MARAM and information sharing — achievements since Royal Commission (2016)

SYSTEM

We have developed new risk assessment and management principles and system architecture

The family violence Multi-Agency Risk Assessment and Management Framework (MARAM) was developed.

Amendment of the Family Violence Protection Act 2008 has prescribed organisations to MARAM and the Family Violence Information Sharing Scheme (FVISS).

New resources, tools and practice guidance have been developed for organisations to help them embed MARAM in their operations.

WORKFORCE

We are expanding the workforces covered by MARAM and information sharing and uplifting their professional competency

Approximately 37,500 professionals across 850 organisations and services were prescribed to MARAM, FVISS and the Child Information Sharing Scheme (CISS) in 2018 with a further estimated 370,000 professionals across 5850 organisations and services to be prescribed in 2021.

18,671 workers have been trained in MARAM, FVISS or CISS across all platforms (as at June 2020).

An accredited Vocational Education and Training (VET) unit of competency in identifying and responding to family violence was developed in 2020, with further work under the Industry Plan completed or in progress to uplift workforce capability and competency.

EMBEDDING

We are embedding MARAM and information sharing across the system

Change management positions have been funded in the Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Justice and Community Services, Department of Education and Court Services Victoria to support the embedding of MARAM in relevant sectors. A range of peak bodies and other entities have received funding to support this through the Sector Grants program.

Victoria Police L17 family violence incident forms have been updated with additional questions relating to risk for children and additional recognised forms of family violence.

MARAM screening and risk assessment questions have been embedded into hospitals and health services data systems, (noting hospitals are yet to be formally prescribed) as well as on the Specialist Homelessness Information Platform (SHIP)

The Central Information Point (CIP) brings together information on perpetrators from Victoria Police, Courts, Corrections Victoria and Child Protection. This information is provided in a single report to professionals, supporting informed risk assessment and management.

REVIEW

We are evaluating as we go and building an evidence base

The first MARAM annual report 2018–19 on implementation of the Framework was tabled in Parliament by the Minister for Prevention of Family Violence on 20 February 2020.

An early MARAM process evaluation and the legislated two-year review of the FVISS were completed in June 2020. The review of the FVISS was tabled in Parliament by the Minister for Prevention of Family Violence on 18 August 2020