Changes to family violence risk assessment, management and information sharing

On 27 September 2018, reforms to respond to family violence risk and to promote the wellbeing and safety of children came into effect.

The Victorian Government has endorsed the redeveloped Family Violence Multi-Agency Risk Assessment and Management Framework (MARAM). This was recommendation 1 of the Royal Commission into Family Violence, and is a major milestone in progressing the family violence reform agenda.

MARAM came into effect alongside the next phase of the Family Violence Information Sharing Scheme, and the Child Information Sharing Scheme.

Together, these reforms are integral to improving the safety of families and children as well as promoting the accountability of perpetrators. It will help all parts of our system develop a shared understanding of family violence risk, share information and work better together.

As the reforms take effect, the first phase of prescribed organisations will be required to start aligning their policies, practice guidance and tools to MARAM.

Prescribed organisations should commence reviewing and updating their policies and procedures, including record-keeping requirements and processes for making requests for information and responding to them.

From 8 October 2018, Information Sharing and introduction to MARAM training will be progressively rolled out to organisations and services prescribed in the reforms.

Visit our Information sharing schemes and the MARAM framework page more information about the reforms, which organisations they apply to, ministerial guidelines, training registration and other practice resources.