Family violence workforce census

The Royal Commission into Family Violence highlighted the lack of detailed knowledge and essential workforce data about family violence in Victoria.

The Victorian Government has committed to addressing this gap, which includes undertaking a workforce census, every two years, to deliver continuous workforce planning and development improvements for people who come into contact with family violence, in the course of their work.

The census collects data across a wide range of workforces including:

specialist family violence
primary prevention
services across the community services, health, justice, and education and training sector.

The census is led by Family Safety Victoria and developed in consultation with peak bodies and member agencies in the family violence sector.

Workforce census findings

The 2022 Family Violence and Sexual Assault Workforce Pulse Survey closed on 19 October 2022.

Thank you to everyone who contributed and thank you to everyone who shared information about the survey. By taking part, you are helping to build the capabilities of specialist services to identify, respond and prevent family violence throughout Victoria.

The Workforce Pulse Survey focused on the specialist family violence and sexual assault workforce, especially those who provided services to clients through:
- specialist family violence services (victim survivors) (SFVS) organisations
- sexual assault support services organisations (SASS)
- Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCO)
- family violence perpetrator interventions (FVPI) organisations (which groups specialist family violence services for adults using violence and Men's Behaviour Change Program providers)
- The Orange Door network (TODN), including in this instance child wellbeing specialists.
The survey also focused on a smaller range of issues. Survey findings will inform critical work to improve staff recruitment and retention, employment opportunities, pathways and remuneration.

Further information about the 2022 survey can be found on the dedicated landing page.

If you have any feedback about the survey you can contact the Workforce Pulse survey team at: workforcesurvey@familysafety.vic.gov.au

Online report
- 2022 Family Violence and Sexual Assault Workforce Pulse Survey report
The 2019-20 Family Violence Workforce Census closed on 28 February 2020.

Thank you to everyone who participated. By taking part, you help us build on what we know to increase the capabilities of all Victorian workforces to identify, respond to and prevent family violence and make sure there is no wrong door for victim-survivors and those who seek support or advice.

The census findings also inform critical work to improve staff health and wellbeing, recruitment and retention, remuneration and employment opportunities and pathways.

Key findings across all workforces that participated in the census are summarised in an overall summary findings report. A more detailed report will also be available for each workforce, including sector snapshots for broader workforces that intersect with family violence, such as people who work in services across the community services, health, justice and education sectors.

Online reports
- Summary findings report: 2019-20 census findings for all workforces
- 2019-20 Census of workforces that intersect with family violence: Survey Findings Report - Specialist Family Violence Response Workforce
- 2019-20 Census of workforces that intersect with family violence: Survey Findings Report - Primary Prevention Workforce
- 2019-20 Census of workforces that intersect with family violence: Broader workforces summary results reports
  - This report summarises the results for each of these broader workforces:
    
    alcohol and drug services
    
    broader community services
    
    ambulance services
    
    children, families and child protection
    
    community health services
    
    community mental health services
    
    court services
    
    disability services
    
    education
    
    housing and homelessness
    
    justice
    
    legal services
    
    maternal and child health
    
    other community services
    
    police
    
    public health services
    
    settlement services
    
    youth work.
The first census took place in April 2017 and through this process we collected data using two tools:
- an online survey of workers
- a payroll data template for organisations in selected sectors.
Data that we collected included:
- the profile of the workforces that responded to the census
- roles and salaries
- qualifications and experience
- job satisfaction
- career pathways
- family violence-related training
- levels of confidence in identifying and responding to family violence
- what types of support would enable a more effective response to family violence.
You can find a summary of this and related data in the companion report to Building from Strength: 10-Year Industry Plan for Family Violence Prevention and Response.

Download a copy of the report:

Census of Workforces that Intersect with Family Violence 2017 report
PDF 919.43 KB

(opens in a new window)

We used the data collected in the 2017 census to inform the development of the 10-Year industry plan. We will also use the data to support associated workforce planning.

Updated 9 May 2023