Family Safety Victoria - Part II Statements

Our Part II Statements outline the role of Family Safety Victoria (FSV) and makes it easy to locate information about key services, functions and reports.

Please note, the statements below are not an exhaustive list of all the information that is publicly available.

FSV was established as an administrative office of the Department of Health and Human Services in July 2017 and then the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (department) in February 2021 to:

drive key elements of Victoria’s family violence strategy
coordinate support for families to help them care for children and young people

FSV’s priority is the safety and wellbeing of women, children and young people. We are working to keep women, children and families safe, and to ensure children and young people grow up in families that can support their development, health and wellbeing needs.

FSV leads policy development and delivers key reforms including:

Establishing The Orange Door in 17 locations across Victoria – transforming services, making it easier to get help for those at risk or experiencing family violence and for families needing support for the care, development and wellbeing of their children.
Enhancing existing specialised services for those experiencing family violence including children, so that the right assistance is available at the right time.
Implementing the Multiagency Risk Assessment and Management Framework (the MARAM), and the new family violence information sharing regime to those organisations prescribed under regulations.
Implement the Central Information Point (CIP) which connects services, such as The Orange Door, to integrated information from police, the courts, the department, and Corrections to keep people experiencing family violence safe.
Delivering the 10-year Family Violence Industry Plan and housing the Centre for Workforce Excellence, to build workforce capacity and capability in partnership with the sector.
Building an understanding of Victoria’s diverse communities to embed improved responsiveness to diversity and to the complexities of intersectionality across the family violence, child and family services reforms.
Leading engagement with sector, people with lived experience of family violence and child and family services, diverse communities and the Victorian community as a whole to ensure all reforms and service innovations delivered by FSV to achieve improved, integrated and coordinated response to client’s complex needs.
Dhelk Dja: Safe our Way: Strong Culture, Strong Peoples, Strong Families — the new Aboriginal 10 Year Family Violence Agreement led by key Aboriginal stakeholders.
Implementation of Everybody Matters - 10 Year Inclusion and Equity Statement, so everyone can be supported by the service system, regardless of age, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, culture, religion and ability.

We are working across government and with our partners across the community services sector to transform services and introduce new practices to make it easier for people to get the help, protection and support they need, simply and in a coordinated manner.

By leading collaboration and engagement for Victoria’s family violence response, we will make sure the safety and needs of people with lived experience of family violence and child and family services drive these changes, and that services are safe, accessible and culturally appropriate.

This Part II statement describes how FSV is making information readily available to the public. Providing easily accessible information reduces the need to submit freedom of information requests under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic).

Part II Statements

FSV was established as an Administrative Office in relation to the Department of Health and Human Services, by Orders of the Governor in Council dated 20 June 2017 and then the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (department) by Orders of the Governor in Council dated 27 January 2021 (in accordance with section 11(a) the Public Administration Act 2004 (Vic)).

The Orders were published in the Victorian Government Gazette, G25, 22 June 2017 and No. S41 on 27 January 2021(opens in a new window).

FSV’s vision is to create a future where all Victorians are safe and where children grow up in environments that are built on gender equality and respectful relationships.

The Chief Executive Officer of FSV is responsible for the general conduct and effective, efficient and economical management of the functions and activities of FSV and reports to the Secretary of the department.

The Chief Executive Officer of FSV also reports to the Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence and other Ministers who may directly oversee Family Safety Victoria’s activities, such as the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs.

Find the Family Safety Victoria organisational structure.

Annual reports

As an Administrative Office, FSV is not required to table an annual report. However, as FSV is responsible to the department, their annual reports outline FSV’s key achievements, our progress against Family Violence Service Delivery performance measures, workforce data, remuneration and employment levels.

FSV’s financial statements are consolidated into the department’s statements contained in the annual report, pursuant to a determination made by the Minister for Finance under section 53(1)(b) of the Financial Management Act 1994 (Vic).

The department’s annual reports are tabled in parliament, in accordance with the provisions for the Financial Management Act 1994.

Find the Department of Health and Human Service annual reports.

Family violence reform governance

FSV is responsible for coordinating a number of local and statewide steering groups, working groups and consultative committees, to inform its work. A list of major steering committees, working groups and consultative committees is available from FSV and requests for these can be directed to query@familysafety.vic.gov.au or by post at the below address:

Family Safety Victoria
GPO Box 4057
Melbourne VIC 3001

Legislation

There are a number of Acts and Regulations which are relevant to and are available on the Victorian Legislation website.

The Acts and Regulations relevant to FSV’s operations are as follows:
- Family Violence Protection Act 2008 (Vic)
- Children Youth & Families Act 2005 (Vic)
- Children Wellbeing & Safety Act 2005 (Vic)
- Family Violence Protection Regulations 2018 (Vic)
- Family Violence Protection (Information Sharing and Risk Management) Regulations 2018 (Vic)
- Child Wellbeing and Safety (Information Sharing) Regulations 2018 (Vic)
- Child Wellbeing and Safety Regulations 2017 (Vic)
- Public Administration Act 2004 (Vic)
- Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (Vic)
- Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (Vic)
- Health Records Act 2001 (Vic)
- Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic)
- Protected Disclosures Act 2012 (Vic)
- Disability Act 2006 (Vic)
- Financial Management Act 1994 (Vic)
- Electronic Transactions Act 2000 (Vic)
- Evidence Act 2008 (Vic)
- Public Records Act 1973 (Vic)
- Victorian Data Sharing Act 2017 (Vic)
- Ombudsman Act 1973 (Vic)
- Crimes Act 1958 (Vic) (Destruction of Evidence)
Further information

FSV does not maintain a reading room or library that is open to the public.

General enquiries can be directed to FSV by email at query@familysafety.vic.gov.au or by post to the relevant business unit at the below address:

Family Safety Victoria
GPO Box 4057
Melbourne VIC 3001
FSV creates, collects and publishes a range of data in relation to its work. FSV uses a number of electronic document and records management systems in order to classify, store, access and manage this broad range of documents.

Under section 7 of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic) an agency must publish a statement of the categories of documents it maintains. This statement broadly describes the documents held by FSV.

The types of documents that FSV holds includes:
- policies, procedures and standards
- client case files
- registers
- correspondence
- meeting records
- financial records
- action plans
- reports
- budgets
- guidelines
- fact sheets
The documents fall into the following categories:
- administration
- employee support and management
- financial management
- incident reports
- legal services
- policies and procedures
- family violence service provision
- family violence reform
- budget planning
- prevention strategies
- government relations
The above examples are not an exhaustive list and provide a snapshot of information available.

FSV’s information assets are documented in the department’s Information Assets Register, an extract of which is publicly available on the department’s website.

If you wish to find information relating to a specific area of FSV’s work, please conduct a search of the Victorian Government’s website on Family Violence Reform and The Orange Door using key words.

Further information

General enquiries can be directed to FSV by email at query@familysafety.vic.gov.au or by post to the relevant business unit at the below address:

Family Safety Victoria
GPO Box 4057
Melbourne VIC 3001
The Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) gives you the right to seek access to documents about your own personal affairs and the activities of the Government of Victoria and of Government Agencies, including Family Safety Victoria (FSV).

This means you have the right to:
- request access to documents about your personal affairs and the activities of FSV, where those documents are held by FSV
- request that FSV amend incorrect or misleading information about you that we hold
FSV can refuse your request where:
- the documents are covered by an exemption under the FOI Act (for example if it would affect someone’s privacy or safety including from family violence)
- the documents or other information are publicly available for fee
- either the document/s cannot be found after a thorough search, or the documents do not exist, or
- where other legislated exceptions apply
FSV can transfer your request when the documents requested are not held by FSV but may be held by another agency.

Please note that the department assists FSV with processing its FOI requests.

Sometimes FSV can provide you with information or copies of documents about your own personal or health information informally, without the need for a formal FOI request. If you are unsure whether you need to make a formal FOI request, please contact FSV at foi@familysafety.vic.gov.au.

Making a request

If you wish to make a FOI request to Family Safety Victoria, the FOI Act requires you to:
1. Make a written request outlining the particular document/s or types of documents you want to access.
2. Pay the relevant application fee or provide evidence that paying the fee would cause you financial hardship (e.g. a copy of your health care card).
A FOI request cannot be processed unless these requirements are met. If you are unsure what to write in your request or need assistance, please contact FSV on 03 9085 0900.

You can email your request to foi@familysafety.vic.gov.au or send it by post to:

The Freedom of Information Officer
Family Safety Victoria
GPO Box 4057
Melbourne VIC 3001

Proof of identity

If you are requesting access to documents containing your own personal information held by FSV, please provide a certified copy of your photo ID. If you are seeking access to documents as a parent or guardian of a child, you must provide evidence of your guardianship status, proof of evidence that you have custody of the child, or authority to act as an agent.

If you have a representative or advocate making the request, we will also need to see a written and signed statement from you stating that you give permission for that person to communicate with us on your behalf and access the documents.

Seeking proof of your identity is to ensure that private and confidential records are not improperly disclosed.

Processing requests

FSV will assess your request to ensure it is a valid request under the FOI Act, and to see whether it has enough information to search for and identify the document/s. If we need more information or clarification about your request, someone from FSV will contact you.

FSV will then undertake a search for the requested documents and will write to you with a decision about whether your request is granted in full or in part, or if it is refused. FSV will also tell you the reason/s for their decision. FSV has up to 30 days to process and respond to your request. This may be extended to 45 days if FSV needs to consult with other people or organisations.

If you are granted access to requested documents, FSV will discuss with you how access will be provided. You may be required to pay access charges depending on the nature of the request.

If you are unhappy with the decision made by FSV you have the option to make a complaint or seek a review of the decision by the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner (OVIC).

Further information

For further information on exemptions under the FOI Act, challenging a decision and on accessing Victorian Government documents please see the website for the OVIC.

If you are seeking a review of the FOI Commissioner's decision, contact the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
FSV is responsible for 2 websites:
- The Orange Door website, providing information for the general public about family violence and The Orange Door, which is a free service for adults, children and young people who are experiencing or have experienced family violence and families who need extra support with the care of children. Workers at The Orange Door also work with people who use violence.
- The Family Violence Support website, containing information for professionals about FSV and the work it is responsible for arising out of the Royal Commission into Family Violence.
FSV publishes a monthly newsletter providing an update on progress regarding Family Violence Reform. These newsletters are accessible at Family Violence Newsletters.

FSV produces a wide range of publications which can be accessed and downloaded from the two websites. These include resources such as reports, guidelines, fact sheets, policies, procedures, statements, frameworks, checklists and videos. These resources, many of which are available on the website under the following sections:
Examples of resources under these sections include:
- Family Violence information sharing guidelines
- The Family Violence Multi-Agency Risk Assessment and Management Framework
- The Orange Door Service Model
- Everybody Matter Inclusion and Equity Statement
- Strong Culture, Strong Peoples, Strong Families: Towards a safer future for Indigenous families and communities - 10 year plan (2008-2018)
If you wish to find information relating to a specific area of FSV’s work, please conduct a search of the Victorian Government’s website on Family Violence Support and The Orange Door using key words.

Further information

General enquiries can be directed to FSV by email at query@familysafety.vic.gov.au or by post to the relevant business unit at the below address:

Family Safety Victoria
GPO Box 4057
Melbourne VIC 3001
FSV publishes internal rules, policies and procedures online.

As an Administrative Office, FSV applies the rules, policies and procedures of the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (formerly the Department of Health and Human Services) which can be accessed on their website: Department of Health and Human Services Publications.

Types of information under this category that can be found on the Family Violence Reform and The Orange Door websites includes:
- Privacy Policy
- Ministerial Guidelines
- Information Sharing Guidelines
- Guidance for The Orange Door Practitioners
For information relating to a specific area of FSV’s work, please search of the Victorian Government’s website on Family Violence Support and The Orange Door using key words.

Please note that the resource locations and content presented above provide a snapshot of the information that is available on the FSV website and are not an exhaustive representation.

Further information

General enquiries can be directed to FSV by email at query@familysafety.vic.gov.au or by post to the relevant business unit at the below address:

Family Safety Victoria
GPO Box 4057
Melbourne VIC 3001
FSV publishes range of reports and information about family violence reforms which are already implemented and those that are in progress or under consideration.

These family violence reforms include the response to the recommendations from the Royal Commission into Family Violence and the progress.

FSV does not produce annual reports. Information relating to FSV’s performance and efficiency can be found in the annual report produced by the Department of Human Services and Health (department), which can be located under ‘Annual reports’ on the department’s website.

Please note that the resource locations and content presented above provide a snapshot of the information that is available on the FSV website and are not an exhaustive representation.

If you wish to find information relating to a specific area of FSV’s work, please conduct a search of the Victorian Government’s website on Family Violence Reform and The Orange Door using key words.

Further information

General enquiries can be directed to FSV by email at query@familysafety.vic.gov.au or by post to the relevant business unit at the below address:

Family Safety Victoria
GPO Box 4057
Melbourne VIC 3001

Health & social support

Updated 4 May 2021