[On-screen text: This video was produced on the lands of the Wurundjeri people, and we wish to acknowledge them as Traditional Owners. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present and Aboriginal Elders of other communities viewing this video.
[On-screen text (title): Victim Survivor Comprehensive risk assessment]
AMANDA:
So, Lara, I know you’ve already spoken with our intake team on the phone and your GP sent through some information with the referral. And I believe my colleague Amy started a risk assessment and a safety plan with you and explained a bit about all this.
LARA:
Yeah, that's right.
AMANDA:
Yes. So today I'm hoping that we can just keep talking about what's happening for you; build on the risk assessment, and talk through how we might support you and your son, Robbie, just to feel safer.
[On-screen text: Build on existing relevant information available to you, including prior risk assessments]
AMANDA:
And I'm not going to ask you to repeat anything you've already said. Do you feel up to that today?
LARA:
Okay. I can do that.
[Fade to black]
[Fade from black]
AMANDA:
Your GP’s let us know that you're worried. Andrew's behaviour has been getting worse recently? Can you tell me what he's been doing?
[On-screen text: Listen to the victim-survivors story]
LARA:
Yeah. I mean, he's been like this for years. It's just so much worse since his work made him redundant a month ago. And he's always put Robbie and I down, he's always called me useless, but now it's relentless. And he just nit-picks over everything.
[On-screen text: Evidence-based risk factors identified: unemployment, escalation, emotional abuse, (child) exposure to family violence]
AMANDA:
That sounds exhausting. And there is never an excuse for anyone to treat you like Andrew is. Can I ask you what his nit picking looks like?
[On-screen text: Build rapport and trust, trauma informed practice]
LARA:
You know one day he want something done this way and next, he’s changed his mind. It's my fault I didn't get it right. I can't win. You know. He's obsessed with money. A few weeks ago, he got angry at me because I spent too much on ham. And then last week, I bought the home brand, and he's just shouting at me saying, “I can't eat this crap”. He blames me, says I should know better. I can't win, but I can't argue with him. I know what he’ll do.
[On-screen text: Evidence-based risk factors identified: controlling behaviours, financial abuse]
AMANDA:
That sounds confusing and upsetting. That he's blaming you for his behaviour. What are you worried he’ll do?
LARA:
I just know from what he used to be like, where this is going. The last time he was like this I was pregnant. It was terrible.
[On-screen text: Evidence-based risk factors identified: physical assault during pregnancy, physical harm, history of family violence]
LARA:
He just used to explode like physically hitting me all the time. I just feel like that’s going to start again.
AMANDA:
Are you worried that he might be physically abusive again?
[On-screen text: Using structured professional judgement, the practitioner explores the victim-survivor’s self-assessment]
LARA:
I mean, I could be wrong. Maybe I'm being unfair.
AMANDA:
Lara, you know your own experience, and I believe you when you say you know where this is going. So I take your concerns really seriously. How safe do you feel to leave here today?
[On-screen text: Victim survivors are the best predictors of their own risk]
LARA:
Yeah. Okay for right now. I'd go if it got that bad, and we're managing until I figure out what to do next. But Robbie though, he’s not going well.
AMANDA:
Tell me what's happening for Robbie.
LARA:
He's doing year 12. He’s just so down. Barely leaves his room, except for school. Andrew's been at him, constantly putting him down, telling him he’ll never amount to anything.
[On-screen text: Evidence-based risk factors identified for child: emotional abuse]
AMANDA:
You are doing so well reaching out to get help for the both of you.
Hmm.
I'd like to ask some more questions about what's happening for Robbie, though. Is that okay?
[On-screen text: A separate assessment should be completed for each child]
LARA:
Yeah, I’m mainly here for him. He can’t keep going through this.
AMANDA:
And I want to make sure that you and Robbie get the right support. So, as well as me asking you questions it might be a good idea for us, or someone who's supporting Robbie to chat with him about what's happening as well.
[On-screen text: Questions can be asked directly to children and young people where safe, appropriate and reasonable to do so]
[Fade to black]
[Fade from black]
AMANDA
Your GP told us that Andrew has taken away your medication in the past. Do you feel up to talking about that?
LARA:
Yeah, that's okay to talk about. It's not... It’s not recently he's done that. But before If I didn't do what he wanted a few times, he’s locked it away.
AMANDA:
I'm really sorry to hear he did that to you. How did that affect you?
[On-screen text: In applying an intersectional lens, the victim survivor may have experienced structural inequalities, barriers, and discrimination as a result of her diagnosis]
LARA:
I've got bipolar disorder.
AMANDA:
Okay.
LARA:
First there’s the withdrawals and then once I became manic he’d call CATT.
[On-screen text: The Crisis Assessment and Treatment Team (CATT) provides crisis mental health responses]
LARA:
I couldn't tell them what had happened. I knew what he’d do, and he was telling people. He called me crazy.
[On-screen text: Evidence-based risk factor identified: Emotional abuse, controlling behaviour (systems abuse/misidentification risk)]
AMANDA:
Oh Lara, that sounds terrible. Not only how unwell that made you, but because you couldn't get the support you needed with the family violence.
[On-screen text: Intersectional analysis is a component of structured professional judgement in comprehensive risk assessment]
LARA:
I felt crap. I told no one. I knew no one would believe me. In everyone's mind, I’m the one with issues. It wasn’t until I started seeing this new doctor that I really said anything at all.
[On-screen text: Evidence-based risk factor identified: Isolation]
AMANDA:
There are some serious stereotypes happening here that he's used against you.
[On-screen text: Ableist and other discriminatory attitudes are harmful and can potentially lead to inappropriate responses]
AMANDA:
Are you concerned he might do this again?
[On-screen text: It may cause victim survivors to avoid accessing services for fear of discrimination]
LARA:
It's crossed my mind. With how bad he’s getting, it wouldn't surprise me.
AMANDA:
I can hear that things are getting worse, and I'm really glad you're here talking with us about it. There are a number of factors that indicate to me that the risk to you and Robbie is serious. So, I want to spend some time talking through that and what it means. Is that okay?
[On-screen text: Serious risk: multiple risk factors, serious risk factors, client self-assessed level of fear]
LARA:
Yeah.
[On-screen text: For further information on intermediate risk assessment for victim survivors, please view Responsibility 7
and the Comprehensive Risk Assessment tool of the MARAM Practice Guides at vic.gov.au/maram-victim-survivor-practice-guides]
[Logo: Family Safety Victoria]
[Logo: Victoria State Government]
Updated