What MARAM practice guidance is being developed?

Family Safety Victoria (FSV) is developing the 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 and 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?

In 2022, 37 consultation sessions were held to support the development of the child and young person-focused MARAM practice guidance.

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

In December 2022, RMIT published the Adolescents using Family Violence (AFV) MARAM Practice Guidance Project 2022: Review of the Evidence Base. The report, led by Elena Campbell, reviews the evidence base in relation to tools currently used to assess adolescent violence in the home (AVITH), adolescent intimate partner or ‘dating’ violence and harmful sexual behaviours.

In February 2023, Monash University published their report, I Believe You. The report presents findings from 17 in-depth interviews conducted with Victorian children and young people with lived/living experience of family violence.

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 test draft material in consultation with workforces in 2023.

What is planned next?

In December 2022, ACCOs were invited to submit a funding submission to contribute to the development of the child and young person-focused MARAM Practice Guides and tools. The successful ACCO will ensure that the consultation and user testing is culturally safe and supported, and an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lens is centred throughout the development of the Practice Guides and tools. Submissions closed 30 January 2023 and FSV is now evaluating submissions. The successful ACCO will be announced in February 2023.

A procurement process has commenced to secure a provider to develop the MARAM child and young person family violence risk and wellbeing identification and assessment tools. The Request for Quote closed on 10 February 2023. The successful provider will be announced in March 2023.

FSV will be testing draft material in consultation with workforces in 2023. If you would like to be involved in consultation, please contact infosharing@familysafety.vic.gov.au.

Links and resources

What training is being developed?

FSV are developing 3 Adults Using Family Violence (AUFV) training packages to support prescribed MARAM workforces and their practitioners. The training packages will cover Identification, Intermediate and Comprehensive responsibilities.

What has been achieved so far?

The training package for Identification practitioners is being finalised and delivery to practitioners is scheduled to commence in the next quarter. A high-level design of the Intermediate and Comprehensive training packages has been developed with stakeholder feedback from subject matter experts and government.

What is happening now?

The Request for Tender (RFT) to secure a training provider to deliver non-accredited AUFV training is almost complete. The Intermediate and Comprehensive modules are being developed and will be provided to departments and subject matter experts for feedback by mid-year.

What is planned next?

Pilot sessions for both modules are scheduled in 2023.

Links and resources

What is MARAM accredited training?

The Centre for Workforce Excellence (CWE) in System Reform and Workforce (DFFH) is working in partnership with the Department of Education (DE), to develop vocational education and training (VET) courses in family violence. The training aims to build the knowledge, skills and capabilities of existing and future workforces to respond to and contribute to the prevention of family violence. These courses are the first accredited training courses to be directly based on the Family Violence Multi-Agency Risk Assessment and Management (MARAM) Framework and Family Violence Capability Frameworks.

Through these courses, individuals will be able to access MARAM aligned, accredited family violence training through registered training organisations (RTOs), TAFEs and dual sector universities, either during their career trajectory or before they enter the workforce as part of their pre-service education and training.

What has been achieved so far?

On 1 April 2019, the course in Identifying and Responding to Family Violence Risk (22510VIC) was accredited by the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA). The single-unit course is currently being delivered by TAFEs, RTOs and dual sector universities, and is free for participants. The course can be taken either as a standalone course or the course unit (VU22733) can be imported within several VET courses. The course covers foundational family violence knowledge and MARAM responsibilities (1, 2 5, 6, 9 and 10) aligning to MARAM identification, including use of the screening tool and basic safety planning.

New teaching and learning resources for VU22733 have also been developed to complement course delivery. These include additional case studies, new assessments, and facilitator and learner guides for TAFEs and RTOs.

On 1 August 2020, the Course in Intermediate Risk Assessment and Management of Family Violence Risk (22561VIC) was accredited by the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA). This is a two-unit course which includes VU22733 as a pre-requisite, and a second unit (VU22988) that covers MARAM responsibilities 3 and 4 for intermediate risk assessment and management of victim-survivors and people using violence. In May 2022, redevelopment of this course commenced to reflect new MARAM practice guidance relating to working with adults using violence.

What is happening now?

The Course in Contributing to the Prevention of Family Violence and Violence Against Women is with the VRQA for final approval. This is a two-unit course which includes VU22733 as a pre-requisite.

The refreshed Course in Intermediate Risk Assessment and Management of Family Violence is in the final stages of re-accreditation. VRQA approval of the unit should occur early 2023 and delivery of the course is expected to commence from Semester 2, 2023.

New teaching and learning resources will be developed to complement the refreshed course.

What is planned next?

The course in Identifying and Responding to Family Violence Risk (22510VIC) will commence redevelopment in 2023, as its accreditation period ends on 31 March 2024.

More accredited training courses are planned to commence development in 2023, including the Course in Comprehensive Risk Assessment and Management of Family Violence Risk and a Graduate Certificate in Family Violence as a pathway to meet Mandatory Minimum Qualifications.

What is the MARAM video series?

The MARAM video series covers 20 impactful videos that support prescribed workforces to better understand the MARAM reforms more broadly and the key concepts and responsibilities that apply to their role. These videos are available on the vic.gov.au website and YouTube. The project includes animation and live action role play videos, covering:

Type 1 – MARAM Animation Series

Short, sharp specific topics related to MARAM practice, for example Structured Professional Judgement. Additional animation videos will be released in 2023.

Type 2 – MARAM victim survivor and person using family violence series

Longer role play scenarios between a practitioner and client, including graphics with key topics raised.

What has been achieved so far?

FSV appointed Gozer Media to undertake the video production work. FSV engaged with four organisations (VAADA, NTV, Safe and Equal and Elizabeth Morgan House) to support development of role play videos showing risk assessment and management in practice.

View the MARAM animation video series. Please share these widely with your networks.

What is planned next?

The role play videos are in post-production and are anticipated to be released early 2023. Additional videos on misidentification of predominant aggressor, and Aboriginal context for information sharing are also anticipated for release in early 2023.

What is the MARAM maturity model?

The MARAM maturity model (the Model) will be a key supporting resource of the MARAM Framework. The Model will provide a means for organisations to assess their level of progress in taking these alignment steps. It will sit alongside the MARAM Practice Guidance and Organisational Embedding Guide, which support organisations to understand what steps they should take to align with MARAM and provide guidance on risk assessment and management responsibilities.

What has been achieved so far?

Since the last update, external human-centred design consultant Paper Giant has reviewed research activities and material that was developed by FSV, based on consultations with the sector champions to date.

The 8 sector champions - Bendigo Health, Bethany Community Services, Caraniche, EACH, Early Childhood Australia, Safe Steps, Victorian Aboriginal Health Service and the Youth Support and Advocacy Service – are currently engaged in numerous ways, such as interviews, questionnaires and workshops by FSV’s internal project team.

These activities are contributing to rich findings that help:

• determine organisational profiles, preferences and needs
• identify organisational processes when conducting an audit
• develop and test preliminary resources to support MARAM alignment

What is happening now?

Paper Giant’s team is deep diving into the research conducted to date and has commenced planning and scheduling future activities with the Sector Champion organisations which will assist prototyping resources and developing final products.

Sector Champion organisations are finalising an internal case study workshop activity. The case study workshops discuss components of MARAM alignment and identify barriers, blockers, enablers as well as contribute to gaining actionable insights to progress MARAM alignment.

FSV’s internal project team has also commenced planning the policy component of the project and how the tools developed by Paper Giant can be piloted from mid-year.

What is planned next?

Continue progressing the policy component of the project, in alignment with the tool development.

Oversee and support Paper Giant and sector champions' work to prototype and finalise a maturity matrix and self-audit tool that are inclusive of supporting resources and how-tos which will:

• Support organisations to progress MARAM alignment
• Provide a consistent and standard understanding of MARAM alignment across the service system
• Be easy and intuitive to use in order to support a strong uptake across prescribed organisations and government departments

What is the 5-year legislative review?

The Family Violence Reform Implementation Monitor (FVRIM) is conducting the 5-year legislative review, an independent review of the legal provisions of Part 5A (the Family Violence Information Sharing Scheme (FVISS) and the Central Information Point (CIP)) and Part 11 (MARAM) of the Family Violence Protection Act. The review will determine if the provisions are being applied as intended, and are effective or otherwise meeting their objectives.

What has been achieved so far?

The FVRIM has sought the views of organisations, individual practitioners, advocates and others who may be impacted by the provisions through written submissions and consultations.

What is planned next?

The FVRIM will deliver a Final Review report in mid-April 2023, which will be tabled in Parliament in August 2023.

Independent legislative review of family violence reforms | Family Violence Reform Implementation Monitor (fvrim.vic.gov.au) 

What is the 5-year evidence review?

The Family Violence Protection Act 2008 (Vic) requires periodic reviews of the Family Violence Multi-Agency Risk Assessment and Management Framework (MARAM) evidence base every 5 years.

The first of these reviews will examine key aspects of the MARAM Framework’s supporting resources, including victim survivor-focused MARAM Practice Guides and tools, published in 2019.

The review will:

• assess whether the approved framework reflects the current evidence of best practices of family violence risk assessment and family violence risk management.
• recommend if any changes are required to ensure the approved framework is consistent with those best practices.

What has been achieved so far?

In November 2022, FSV engaged Allen & Clarke Consulting to undertake the 5-year evidence review, and they are currently working on an ethics application, literature review and consultation planning. The project team is planning for consultation to commence in March 2023. If you would like more information about the 5-year evidence review, contact the MARAM Review Team at maramreview@allenandclarke.com.au.

What is planned next?

A final report on the review will detail findings and recommendations and inform continuous improvement of the MARAM Framework and will be provided to FSV by the end of 2023.

What are the Family Violence Capability Frameworks and why are they being reviewed?

The Family Violence Prevention and Response Capability Frameworks provide the foundational skill set required to both deliver prevention of violence against women initiatives and respond to all forms of family violence.

The review is intended to reflect the capability uplift required by reforms and learnings undertaken since the frameworks' release, including capturing new evidence and best practice, whilst also seeking to establish an implementation approach that clarifies and increases their utility across the workforce. The review will consider the alignment between the prevention and response frameworks, recognising that prevention and response work is distinct but complementary.

What has been achieved so far?

In January 2022, a partnership between CWE and Safe and Equal was established. Following this, a working group of key specialist peaks and a selection for ACCOs was established.

To date, a desktop review has been completed along with key informant interviews across departments, agencies and peaks.

In October 2022, group workforce consultations took place across prevention and response. This included five response sessions, two prevention sessions, and consultations with Family Violence Principal Strategic Advisers in November. Further consultation with victim survivor groups (Victim Survivor Advisory Council and Safe and Equal Expert Advisory Panel) took place in January and February 2023, with the remainder due to take place in March/April.

What is happening now?

CWE and S+E have collated the data from workforce consults to date, whilst continuing with some follow-up consultations with specialist and prevention services.

Initial drafting has begun on the frameworks and will incorporate the remaining consultation feedback once they have been completed.

What is planned next?

The final consultation data will be integrated into the document drafting, and initial feedback will be sought from participating consultation groups in the first half of 2023.

What are the MARAM online practice guides?

The MARAM online practice guides are evidence-based practice guidance, tools and resources that outline how workers within the system can fulfill the MARAM responsibilities associated with their role. The MARAM foundational knowledge guide underpins all the MARAM responsibilities, and this is supported by 10 practice guides for victim survivor practice and 10 practice guides for working with adults using family violence (one for every MARAM responsibility).

These practice guides, tools and resources provide a consistent, best practice resource for all workers to align their current practice with. FSV received feedback from workers that, whilst the guides are invaluable and the information within them is essential, the length and limited search capabilities of the current website created barriers for busy workers being able to quickly access the information, tools and resources they need.

What has been achieved so far?

FSV recruited 8 user consultant organisations - from a variety of sectors and spanning the breadth of MARAM responsibilities - to provide practitioner feedback about ways to improve the accessibility of the information contained in the guides, to meet the needs of the sector.

Paper Giant has conducted three rounds of human-centred design sessions, focused on user experience research activities. These sessions included numerous participants recruited from the eight user consultant organisations and from other parts of the sector. Recruitment for activities exceeded expectations. These activities provided information about typical users, user journeys, key search terms and key words, ideal online practice guide content structure and needs. They also tested content structure based on development prototyping work.

What is happening now?

Paper Giant used the information gathered through the three rounds of workshops to design a prototype, guidelines for recommended final content structure, behavioural archetypes of practice guide users, style guides, a keyword library, handover plan and a final report containing all their recommendations for a dedicated online practice guide website.

What is planned next?

Paper Giant’s comprehensive final report will be used to scope and plan an approach for building a new MARAM Practice Guide website to meet the needs expressed by the sector during the consultation period.

Paper Giant are also planning to hold a sector showcase. This will allow those from the sector who participated in the consultation process to see how they shaped the recommendations in Paper Giant's final report. FSV will share details of the sector showcase once known.

What is the TRAM?

Tools for Risk Assessment and Management (TRAM) has been developed by Family Safety Victoria as an online platform for use across the service system. TRAM contains the adult and child victim survivor MARAM risk assessments and safety plan. This platform is used across The Orange Door network and by some community agencies.

What is the Comprehensive Adult Using Family Violence Assessment Tool in TRAM?

The Adult Using Family Violence Risk Assessment Tool will support specialist perpetrator services in their alignment to MARAM. The tool provides a structure for the comprehensive assessment of family violence risk when working with perpetrators. It uses information sharing, direct assessment, self-reporting and structured analysis to support practitioners to determine the level of risk.

What has been achieved so far?

The MARAM Adult Using Family Violence Comprehensive Assessment Tool was released onto TRAM on Friday 30 September 2022 for use by Specialist Perpetrator Intervention Services.

What is happening now?

Since the last update, FSV has supported new services wanting to adopt the use of TRAM to support their risk assessment and management practice. FSV has run onboarding and training sessions with agency leaders and practitioners on how to use TRAM and the MARAM Adult Using Family Violence Comprehensive Assessment Tool.

FSV invites questions about TRAM and the new tool, what this will mean for funded agencies and The Orange Door, and how agencies can adopt TRAM. Please contact tram@familysafety.vic.gov.au to find out more.

What is planned next?

The Adult Using Family Violence Risk Assessment Tool is aimed for release to The Orange Door practitioners in mid-2023. FSV is currently working on the build of the Predominant Aggressor Identification tool into TRAM, which will be released for agency use by mid-2023.

What is the Second Rolling Action plan, and why is it needed?

The 10-Year Family Violence Industry Plan, Building from Strength, is being implemented through a series of 3 Rolling Action Plans (RAPs). The first RAP covered the period 2018-2022 and has now concluded. The second RAP, covering the period 2023-2026, is now in development. It will guide the family violence workforce reform agenda over the next 3 years.

What has been achieved so far?

Development work on the second RAP began in 2022. In 2022, FSV had initial conversations with external stakeholders focused on the overall approach proposed for the plan. The plan is based around 3 elements:

1. Consolidation of existing reforms – given the second RAP will be released mid-way through a 10-year reform program, its primary focus will be on continuing and consolidating reforms that are already underway. These include the continuing implementation of MARAM, the implementation of revised Capability Frameworks for family violence prevention and response, and the continued rollout of accredited family violence training.
2. A targeted research agenda – serving to lay the foundation for further reform over the longer term, by helping us develop a more detailed understanding of some of the most difficult challenges facing the workforce. These may include remuneration, secure employment and workforce wellbeing.
3. A small number of areas for scaled-up effort – where there is opportunity to make an impact by directing more attention to particular areas. These may include stronger collaboration across social services of workforce supply initiatives, continuing to develop the training architecture for workforce capability building, and creating stronger career pathways for the specialist family violence and sexual assault workforce.

What is happening now?

Stakeholder consultation is being planned in collaboration with specialist peak bodies and is expected to occur over the coming months. This is likely to focus on the research agenda and areas for scaled-up effort.

What is planned next?

Further information on opportunities to be involved in the consultation is expected to be available soon.

MARAMIS Unit, Policy and Design, DFFH MARAMIS Implementation and Policy

The DFFH MARAMIS Implementation and Policy teams support DFFH funded program areas and agencies to align to MARAM and the informing sharing schemes. Outlined below are some achievements in the last quarter.

MARAMIS fact sheets were developed to support people receiving services from the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH). The fact sheets are translated into six commonly used languages as well as easy English to reflect the diverse communities that we support. Languages include Dinka, Somali, Simplified Chinese, Oromo, Arabic and Vietnamese. The fact sheets outline the Family Violence Multi-Agency Risk Assessment and Management (MARAM) Framework and Information Schemes in everyday practice. Read the fact sheets.

Intermediate level training for practitioners working within Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations will run from March until the end of May.

South East Community Links (SECL) will continue to facilitate webinar training sessions on the nuances of financial abuse, risk factors, and how to utilise your local financial counsellors. The sessions are designed for staff who have already completed MARAM training and who work on the frontline with clients affected by family violence.

In November, the team delivered the keynote speech at the “Child Information Sharing Schemes Explainer” webinar hosted by the Centre for Excellence in Child and Families Welfare. Listen to a recording of the session.

Family violence resources to support healthcare workers

In November 2022, the Department of Health released resources to support healthcare workers impacted by family violence. The resources let healthcare staff know their service cares and can help them find the right support, with options including family violence leave, flexible working, and safety adjustments. The resources include:

• Guidance for health service people managers on how to respond if a staff member discloses that they are experiencing family violence.
• Guidance for organisations on developing policy to support staff impacted by family violence.
• A quick reference lanyard card for healthcare workers, with key information on support services and how to respond to a family violence disclosure from a staff member.
• Print and digital posters that can be displayed in the workplace so staff know where they can get support.

The resources are available at: https://www.health.vic.gov.au/health-workforce/family-violence-support

Note: these resources are not intended for health services already using the Strengthening Hospital Responses to Family Violence initiative and its Family Violence Workplace Support Program.

Information Sharing and Family Violence Reforms

Department of Education is continuing to deliver online integrated training on the Information Sharing and Family Violence Reforms for education workforces. Since March 2020, over 13,000 leaders and professionals from centre-based education and care services and schools have undertaken training on the Reforms.

DJCS Introduction to MARAM eLearn is now available on the Information Sharing and MARAM online learning system

In preparation for the roll out of customised facilitated training for DJCS funded programs and agencies, the DJCS Introduction to the Family Violence Multi-Agency Risk Assessment and Management Framework (MARAM) eLearn is available on the Information Sharing and MARAM online learning system.

This online learning platform enables all external DJCS funded staff to access the eLearn and receive a Completion Certificate. The eLearn is a pre-learning requirement for upcoming MARAM customised training that will take place in 2023. Relevant workforces will be informed of training offerings once they become available.

Family Violence Command has developed a program of work to improve identification of the predominant aggressor, which includes:

• reviewing policies and practices
• improving training and guidance for members
• better engagement with other service delivery partners
• exploring ways to correct misidentification of predominant aggressors when they occur in police databases.

This program of work implements aspects of the adult using violence-focused MARAM practice guides, including the accurate identification of predominant aggressor assessment tool and related guidance. This was developed in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders, including legal services and child protection and specialist family violence agencies.

Work has already commenced within this program of work including, establishing contact points to communicate misidentification to police within the Code of Practice for the Investigation of Family Violence and the development and implementation of a trial of key interventions to strengthen critical decision points in our family violence response.

Victoria Police are currently reviewing the trial, however our preliminary findings include the need for policy and training improvements, oversight/supervision of decision making and collaboration with other service delivery agencies. Upon completion of the review, the findings from the trial will be integrated into the broader program of work.

The Department of Justice and Community Safety (DJCS) is undertaking an evaluation of the expanded, phased trial use of digitally recorded statements by family violence victim survivors using police issued body-worn cameras (referred to as DRECs). This initiative and its evaluation are continuation of R58 of the Royal Commission into Family Violence.

The evaluators are interested in hearing from stakeholders who have had exposure to DREC in their work. They are keen to understand the experience supporting victim survivors who have provided a DREC, particularly with regards to impacts on staff workload and on victim survivors. Feedback will be incorporated into findings and recommendations that will inform the continuation of DREC across Victoria as well as legislation around the use of DRECs in court.

Stakeholders can complete a survey – click on the relevant link below for your stakeholder group or participate in a short online consultation (self-nomination available in the survey or to the lead evaluator).

Surveys and consultations close 31 April 2023.

Survey links:

Legal Practitioners: https://djcs.syd1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7VuE5IFiq57J8JE

Family Violence Support Workers: https://djcs.syd1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bj9Ez1fBAG1cqnI