental Health, Community
Services, Disability Services and Reform

The Hon Robert Clark
Attorney-General and Minister for Finance and
Industrial Relations
The Hon Kim Wells
Minister for Police and Emergency Services


The Hon Tim Bull
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and for Local
Government

Professor Cathy Humphreys, Professor of
Social Work, University of Melbourne

Mr Peter Lauristen, Chief Magistrate,
Magistrates Court of Victoria

Mr Ken Lay, Chief Commissioner,
Victoria Police

Ms Fiona McCormack, Chief Executive Officer,
Domestic Violence Victoria

Dr Adele Murdolo, Chief Executive Officer,
Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health

The Hon Edward O'Donohue
Minister for Crime Prevention and Corrections

Dr Judith Slocombe, Chief Executive Officer,
The Alannah and Madeline Foundation

The Hon Wendy Lovell
Minister for Housing, Minister for Children and
Early Childhood Development

Ms Vicky Vacondios, Advocate for victims and
media advocate


The Hon Martin Dixon
Minister for EducationMs Stella
Avramopolous, Chief Executive Officer,
Kildonan UnitingCare
Mr Rodney Vlais, Acting Executive Officer,
No To Violence

Ms Jacinta Wainwright, Executive Officer,
Women’s Resource and Information Support
Centre Victoria

Ms Carolyn Worth, Manager, South Eastern
Centre Against Sexual Assault

Professor Muriel Bamblett AM, Chief
Executive Officer, Victorian Aboriginal Child
Care Agency

Judge Peter Couzens, President,
Children’s Court of Victoria

Ms Karen Hogan, Manager, Gatehouse
Centre, Royal Children’s Hospital
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The Violence Against Women and Children Interdepartmental Committee
The Violence Against Women and Children Interdepartmental Committee (IDC) oversees implementation of
the Action Plan, and provides advice to Ministers on all relevant violence against women and children policy
and program development. All IDC members attend the Ministerial Advisory Group. In 2013, the IDC focused
on issues related to the development of policies, programs, services and their review and evaluation, that
impact on violence against women and children.
The Violence Against Women and Children Forum
The Violence Against Women and Children Forum (the Forum) provides advice and recommendations to the
Victorian Government through the IDC. The Forum is chaired by the Deputy Secretary, Community and
Executive Services, Department of Human Services and the Assistant Commissioner, Chief Information
Officer, Victoria Police. Members of the IDC also attend the Forum ensuring representation from relevant
government departments.
Other state-wide governance structures overseeing the violence against women and children activity in
Victoria continue to meet. These include the Indigenous Family Violence Partnership Forum, the Family
Violence Regional Integration Steering Committees, the Department of Justice’s Family Violence Steering
Committee and Stakeholder Reference Group and the Sexual Assault Advisory Committee.
Strengthening the Workforce
More than 6000 mainstream and family violence specialist workers have been trained in the Family Violence
Common Risk Assessment and Risk Management Framework (CRAF). The CRAF has also been
specifically contextualised for General Practitioners and related allied health workers.
Women with Disabilities Victoria has also received $400,000 to train disability sector workers to deliver
services that are gender equitable and to assist them to understand and address the dynamics of violence
that affects women with disabilities.
Information and data
As of March 2014, police members have improved visibility of intervention orders on the Law Enforcement
Assistance Program (LEAP), including interim and final order details, application outcomes, adjournments
and variations.
These improvements are the result of a joint initiative between Victoria Police and the Magistrates’ Court of
Victoria to automatically input details of intervention orders granted at court into LEAP. This replaces the
existing process of courts faxing copies of all intervention orders to the Central Data Entry Bureau for manual
entry into LEAP. Courts will continue to fax orders to police stations for service.
The next stage of the initiative will be the automatic transfer of details of intervention order applications
between LEAP and courts.
There is also ongoing work within the Department of Justice and across justice and community agencies to
improve information flow in high risk cases. One particular project focus is the transfer of information in
situations where sexual assault occurs within a family violence context.
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