Introduction

1.1 Program purpose

Family Safety Victoria (FSV) has established two new trial programs for perpetrators of family violence, which address the needs of a more diverse range of perpetrators, and are better integrated into the wider response to family violence in Victoria.

1.1.1 Recommendation 87 of the Royal Commission into Family Violence

The Royal Commission into Family Violence (the Royal Commission) found that existing interventions for perpetrators of family violence were not sufficiently broad nor diverse. Apart from a small number of programs for men from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) background, Aboriginal men, and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex (LGBTI) community, there was limited diversity in interventions for perpetrators of family violence. For example, the Royal Commission heard that people who misuse alcohol or other drugs, or have mental health issues, found it difficult to engage in these interventions[1]

Historically, the main intervention targeted at perpetrators in Victoria have been Men’s Behaviour Change Programs (MBCPs). MBCPs are designed to assist men to take accountability for their actions and to end their use of violence and other problematic behaviour in their relationships. They are intended to assist in facilitating the behavioural changes necessary to build healthy and respectful relationships. MBCPs include a family safety contact function, who works with the person who experiences violence to ensure they are connected to services as required and are kept safe and in sight. The Royal Commission found MBCPs to be inadequate in being able to provide tailored support to address individual needs and risks.

In March 2016 the Victorian Royal Commission released 227 recommendations to reform the state’s response to family violence. Recommendation 87 of the Commission suggests the Victorian Government “research, trial and evaluate interventions for perpetrators [within three years]”, including interventions that:

• provide individual case management where required
• deliver programs to perpetrators from diverse communities and to those with complex needs
• focus on helping perpetrators understand the effects of violence on their children and to become better fathers
• adopt practice models that build coordinated interventions, including cross-sector workforce development between the men’s behaviour change, mental health, drug and alcohol and forensic sectors” [2].

The Royal Commission found that the range of perpetrator interventions needed to be broader and better integrated within the scope of initiatives targeting family violence, creating a “web of accountability” to keep perpetrators in view and protect victims and families.

In response to this recommendation, FSV have developed two new programs; perpetrator case management and community-based perpetrator intervention trials (cohort trials).

1.1.2 Perpetrator case management

One of the new approaches to address the shortcomings of current programs is the implementation of a new case management model for perpetrators of family violence.

Case management provides individualised and timely responses to perpetrators. It addresses and coordinates service delivery according to the complex needs of the perpetrator (e.g. alcohol and drug misuse, mental/physical health concerns, gambling or homelessness). Besides ensuring perpetrators are in view of service providers and relevant authorities, case management aims to directly increase the safety of victims via a number of methods. This includes providing a platform to engage with victims through a Family safety contact, and identifying relevant information (shared under the Family Violence Information Sharing Scheme) to contribute to risk assessment and management for victim safety. Case management also helps involve the perpetrator in planning and decision making to encourage engagement with other social activities and universal services.

The approach to case management consists of developing strategies and skills to stop the perpetrator’s use of violence, as well as increasing their motivation for change. Perpetrators under case management are assisted in:

• recognising abusive patterns and tactics
• seeing the relevance in their engagement with support services and long-term behaviour change, and
• taking responsibility for their violence through their engagement with support services such as MBCP [3].

Funding provides for an average of 20 hours per participant.

Case management was targeted at perpetrators who:

• have been removed from the home and require practical support;
• are deemed unsuitable for MBCPs. This could be due to:
  • English not being a primary language
  • having complex needs (mental health, alcohol and other drug issues (AOD), homelessness, cognitive impairment and acquired brain injury) and require support, or
  • being at risk from other perpetrators.
• are attending a MBCP and require additional support to stay engaged, including those at risk to themselves, or
• require additional support after the conclusion of a MBCP [4].

Referrals to case management occur primarily through existing intake services and Orange Door locations. This includes police referrals, the Men’s Referral Service, and informal referrals (such as Child Protection, family services, or other pathways).

The providers by area are listed in Table 1.1 below. Further detail on each provider by area, is shown in Table 1.1.

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