Section overview
This information is relevant for me, if:
I am a school principal or a member of my school's leadership team or an early childhood service manager.
Why is this resource important to me?
This resource tells me exactly what I need to know as a leader in my organisation to ensure:
- the wellbeing and safety needs of the children and young people in my school or service are met, and
- my staff know how to identify and respond to family violence risk.
What is my responsibility?
It is my responsibility to implement information sharing and MARAM in my school or service by ensuring my staff are supported to understand and meet our organisation's legislated obligations.
What training and support do I need?
Please refer to Staff supports and other resources.
Implementing information sharing and MARAM
The department recognises that reform implementation has no one-size-fits-all approach. There is great diversity across Victorian schools and services, system and statutory bodies, and education health, wellbeing and inclusion workforces.
As a school or service leader, you will determine what systems and processes are best suited to your organisation to support the implementation of the Reforms. This includes identifying employees who have information sharing responsibilities, as well as MARAM nominated staff. The MARAM Framework diagram in the All staff chapter outlines the MARAM responsibilities for schools. Please see How to allocate MARAM responsibilities for more information on how to meet your school or service's MARAM legislated obligations.
Employees who have information sharing responsibilities must have skills reasonably transferable to the promotion of child and family wellbeing or safety, and the appropriate and sensitive management of confidential information. MARAM nominated staff should have qualifications, training and experience or a role aligned with wellbeing, such as wellbeing coordinators or leadership staff.
As a school or service leader, you should work closely with your existing wellbeing and safety leads or key contacts to implement the steps outlined in the Information sharing and MARAM implementation checklist to ensure your staff are able to utilise the Reforms safely and appropriately.
How to allocate MARAM responsibilities
All staff
- Responsibility 1: Respectful, sensitive and safe engagement. All staff can do this by listening to, partnering with and believing the experiences of victim survivors.
- All staff also contribute to MARAM Responsibilities 2, 5, 6, 9 and 10. All staff can do this by using the Family Violence Identification Tool to identify and respond to family violence. See All staff for more details.
MARAM nominated staff
- Responsibilities 1, 2, 5, 6, 9 and 10. MARAM nominated staff undertake screening, safety planning, information sharing and referrals. See MARAM nominated staff for more details.
Tools for school and service leaders
To access the Information sharing and MARAM checklist, refer to Tools for school and service leaders.
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