MARAM practice guides

What MARAM practice guidance is being developed?

FSV has commenced the development of MARAM practice guidance for:

• direct risk and wellbeing assessment of children and young people victim survivors
• identifying and responding to young people using family violence in the home and in intimate partner/dating relationships (recognising young people using violence often experience family violence risk).

This new practice guidance will support workforces prescribed under the MARAM Framework to:

• respond to children and young people as victim survivors in their own right
• support their wellbeing in the context of family violence.

The guidance will support professionals to respond to young people using violence with a trauma and violence-informed and age and developmental stage lens. The practice guides and tools are anticipated for release in 2023.

What has been achieved so far?

Thirty-six consultation sessions have been held for the development of the child and young person-focused MARAM practice guidance. Consultations in May to June focused on responding to young people using family violence.

From July 2022, consultation focused on direct engagement with children and young people as victim survivors, identifying both risk and wellbeing needs. Consultation has occurred with practitioners from:

• therapeutic adolescent family violence programs
• Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drug services, housing/homelessness services
• specialist family violence services
• sexual assault services
• The Orange Doors
• community legal services
• child, youth and family services
• academics and representatives from across government departments.

Targeted consultations were held:

• for professionals working with children and young people from multicultural and faith diverse communities
• for professionals working with children and young people living with disability
• on the topic of assessing suicide risk for children and young people.

A standing consultation group is being facilitated by the Aboriginal Strategy Unit, FSV, with professionals working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people.

The Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare, YSAS, Safe and Equal, RMIT University and Monash University have been contracted to contribute to the development of the Practice Guides. RMIT and YSAS have now completed their work on the project.

What is happening now?

FSV is undertaking a thematic analysis of the consultation feedback and working collaboratively with The Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare and Safe and Equal to draft practice guidance across the 10 MARAM responsibilities. FSV will be testing draft material in consultation with workforces in 2023.

What is planned next?

FSV and Bendigo and District Aboriginal Co-operative (BDAC) have been working closely to ensure an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lens is centred throughout the development of the child and young person-focused MARAM Practice Guides and tools.

The impact of COVID on workforce gaps and demands in the region has meant that BDAC has had to make a decision to support the transition of the project to another Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) at this time.

BDAC will continue to be involved through the standing ACCO consultation group and MARAM Practice Development Working Group. FSV will work towards securing a new ACCO partner before the end of 2022.

FSV recently invited targeted universities to provide a quote for the MARAM Child and Young Person family violence risk and wellbeing identification and assessment tools development project. The procurement process was closed without appointment.

FSV is reviewing the requirements for the project and will refine the scope ahead of a new procurement process. Given the upcoming Victorian state election, a new procurement process will not commence until after the caretaker period ends.

If you are interested in nominating to join this list please email your name, role, program area and organisation to infosharing@familysafety.vic.gov.au.

Links and resources