MARAM and Information Sharing Week 2023

The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing MARAM and Information Sharing Week is an annual practice forum for practitioners working in family violence and related sectors. It aims to create awareness and understanding of the MARAM framework and information sharing schemes for practitioners who work with individuals, children, and families.

MARAM and Information Sharing Week 2023, involves of a series of themed packages of resources, including:

Family violence, housing and homelessness
Older people and family violence
People who use family violence
Family violence and children and young people
Intersectionality in practice

The packages include MARAM, information sharing and collaborative practice information and resources, and reference Aboriginal-led resources and services.

Key resources

The information sharing schemes (ISS) expand how and when practitioners prescribed under the schemes can seek and share information under the Child Information Sharing Scheme (CISS) for wellbeing and safety and the Family Violence Information Sharing Scheme (FVISS) for family violence. The schemes are designed to work together to support professionals to respond to families and children in a holistic way.
To find out more, visit Information sharing.
This video introduces the two information sharing schemes in Victoria – Family Violence Information Sharing Scheme and Child Information Sharing Scheme – and the benefits of both.
The video outlines information sharing under the Family Violence Information Sharing Scheme and what to consider when making or responding to a request.
The MARAM practice guides support professionals to understand their relevant responsibilities under the MARAM framework towards the identification, assessment and ongoing management of family violence risk as it relates to their specific roles.
The practice guides include:
- the Foundation Knowledge Guide is for all professionals, whether you are working with adult or child victim survivors, or adults using family violence. The Foundation Knowledge Guide is a resource to support a shared understanding across the service system, covering the legislative environment, definitions and drivers of family violence, key practice concepts and recognition of risk across age groups, communities and relationships.
- Adult and child victim-focused MARAM practice guides (Responsibilities for Practice Guides 1-10).
- Adult perpetrator-focused MARAM practice guides (Responsibilities for Practice Guides 1-6, 9-10).
Please note, in February 2022, the Comprehensive guidance (Responsibilities 7–8) for working with adults using family violence was finalised and released directly to peak bodies, specialist perpetrator intervention services, victim survivor specialist family violence services, and key professionals in community and government departments with specialist roles in the coordination of family violence risk assessment and management.
These Practice Guides will not be published online. Please contact infosharing@familysafety.vic.gov.au for further information.
The MARAM video series has been created to support prescribed workforces better understand the MARAM reforms more broadly and the key concepts and responsibilities that apply to their role. There are two series as follows:
- The MARAM Animation Series covers foundational MARAM concepts and topics through 11 short videos. Topics include Structured Professional Judgement, information sharing, and evidence-based risk factors. The videos support existing MARAM guidance and provide another way to build MARAM capability.
- The MARAM Role Play series features six scenarios between a client and practitioner, showing how MARAM can be used in practice. The videos show a practitioner working with both a victim survivor and a person using family violence.
View the MARAM Video Series
MARAM and Information Sharing training is available to prescribed workforces.
Check with your organisation for in-house training, or visit:
- MARAM Training on the safe and equal website
- Training for the information sharing and MARAM reforms via Vic Gov website.
The Orange Door provides help for people experiencing family violence, or who need assistance with the care and wellbeing of children and young people.
The Orange Door network aims to be accessible, safe and welcoming, providing quick and simple access to support for:
- adults, children and young people who are experiencing family violence
- families who need support with the care and wellbeing of children and young people
- perpetrators of family violence.
Find out more about The Orange Door in your local area via the the Orange Door website.
Trauma-informed practice helps us to see that people's behaviours, responses and emotions are shaped by their life experiences. It supports practitioners to work in ways that understand and respond to trauma and its impacts. The significance of trauma-informed practice is its ability to reduce the likelihood of intergenerational trauma and lead to better outcomes for families and individuals.
Framework for trauma-informed practice
The Framework for trauma-informed practice supports service providers in delivering trauma-informed practice. It promotes a shared understanding of what being trauma-informed means to:
- children, individuals and families
- professionals and volunteers.
The framework includes principles that underpin trauma-informed ways of working and outlines the key domains of trauma-informed practice. The domains are explained through ‘I’ statements that we can all relate to in how we think about, reflect on and demonstrate trauma-informed practice every day.
The link below includes an introductory video which explains why and how the framework was developed and how it can be used by services and programs. The link also provides access to the framework document and an A4 poster that can be downloaded and printed as a handy quick reference to the framework practice domains.
Department of Families Fairness and Housing Victoria | Framework for trauma-informed practice (dffh.vic.gov.au)
Trauma-informed practice in MARAM animation video
This video highlights the concept of trauma-informed practice, including:
- what trauma is
- how it may present
- and trauma informed responses in practice.

Day 1: Housing and Homelessness

Family violence is the leading cause of homelessness for women and children in Victoria. People experiencing or using family violence are at a greater risk of insecure housing and/or homelessness. Practitioners may be supporting people who require safe and stable housing including children and young people, as well as supporting people who are continuing to face poverty from long term effects of family violence.

Some of the key issues for people experiencing family violence include having to flee family violence, property damage, lack of suitable and affordable housing, housing instability, unsafe housing, at-risk tenancies, homelessness and financial insecurity. Children and young people are further impacted by disruption to schooling, and disconnection from family, friends and community. They may also be forced to leave behind their belongings and miss toys and pets that they have had to leave when feeing family violence.

Practitioners working with individuals and families experiencing family violence require an inherent understanding of housing and homelessness, including approaches that consider holistic support needs of victim survivors to become safe and secure, and able to focus on healing and recovery.

Victim survivor safety and stability is also dependent on ensuring that suitable accommodation options and interventions are available to people who use family violence.

What is in this resource pack

In this list there are a number of resources that can support practitioners when working with people experiencing or using family violence.

You will find information and links to:

Are You Safe At Home website
The Consumer Affairs Victoria website and fact sheets
Information about the Mens Accommodation and Counselling Service (MACS).

There are also two key reports that place a spotlight on women and young people’s experience of family violence, housing and homelessness.

Consumer Affairs Victoria publishes information and resources to support practitioners working with people in rental properties who are experiencing or using family violence. See links below to the website and fact sheets.
- The Consumer Affairs Victoria website Family violence when renting - Consumer Affairs Victoriahas important information and resources about changing rental agreements, locks, installing security devices and more.
- Support for people experiencing family violence - Consumer Affairs VictoriaA fact sheet which may be shared with renters or residents who are a protected person/victim survivor. This page also has factsheets available for rental providers and property managers.
- Information for excluded renters or residents - Consumer Affairs VictoriaA fact sheet which may be shared with renters or residents who use violence. This can also assist staff in conversations with the client about resolution of housing issues rather than engaging in conversation about family violence. This aligns with MARAM responsibilities of avoiding collusion with people using family violence.
The Choice: Violence or Poverty
Many women are presented with a dire choice: do they stay and risk the violence continuing or even escalating, or leave and face the high probability of a life of ‘policy-induced poverty’?
Dr Anne Summers AO
The report by Dr Anne Summers shows that the choices, and the consequences, are very stark for women wanting to escape family violence.
View the report at Domestic violence and its consequences in Australia today.
AMPLIFY: Turning up the Volume on Young People and Family Violence
Family violence continues to be a pervasive, systemic issue in Australia. In Victoria, the need for deep and sustained reform to address this challenge was reflected in the outcomes from the Royal Commission into Family Violence.
Significant progress has been made in implementing these recommendations, however, gaps remain for young people who are experiencing family violence, either in the home or from an intimate partner.
The Amplify Project, undertaken by Melbourne City Mission, seeks to understand this gap in policy and services and map a way forward. This report outlines the findings from the research conducted as part of this project and which has been shaped and guided by the insights of lived expertise.
View the report at Melbourne City Mission.

Day 2: Older people and family violence

Family violence towards an older person is often described as elder abuse. elder abuse that is family violence experienced by older people within the family or family-like contexts including co-resident violence in residential care services and supported residential settings, as it is defined in the FVPA. (It does not extend to elder abuse from professional carers occurring outside the family context, such as in institutional or community settings.)

The person using family violence is someone that the victim survivor knows and trusts, such as a member of their family, their spouse or intimate partner, or a trusted friend. Elder abuse is most often intergenerational, with adult children most commonly being the person using violence. The parent-child relationship in this situation creates barriers for the older person to seek help, as they may feel that addressing the abuse will lead to the ruining of the relationship or losing access to grandchildren.

Elder abuse may be physical, social, financial, psychological, emotional, sexual and can include mistreatment and neglect. It can also present as short or long-term intimate partner violence, carer abuse or stress, and long-standing family conflict.

The victim survivor may experience controlling or abusive behaviours but may feel unclear about who to turn to for support. Neglect of a person’s care needs, including inadequate housing or food, under or over medicating, or abandoning the dependent person are all examples of elder abuse. Some older people may believe abusive behaviour is a normal part of relationships or of ageing or hold fears that if an abusive caregiver is removed, they will lose access to care, or will face an unchosen change in living circumstances.

Older people may be reluctant to report due to fear of the consequences (for example, retaliation, damaged relationships, premature entry into residential aged care, police involvement) and feelings of shame and guilt.

Like most family violence, power and control and gender inequality are still drivers of elder abuse. Elder abuse is also driven by ageism, and older men comprise a significant proportion of people who experience abuse. It is possible for men (or even women) to have been perpetrators of family violence in their past and become victims of elder abuse in their senior years.

Some intersectional factors that can heighten the risk of elder abuse include gender, cultural background, housing status, location, financial dependence, or financial position. The specific factors for elder abuse include, but are not limited to physical disability, cognitive impairment, neglect, dependency on the person using violence (physically, financially, socially, or emotionally) and social isolation or lack of social support. There is serious risk associated with plans to leave a relationship or partnership.

When working with families, consider the role of older people and any potential risks that may be present because of any decision-making or actions. When engaging directly with older people, ensure they feel heard and work with their preferences. Ensure safety planning is part of the intervention.

What is in this resource pack?

In this pack is a list of services that can support people working with older people experiencing elder abuse. This is not an exhaustive list, as there will be many professionals working with older people and addressing or mitigating elder abuse concerns.

This pack also includes several resources that may be beneficial to:

professionals working with older people
anyone looking to learn more about elder abuse prevention and response.

The resources include a video series produced by the Bendigo and District Aboriginal Cooperative that is designed to raise awareness about elder abuse in the community.

Seniors Rights Victoria
Seniors Rights Victoria is a community legal centre that specialises in elder abuse. They offer a free and confidential helpline that provides information, referral, legal advocacy, advocacy, and community education.
The service also provides secondary consultation to professionals interacting with older people and observing or addressing elder abuse concerns. They can be contacted on 1300 368 821 or via the Seniors Rights Victoria website.
Better Place Australia and the Elder abuse family counselling and mediation service accessible through select Orange Door networks
Elder Abuse family counselling and mediation services are available through five of The Orange Door services. The service supports older people and their families who present at these Orange Doors with therapeutic options to address alleged or potential abuse and prevent it from escalating or occurring in the future.
The service is delivered by Better Place Australia and is currently available to older people who present at GenWest and The Orange Door services in Inner Gippsland, Bayside Peninsula, North Eastern Melbourne, and Barwon. Further information is available by contacting the above mentioned locations or Better Place Australia directly on 1800 639 523 or via the Better Place Australia website.
Elder Rights Advocacy
Where an older person is a recipient of Australian Government funded aged care services, their families and representatives can call Elder Rights Advocacy for support regarding elder abuse concerns. It is a free service that provides advocacy, information, support, and advice for Victorians in residential and home care package programs. Elder Rights Advocacy can be contacted on 1800 700 600 or by visiting the Elder Rights Advocacy website.
The Office of the Public Advocate
The Office of the Public Advocate can provide information and/or assistance regarding Enduring Power of Attorney, Guardianship or Administration matters. They can be contacted on 1300 309 337 or via the Office of the Public Advocate website.
The Elder Abuse Learning Hub
The Elder Abuse Learning Hub has free online and self-paced training modules (eLearns) for professionals who work with older people, or anyone interested in learning more about elder abuse. The Learning Hub can be accessed via the Elder Abuse Learning Hub.
The Warm Safe Home project
The Warm Safe Home project was launched in 2019 by the Southwest Victoria Elder Abuse Prevention Network. Through art, the project aims to start conversations about older people’s right to feel safe in their homes and to raise awareness about elder abuse, its causes and the things that can be done to prevent it. Further information is available at The Warm Safe Home Project booklet
Within My Walls
The Within My Walls video series was produced by Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria (ECCV) in partnership with Senior Rights Victoria. The video series is a community education resource that explores the lives of older people who have been impacted by elder abuse by their families. The series is available via the ECCV website and is available in 14 languages at Within My Walls video series
Respect Older People: Call it Out Campaign
The Respect Older People: Call it Out campaign by Respect Victoria aims to call out ageism and sexism, to prevent elder abuse and violence against older people. The campaign features a video of Helen and her grandson Oliver’s authentic story, which draws attention to the connection between ageism and elder abuse. The video and other resources are available via the Respect Victoria website at Respect Older People: Call it Out
Seniors Rights Victoria resources
Seniors Rights Victoria provides online, print, and face-to-face resources for community members and professionals. The resources aim to raise awareness about elder abuse and provide information and tools to reduce the incidence of elder abuse. Resources such as The Elder Abuse Response Toolkit, information sheets and resources in other languages are available via their website at Seniors Rights Victoria Resources page
The Bendigo and District Aboriginal Cooperative video series
The Bendigo and District Aboriginal Cooperative (BDAC) have produced four videos to raise awareness of elder abuse within the community. The video series highlights that elder abuse can take many forms and covers topics regarding what is an elder, how elder abuse can happen in relation to medication, physical, and financial elder abuse. The video series is available via the Senior Rights Victoria Resources webpage at Bendigo and District Aboriginal Cooperative (BDAC) video series
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that the videos may contain images, voices, or names of people, who have passed, since the videos were produced.

Day 3: People who use family violence

People who use family violence should be encouraged to acknowledge and take responsibility to end their violent, controlling, and coercive behaviour, and service responses should be collaborative and coordinated through a system-wide approach that collectively and systemically creates opportunities for their accountability.

Professionals across the service system have a role in keeping people using family violence engaged and in view of services, contributing to accountability for their use of family violence and supporting them to change their behaviour – whether directly or indirectly.

MARAM Practice Guides Foundation Knowledge Guide (2021)

The next phase of the Multi-Agency Risk Assessment and Management (MARAM) Framework rollout will create greater understanding, visibility and accountability for people who use family violence. For individuals and organisations prescribed under the MARAM Framework, the MARAM adults using family violence guidance, tools and training are beginning to roll out across Victoria.

This phase is important for those working with people experiencing or using family violence to build knowledge and to support safe and effective family violence practice aligned to the MARAM Framework responsibilities. Although men’s specialist services have been working with men who use family violence for some time now, for other services in the family violence sector, practice change requires capability uplift in identifying, assessing and working with people who use family violence.

What is in this resource pack?

A feature of family violence perpetration is the use of coercive and controlling behaviours which may or may not include acts or threats of physical violence toward victim survivors. Links to the new Coercive Control National Principles, and associated information, animations and resources are provided below to assist practitioner and workforce identification and understanding of these behaviours when working with people experiencing or using family violence.

A recent project undertaken by South Eastern Community Links to spotlight the issue of financial abuse has resulted in a short explainer video that helps practitioners identify financial abuse, understand its impacts, seek and share information, support and refer victim survivors, including to financial counselling.

The Victoria Police Code of Practice for the Investigation of Family Violence guides police responses to family violence in Victoria. Below are links to the updated Code and specific reporting links when the person using family violence is a Victoria Police employee.

Accurately identifying the predominant aggressor, or person using family violence is a critical task for those identifying and assessing family violence risk. The Family Violence Reform Implementation Monitor released a report that focused on the issue of misidentification and system supports and responses required of key workforces to address this issue. The report is included below.

Finally, there are links below to the MARAM role play video series – working with adults using family violence, to guide practitioners in how to use the MARAM Framework in practice when working with people using family violence.

Coercive Control National Principles
The National Principles to Address Coercive Control in Family and Domestic Violence (the National Principles) set out a shared understanding about the common features and impacts of coercive control, and guiding considerations to inform family violence responses. Consistent and clear understanding of coercive control will make it easier for governments, non-government organisations, frontline services, law enforcement, the judiciary, academic institutions, businesses, families and the community to work together to identify and address this behaviour, support victim survivor safety and healing, and reinforce perpetrator accountability.
The National Principles to Address Coercive Control in Family and Domestic Violence | Attorney-General's Department (ag.gov.au)
Coercive control animation video
This video introduces coercive control as the pattern of family violence that a perpetrator uses and its impact on victim survivors.
Non-collusive practice animation video
This video outlines the concept of non-collusive practice, what it might look like, and how to respond.
Substance use coercion
Substance use among adults using family violence is a widespread issue and in the past it’s use has only been considered in relation to physical and sexual abuse. Recent research has shown that the use of alcohol and other drugs are an integral part of coercive control in family violence.
In response to the National Consultation on Coercive Control in 2022, Professor Cathy Humphreys provided a briefing paper on substance use as a form of coercive control.
Read Briefing on Substance Use Coercion – Response to the National Consultation on Coercive Control (2022).
Have you seen the new MARAM How to Respond to Financial Abuse video? This short explainer video was produced by South Eastern Community Links (SECL) through a DFFH MARAM alignment grant. It is a standalone resource for all frontline workforces working with people experiencing or using family violence. Limited training is also available to frontline workforces.
Please share this new video widely with your networks
Code of Practice for the Investigation of Family Violence (Edition 4, Version 2 – 2022).
In 2022 the Code was revised to:
- Reflect the current policing practice included in the Victoria Police Manual Family Violence (VPM). Significant revisions of the VPM occurred in 2021.
- Reflect significant reforms in family violence policing since developing the Code in 2014 and the Royal Commission into Family Violence. This includes:
- the Case Prioritisation Model
- the Victoria Police Family Violence Report, and
- the establishment of Family Violence Investigation Units.
- Incorporate legislative changes and coronial recommendations.
- Consolidate information and remove duplication and repetition.
- Ensure look and language are contemporary and accessible to stakeholders.
- Address language inconsistencies across the Code and VPM. This includes greater alignment in language and terminology and supporting consistent future updates to policy.
Code of Practice for the investigation of family violence (police.vic.gov.au)
Reporting family violence or sexual offences perpetrated by a Victoria Police employee
If you are a victim survivor of family violence perpetrated by a Victoria Police employee, and there is no immediate danger:
- explore information on the process and options for reporting in the Options Guide for Victim Survivors of Victoria Police Perpetrated Family Violence or Sexual Offences
- make a report via Reporting family violence or sexual offences perpetrated by a Victoria Police employee page
Family Violence Response Implementation Monitor report – Accurate identification of the predominant aggressor
This report examines the progress that has been made to support key workforces – including police, Child Protection practitioners, specialist family violence practitioners and magistrates - to accurately identify the predominant aggressor in family violence situations. It explores the reasons for victim survivors being misidentified as perpetrators and assesses how well the system responds to this misidentification. The report provides a suite of proposed actions to address the issues identified.
Misidentification can have devastating and long-lasting consequences for the victim survivor including wrongful incarceration and child removal. Read the report below to learn more.
Monitoring Victoria's Family Violence Reforms: Accurate Identification of the Predominant Aggressor | Family Violence Reform Implementation Monitor (fvrim.vic.gov.au)
The MARAM roleplay series features six scenarios between a client and practitioner, showing how MARAM can be used in practice. Of these, is a sample of two videos below demonstrating a practitioner working with a person using family violence.
Person using violence: Intermediate Risk Assessment.
This video shows how to conduct an intermediate risk assessment with a person using violence, including how to observe and ask questions to identify patterns and level of risk, whilst always ensuring the victim survivor is kept in mind. It also shows how conducting a secondary consultation can support risk management.
Person using violence: Risk management including safety planning at intermediate level.
This video shows risk management including safety planning at intermediate level. It shows the various elements to risk management planning, and how to proactively share information under the Family Violence Information Sharing Scheme (FVISS).

Day 4: Children and young people

Children and young people experience family violence in their own right. The impacts of their experiences can be life-long and affect mental and physical health, education, attachment, relationships and socialisation. Despite these challenges it is also recognised that children and young people who experience family violence can demonstrate agency, resilience and have hope regarding their future.

Responses to children and young people experiencing family violence should be designed with them and consider risks and needs in accordance with each developmental age and stage. Engaging with children and young people directly in ways that are safe and meaningful for them is important to build trust and help them to feel heard and believed.

Young people who use family violence may have experienced or be experiencing family violence from an adult. They require a developmental approach and a whole-of-family response that works to support them and their family to experience safety and to have their unique needs met.

Upcoming MARAM guidance and tools

Dedicated MARAM guidance, tools and training will enable practitioners to better understand and support children and young people’s safety and wellbeing. In mid 2024 MARAM children and young people guidance and tools will be published, including guidance and tools for working with young people using family violence and harm. Training for workforces prescribed under MARAM will follow the release of the guidance and tools.

What is in this resource pack?

To highlight how the voices of children and young people are informing and guiding research findings and policy development, the Monash University I believe you report and webinar links are included below. A recent report by the Australian Institute of Family Studies highlights the prevalence of family violence in young people’s intimate relationships. Have a read of the report below to understand just how common and how concerning this issue is for our young people.

A link to the Adolescents using Family Violence (AFV) MARAM Practice Guidance Project 2022: Review of the Evidence Base report is included below. The RMIT report is a review of 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. There is also a link to the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare’s Adolescent Violence in the Home web page.

Emerging Minds develops mental health policy, interventions, training, programs and resources in response to the needs of professionals, children and their families. Emerging Minds partners with family members, national and international organisations to implement evidence-based practice into the Australian context. Resources are available via their website, including links to the whole child video series below.

In 2022 the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing was fortunate to have Natasha Anderson join a live webinar during MARAM and Information Sharing Week, for a discussion about her own lived experience of family violence, out of home, and the supports needed for children and young people. We are pleased to share a link below to her award nominated animation film, ‘TASH’. It was shown during the live webinar last year, and continues to be an important resource to support better understanding and responses to children and young people.

As technology is part of our everyday lives, sadly it is also a mechanism for people who use family violence to abuse and control others, including children and young people. To support children and young people at risk of, or experiencing technology-facilitated abuse, links are included below to eSafety resources for practitioners, children and young people to access directly.

Finally, we are pleased to share a link below to the Australian Childhood Maltreatment Study (ACMS) which is a landmark Australian study of the prevalence of child maltreatment. The data captures how many Australians have experienced each of five types of child maltreatment (physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, and exposure to domestic violence). The findings can be used to inform policy and practice reforms to reduce child abuse and neglect in Australia.

In 2022, Monash University conducted a research project to incorporate lived experience in the Family Safety Victoria’s Child and Young Person-focused MARAM Practice Guides, currently in development. The project was led by Monash Gender and Family Violence Prevention Centre Director Professor Kate Fitz-Gibbon with Dr Jasmine McGowan and Dr Rebecca Stewart.
The I believe you report presents findings from the 17 in-depth interviews conducted with Victorian children and young people, aged 10 to 25, with lived/living experience of family violence.
The report frequently uses direct quotes from the children and young people interviewed and identifies the many points in the family violence, education and criminal justice systems where young victim survivors feel invalidated, isolated and let down by trusted adults in their lives. It highlights the need for young people to feel validated and heard when making their first contact with support services, and the need for practitioners to use individualised, trauma-informed and age-appropriate supports.
Download and read the I believe you report and watch the webinar at Monash University website.
Intimate partner violence is a significant violation of the rights and safety of young people and without early intervention, can have lifelong impacts for victim-survivors and perpetrators (Exner-Cortens, 2014).
This snapshot examines risk and protective factors for intimate partner violence victimisation among Australian young people. This helps policy makers and service providers to identify populations that could be at increased risk, so that protective factors can be strengthened. Although the snapshot focuses on victim survivors, it emphasises that prevention of intimate partner violence perpetration should be a core focus of policy intervention.
Intimate partner violence among Australian 18–19 year olds: Snapshot Series – Issue 11 | Growing Up in Australia
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.
Download and read the report at the vic gov website, noting sections of the report relevant to practice that focus on barriers to service engagement, adult perpetrated violence, experiences of harm and complex needs.
Visit the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare’s AVITH resource hub (including AVITH service map) and community of practice.
Children’s mental health cannot be separated from the broader contexts of their lives. There are many interacting influences that impact on infant and child mental health, not least of which is children’s relationships with their parents and their immediate family environment.
The whole child video via Emerging Minds seeks to highlight a holistic view of children’s social and emotional wellbeing.
The whole Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child video via Emerging Minds offers a glimpse into the deep connections Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have to Country, culture, spirituality, family and community.
People who use family violence may use technology as a mechanism to abuse and control others, including children and young people. A research report commissioned by eSafety found that around 27 percent of family violence cases may include technology-facilitated abuse involving children. The report and general information about online safety are available through the eSafety website. eSafety is an independent statutory office supported by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). eSafety has a range of functions and powers, which aim to safeguard Australians at risk of online harms and promote safer, more positive online experiences.
The eSafety website includes guidance for parents and those working with children and young people. It also provides guidance especially designed for children (fun activities and simple advice) and young people (help and advice for teenagers and young adults).
Read the research report and learn more:
- Children and technology-facilitated abuse in domestic and family violence situations
Resources to share directly with children and young people in your life:
- eSafety website for children
- eSafety for young people.
Published in 2023, the Australian Child Maltreatment Study found a large percentage of Australians have experienced some form of child maltreatment and that the harm associated with experiences of child maltreatment crystallise early, differences are evident by age 24, and appear to persist over life, with differences still being apparent in people 45 years and older.
The ACMS found that Australians who experience maltreatment are substantially more likely to have:
- mental health disorders
- health risk behaviours
- higher health service utilisation.
These are landmark findings for Australia. They are the first national prevalence estimates of the five types of child maltreatment and associated impacts generated in Australia. The study found 39.6% of participants reported experiencing family violence as a child, the highest reported maltreatment.
The findings are deeply sobering. Child maltreatment is widespread in Australia and associated with early and persistent harm. Use the link below to access the study report and some useful infographics.
The Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS)

Day 5: Intersectionality in practice

Intersectionality describes how systems and structures interact on multiple levels to oppress, create barriers and overlapping forms of discrimination, stigma and power imbalances based on characteristics such as Aboriginality, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, colour, nationality, refugee or asylum seeker background, migration or visa status, language, religion, ability, age, mental health, socioeconomic status, housing status, geographic location, medical record or criminal record. This compounds the risk of experiencing family violence, and creates additional barriers for a person to access the help they need.

In practice this means professionals must consider any additional risks that a person, family or community may experience, and recognise and respond to additional needs and adaptations for those with intersecting needs to address the risks and barriers that may be present when trying to access or engage in a service response.

Both people experiencing or using family violence may experience intersecting forms of power and privilege, or discrimination and disadvantage. Inclusive practice can empower people, provide access to opportunity, address structural inequalities, tackle unconscious bias and develop a culture of inclusion within organisations.

Access to information, resources and collaborative practice networks can support practitioners to build understanding and capability in intersectional practice.

What is in this resource pack?

A selection of resources and web links have been provided to support practitioners to understand and apply an intersectional lens when working with people from diverse communities. The resources include links to:

Everybody Matters: Inclusion and Equity Statement
MARAM animation video about intersectionality and family violence
ANROWS Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led research
Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare intersectionality webinars and tip sheets, and MARAM & Information Sharing Resource Hub
Safe and Equal information and contact details for each of the family violence Regional Integration Committees and Principal Strategic Advisors.

Every Body Matters: Inclusion and Equity Statement is the Victorian Government’s 10-year vision for a more inclusive, safe, responsive and accountable family violence system.
All Victorians should have equal access to and be supported by the family violence service including individuals with multiple and overlapping social characteristics such as, age, gender, ability, sex, sexuality, ethnicity, culture or religion.
People from diverse communities can face additional barriers to getting the help that they need. This places them at greater risk of experiencing family violence.
Intersectionality in MARAM animation video
This video discusses the theory of intersectionality and how it can be applied when responding and addressing family violence.
ANROWS Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research Stream, and other related projects, are based on the following principles:
- Research upholds the political integrity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their right to self-determination as established under the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
- Research is informed by and promotes strengths-based perspectives on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
- Research acknowledges the heterogeneity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
These principles are in line with guidelines for the ethical conduct of research in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities (AIATSIS 2012; NHMRC 2018). They prioritise transparency, data sovereignty and the leadership of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in all aspects of the research process, including the translation of evidence to policy and practice.
These resources were developed as part of the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare’s 'Diversity in Practice' series. Diversity in Practice is a series of webinars and tip sheets developed to assist organisations in strengthening professionals understanding of good practice when engaging with children and young people from diverse backgrounds and communities. These webinars and tip sheets also aim to assist professionals in the assessment and management of family violence and child wellbeing issues. To access the webinars and tip sheets click through the links below.
Webinars (via YouTube):
Tip Sheets (PDF):
These resources are also accessible via the Centre's MARAM and Information Sharing Resource Hub, along with other relevant resources that have been developed as part of the Sector Grants project.
The links below provide access to some information, advocacy and support for practitioners working with people from diverse backgrounds who experience or use family violence. The resources can support understanding of collaborative practice through secondary consultation with other services that can provide specialised advice and guidance when working with people from these communities. Some links may be provided directly to clients to support their access to information and support.
inTouch is a family violence service working with migrant and refugee women and their communities. inTouch provides services, programs and responses to family violence in migrant and refugee communities. To find out more visit the inTouch website.
Women with Disabilities Victoria (WDV) is a not-for-profit Disabled Peoples Organisation (DPO) representing women with disabilities in Victoria. WDV is run for and by women and non-binary people with all kinds of disabilities. Our members are people of all ages, backgrounds and lifestyles. Women with disabilities are often treated unfairly because of gender and/or disability. WDV advocates for the right to safety and respect, with a focus on health services, violence prevention and leadership. To find out more visit the WDV website.
Switchboard Victoria is a community based not for profit organisation that provides a peer driven, support service for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and gender diverse, intersex, queer, asexual (LGBTIQA+) communities and their allies, friends, support workers and families. Family violence support is available through the Rainbow Door helpline for LGBTIQA+ community members and their family and friends to talk about what is going on for them. Depending on the person’s experience and needs, the helpline can provide phone support, information, risk assessment, safety planning and referral. To find out more visit the Switchboard website.
Family violence services for Aboriginal people are being delivered under Dhelk Dja: Safe Our Way, the key Aboriginal-led Victorian Agreement that commits community, services and government to strengthening the lives of Aboriginal people, families and communities and to enable people to live free from family violence. Services are community-driven, Aboriginal-designed and led. They help people to navigate the family violence service system and walk alongside them until they are safely connected with specialist services that meet their needs. Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) provide a range of services for people experiencing or using family violence.
To find out more, you can visit:
Located in all metropolitan and regional parts of Victoria, The Regional Integration Committees bring together local representatives from the family violence prevention, early intervention and response system to drive greater integration of regional family violence responses. Each Regional Integration Committee is convened by a Family Violence Principal Strategic Advisor (PSA) who:
- builds partnerships and collaborates with people from other sectors
- builds the capability of the workforce
- drives the implementation of family violence reforms in their area
- provides insight into operations, issues, functions and opportunities in their region.
The PSAs coordinate regular opportunities for cross-sector training through MARAM Collaborative Practice training that is available in DFFH areas across the state. The MARAM Collaborative Practice training focuses on both collaborative practice and foundational aspects of MARAM that enable collaboration. The training enables practitioners to contribute to risk assessment and collaborate for ongoing risk management, through respectful and sensitive engagement with victim’s survivors, information sharing, referral and secondary consultation.
To find out more about local family violence initiatives visit Regional integration committees website.

Health & social support

Updated 21 November 2023

MARAM and Information Sharing Week 2023

On this page

Key resources

Day 1: Housing and Homelessness

What is in this resource pack

Day 2: Older people and family violence

What is in this resource pack?

Day 3: People who use family violence

What is in this resource pack?

Day 4: Children and young people

Upcoming MARAM guidance and tools

What is in this resource pack?

Day 5: Intersectionality in practice

What is in this resource pack?