Victoria Police establish a Family Violence Centre of Learning

The Victoria Police Family Violence Centre of Learning (Centre of Learning) is a key foundation of our reform and one of Victoria Police's main priorities in implementing the Royal Commission into Family Violence's (Royal Commission) recommendations. In establishing the Centre of Learning the Victorian Government will:

• recruit new staff
• conduct a training needs analysis to construct an effective and informed curriculum
• establish an academic governance group

Establishment of the Centre of Learning at the Victoria Police Academy is complete.

The Community Safety Statement 2017 provided funding for new educators and program staff and these positions were filled during 2016/17. The Centre of Learning for Family Violence is supported by an external Academic Governance Group of key experts and researchers who will provide advice to Victoria Police on best practice models to inform education frameworks. The Academic Governance Group held its first meeting in February 2018.

The Centre has completed a review of education for new police recruits and commenced foundational family violence recruit training for all new police officers. The Centre has also delivered training to support the roll out of body worn cameras for general duties and is scheduled to deliver training to support the family violence body worn cameras evidence-in-chief trial (recommendation 58).

The Centre is currently conducting a training needs analysis to construct an effective and evidence based curriculum for all Victoria Police employees.

Since the Royal Commission produced its report and recommendations Victoria Police has developed four separate education packages on family violence. These include:

• Family Violence Dynamics for completion by all Victoria Police employees
• two Family Violence Essentials packages for employees in supervisory roles
• Understanding Family Violence in the Aboriginal Community

The packages have been developed with input from representatives and experts across the family violence sector. Nearly 14,000 Victoria Police employees have undertaken new family violence education since the Royal Commission delivered its findings.

Implemented.